New Visions Blog

Held each October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. This year's theme is "A Strong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: What Can YOU Do?"… read more

Click here to download the free BFL Breaking Barriers Newsletter. Articles covering the BFL Olympics, staff awards and a team members journey to India… read more

Peace Kitty, the brainchild of owner Kate Martin, has donated a custom T-shirt to the BFL Lavender & Blue Oct. 23 MegaMixer. Since opening shop, Kate has donated 10% of the profits to local animal shelters in Missouri where she operates, and was inspired by BFLs mission. "I am all about kindness and compassion, especially when it comes to animals. I am a kitty mom and have been a kitty… read more

Institute for Healing of Memories Founder Father Michael Lapsely had a launch event for his stirring new memoir, Redeeming the Past, at the United Nations Church Center in Manhattan on September 27. The Keynote Speaker was Helen Clark: Administrator of the United Nations Development Program. Lapsley, born in New Zealand, joined the Society of the Sacred Mission, and was sent to South Africa in 1973. There he became active in the anti-apartheid movement, ultimately joining the African National Congress… read more

Yoga High joined the growing list of sponsors for BFL's Lavender & Blue Mega Mixer on Oct. 23 at XES Lounge. Yoga High donated fab yoga classes as a raffle prize… read more

The famed Gleason's Gym has joined the growing list of sponsors for BFLs Lavender & Blue Mega Mixer.  The Gleason's raffle prize is an empowering boxing/self defense class… read more

Artist/Designer Scooter Laforge has donated a fab raffle prize to BFLs Lavender & Blue Oct. 23 event.  Scooter has created pieces for Debbie Harry, Iggy Pop and Karen O from Yeah Yeah Yeahs as well as Dakota Fanning and Elizabeth Olsen (for a movie with Demi Moore and Ellen Barkin called Very Good Girls coming out 2013), Carrie Mulligan (for the movie Shame).  In a recent MetroSource article, he says: "I… read more

Several new sponsors have signed on for BFL's Lavender &  Blue Mega Mixer on Oct. 23 at XES Lounge including  Scooter LaForge, Desktop Studio and Peace Kitty. A giant thank you shout out from the BFL team… read more

Honoring survivors, advocates and the NYPD. Star DJ. Awesome Raffle Prizes.Free Drink Tix. Tuesday Oct. 23 6-8pm. XES Lounge NYC 157 W. 24th St. (6&& Ave.) Reserve VIP Tix, Drink Tix, a chance at a fab raffle prize: [email protected]… read more

Popular Community Bank recently provided Brooklyn Cyclones baseball tickets and ball caps to residents of BFL's Transitional Housing and Secret Garden programs.  Attendees enjoyed an evening of baseball and community building.  In  Cyclone news, with the season winding down, the Cyclones are on the verge of their fourth consecutive playoff berth… read more

Barrier Free Living Survivors Speakers Bureau, which started in May 2012, has released its first newsletter.  The Bureau looks  "forward to meeting your speaker needs for women with Disabilities. Our founding organizers Theresa McIntosh and Patrice C. Queen encourage your inquiries and opportunities to educate your organization, school, university or event on the issues of domestic violence and its intersection with disabilities." Info: [email protected]… read more

BFL held its summer olympics event this August. Residents of Transitional Housing and Secret Garden consumers  enjoyed a day of games and community building.… read more

A $7million request for Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP) support has been approved by the HHAP Board. "Congratulations to all who worked so hard to make that proposal a success," said BFL President/CEO Paul Feuerstein. The funding is related to BFLs newest vision, the agency's Supportive Housing Project.  HHAP provides capital grants and loans to not-for-profit corporations, charitable and religious organizations, municipalities and public corporations to acquire, construct or rehabilitate housing for persons who are homeless and… read more

BFL Transitional Housing program kicked off it's August Suit Up! Fund Raiser, to supply swimwear and goggles to residents so they  can participate in the Summer Aquatics Program.  Aquatics is part of the Occupational Therapy program's roster of special activities focusing on strength, stretching and community building for people with disabilities.  Video here.  Donate… 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

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

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

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