New Visions Blog

Natasha’s Justice Project is working to end the national backlog of unprocessed rape kits and bring justice to sexual assault survivors. Media coverage of Natasha’s Justice Project includes the NY Times, CNN and NPR among others. Visit the NJP site to take action… read more

Pam Hall, a former resident of BFL's Transitional Housing program, won Miss Wheelchair NY 2012 and is set to compete in the nationals, Miss Wheelchair America. The Ms. Wheelchair America Pageant is a yearly event that " highlights the diversity and advocacy of all women."  To help Pam get raise funds to get to the nationals, click here… read more

BFL's Transitional Housing program kicked off its water aquatics class for residents, lead by the Occupational Therapy team. The Hamilton Fish pool annually donates pool time for the weekly session through the summer… read more

Independence Care System, dedicated to the health and well being of adults with physical disabilities and senior adults, will hold its annual art show and a free reception at ICS’s Brooklyn Center in downtown Brooklyn. July 25, 4pm-8pm. 25 Elm Place, 5th Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201.… read more

Lauren Luke, YouTube Makeup Star, is featured in a Domestic Violence PSA (click to view) that is getting a lot of attention. London agency BBH enlisted Luke for the PSA, which is rolling out on YouTube as though it were another of her makeup tutorials—showing Luke covering up cuts and bruises ostensibly inflicted by an abusing partner. The video depicts the domestic violence situation in an eerily realistic light, ending with onscreen copy that reads: "65% of… read more

The firm has set up a Team Citi Athletes facebook page, where supporters can choose an athlete to cheer for and support on their road to represent the U.S. at the London Olympic and Paralympic Games… read more

On June 26th, The Leadership Conference and the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women are uniting to promote the National Day of Action to push for VAWA.There will be a rally on Capitol Hill as well as lobby visits and calls. We urge you to invite your friends to this event, spread the word, and call/email/tweet your representatives so that we can pass the REAL VAWA.  If you are in Washington, D.C.: RALLY TIME: 11:30 a.m… read more

Verbal Description and Touch Tours are offered at the Rubin Museum of Art on the second Thursday of every month. Museum guides help participants who are blind or partially-sighted form visualizations by offering highly detailed, verbal descriptions of artworks. Participants are invited to touch art objects including sculptures, woodblocks, and ritual implements. Incense and traditional music complete the Himalayan experience.To reserve a spot on an upcoming public tour or to book… read more

The Initiative for Women with Disabilities will hold its Spring Into Wellness Open House on Monday June 25 from 10am-2pm at 359 Second Avenue, NYC.  Activities include a fitness class, meditation, reiki circle, door prizes and more. RSVP 212 598 6429… read more

Opening this month, the film The Intouchables is the true story of a wealthy, physically disabled risk taker, the picture of established French nobility, who lost his wife in an accident and whose world is turned upside down when he hires a young, good-humored, black Muslim ex-con as his caretaker. Their bond proves the power and omniscience that love and friendship can hold over all social and economic… read more

The Special Olympics kicked off nationwide. New York currently serves more than 51,000 athletes throughout the state. They train for weeks and months to prepare for local, regional and statewide competition. Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of skills and friendship with their families, Special Olympics athletes and the… read more

Residents of BFL's Transitional Housing program, under the guidance of editor and former resident John Aliseo (pictured), released the summer 2012 Moving Forward newsletter. View the Pdf. Moving Forward Spring Summer 2012 Newsletter- The FINAL Edition… read more

Senate ForumVideo The Senate Democratic Conference held a public forum on the need to provide additional protections for those affected by domestic violence. The forum was convened to highlight legislation sponsored by members of the Democratic Conference which the Senate Republican Majority has refused to move out of committee and bring to the floor for a vote. Attendees at today’s forum included Democratic Senators as well as activists, legislators and criminal justice professionals… read more

Volunteers from Goldman Sachs were on hand to make the annual Freedom House Emergency Shelter summer BBQ a success on June 2. Eighteen team members from Goldman Sachs ran activities and helped create a summer feast for fifteen families at the shelter… read more

On May 24, 2012 BFL successfully closed on a $3,050,000 loan with the Corporation for our newest Supportive Housing vision. BFL now officially owns the property and we can get our architects and engineers working on designing the building. See Supportive Housing page for details.… read more

BFL's Freedom House Emergency Shelter held the annual Handprints of the Heart event this May, working with volunteers from Goldman Sachs. Resident families and children took part in crafts, empowerment activities and created a garden on the patio.… read more

Art Connects New York opens the group exhibition, "Ask and I Will Tell" Thursday, May 17th at Amethyst Women's Project, a Coney-Island based organization serving women adversely impacted by substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence.… read more

BFL's Women's Day Event on May 5 drew a standing room only crowd from the Secret Garden and Transitional Housing Programs. View the event video.… read more

Art Connects New York (ACNY) launches "Made You Look: Hidden Narratives Unveiled" on May 9, 2012 at Spattered Columns, 491 Broadway, 5th Floor, NYC. Art Connects has a permanent art exhibit at BFL's Transitional Housing program. In homage of the Hatch-Billops Collection, this new group exhibition features site-specific installation by artists whose practice involves archiving the underrepresented and overlooked aspects of contemporary culture.… read more

Freedom House director Isa Martinez presented at the Organizational Development Session of the HRA Non-Residential Director's meeting on May 4, highlighting the success of the programs Financial Clinic for residents. The clinic, facilitated by Becky Smith, Director of Strategic Initiatives, The Financial Clinic, is made possible through a grant from the United Way. Ms. Martinez has been invited to do another presentation at the June 1 meeting… read more

BFL's May 2 website launch party was a smash hit. Highlights included the premiere of filmmaker Blake Drummond's BFL Mission film, live music by the duo Jake and John and mingling with the dynamo web development team from Coa Design.… read more

A generous donation from Banco Popular gave a boost to Barrier Free Living’s Mother’s Day/Women’s Day Empowerment event this May. Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery also donated cupcakes to sweeten things up at the gathering. The celebration draws residents and consumers from BFL’s Secret Garden and Transitional Housing Programs. In addition to group activities, live entertainment and food, there is a special gift giveaway and floral… read more

This issue of the OPDV Bulletin catches everyone at a busy time: it is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and April 22 – April 28th is National Crime Victims’ Rights Week… read more

For our first New Visions blog post, President/CEO Paul Feuerstein explores two new initiatives meant to strengthen the agency “as we face the continuing challenges of domestic violence and homelessness with (at best) the same level of financial resources that we have had in past years.” Mission Based Management Six years ago, we began a transition to Mission-based Management, a system developed by Peter Brinkerhoff who has dedicated his career to making not-for-profit organizations more mission-productive. I was introduced to… read more

The internationally hailed new Dialog in the Dark exhibit at South Street Seaport leads visitors through a series of New York City environments in complete darkness, relying on blind and visually-impaired guides. Exhibit-goers will "see NYC" and visit well know landmarks without the sense of sight while armed with an authentic walking cane… read more

The non profit group Next Step launches its first annual Wheelchair for a Day challenge this May. The campaign asks able-bodied folks, including celebrities and athletes, to spend a full day in a wheelchair and experience first-hand the reality of living with paralysis. Wheelchair for a Day kicks off in conjunction with National Physical Fitness… read more

Barrier Free Living former consumer Alejandrina Cruz was quoted in an article about domestic violence in New York. As the city budgets decrease, domestic violence programs become more valuable to the community. Here is an excerpt from the article: Alejandrina came to Barrier Free Living in 2009 while trying to escape an abusive significant other. The group helped her transition from living in a shelter to finding an apartment of her own. They also provided her with counseling and case management, guiding… read more

Transitional Housing will re-launch the Moving On resident newsletter this summer, and plans are underway for a Moving On Blog. BFL’s Occupational Therapy team is steering the project, working with residents to create content and re-imagine the design. John Aliseo, former Transitional Housing resident and Editor of the newsletter in 2010, is also on board as a volunteer. “The newsletter has an empowering affect on residents,” said Aliseo. “Residents enjoy contributing. It can renew energy.”… read more

BFL’s Freedom House Emergency Shelter collaborated with New York University Professor Alisha Ali on a photo club for residents this spring. The five-week workshop was facilitated by NYU students. Freedom House Residents learned photography basics, and completed weekly “self expression” assignments using visual art as an outlet.… read more