New Visions Blog

A program to equip survivors of domestic violence with resources to secure sustainable employment launches this month at Freedom House Emergency Shelter. The EASE Program (Economic and Social Empowerment) presented by Dr.  Robert Hawkins and Alisha Ali of New York University helps shelter residents to understand the importance of of becoming economically self -sufficient. The workshops focus on:  Empowerment, Motivation, Developing Skills, Obstacles, Challenges,  Employment and Educational goals.  The workshops range in topic from Social Economic Empowerment, Interviewing, Networking, and Your… read more

March 13 is the official NO MORE Day: Together we can end Domestic Violence NO MORE is a simple idea with the power to unleash new, major  attention to the people all around us who are hurt - directly or indirectly - by domestic violence and sexual assault every day and every minute. For more info click here.… read more

Project Papillon NYC brought Spa Day to BFL's Freedom House Emergency Shelter in February, working with women at the shelter in line with Papillon's mission which is to "rebuild the self-esteem and confidence of homeless women that are victims of Domestic Violence by transforming their outer appearance to match their inner beauty. Bringing them from crisis to possibilities." Make up artist Beluchi Jeanot (pictured, right) was on  hand for the… read more

A thought provoking and stirring article by Pearl Brownstein who writes: I am one of the unlikely homeless. I have a master’s degree and a career in publishing, and I was a co-op owner in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood—yet my 10-month-old son and I now reside in a domestic-violence shelter in an area filled with crumbling tenements and public-housing towers. Oddly enough, our two months here have been a godsend for both of us. Read full article here.… read more

A recent article by Fox News discusses the relationship of the link between domestic violence and traumatic brain injury, noting that: There have been a lot of questions about country singer Mindy McCready’s substance abuse and its association with her recent suicide. But the question we should be asking is: “Did Mindy McCready’s brain injury kill her?” It seems as though every day there is another story about a man abusing his wife or girlfriend. But we rarely hear about… read more

BFL connected with SIAD Tarragona (Town Hall of Tarragona) who organized an event under the support of the civic movement "One Billion Rising", in plaça de la Font, Tarragona last 14th february'13. SIAD sent a shout out to BFL which participated in the NYC Washington Square rising. View the video… read more

The children at BFL's Freedom House Domestic Violence emergency shelter took part in a special pajama party this month, thanks to a donation from the nationally known Pajama Program. The Pajama Program provides new pajamas and new books to children in need… read more

On V-Day’s 15th Anniversary, 14 February 2013,  the worldwide phenomenon One Billion Rising was kicked off. ONE BILLION women and those who love them joined the call to WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND an end to domestic violence.The Washington Square Park, NYC rising supported by Barrier Free Living, Video Below… read more

Barrier Free Living. Inc. Speakers Bureau was founded in May 2012 by Theresa A.H. Macintosh.  Ms. Macintosh, a survivor of Domestic Violence and an amputee, is a Mayoral Appointee of the Mayor’s Office on Domestic Violence and is a Trustee on the Board of Barrier Free Living’s Freedom House. To view the latest Speaker's Bureau Newsletter click here. Ms. Macintosh is also a member of the Safe Horizon Domestic Violence Hotline Advisory Committee, Voices of Women Organizing Project (VOW) and… read more

Congressman José E. Serrano announced that he has invited Bronx anti-gun violence activist Gloria Cruz (and Barrier Free Living Freedom House staff member)  to be his guest for the State of the Union. Since losing her niece to gun violence in the Bronx in 2005, Ms. Cruz has worked to bring attention to the need for sensible gun control measures to halt the gun violence that plagues the nation. She is the Bronx president of the Million Mom March… read more

One Billion Rising is a revolution. Today, on the planet, a billion women – one of every three women on the planet – will be raped or beaten in her lifetime. That’s ONE BILLION mothers, daughters, sisters, partners, and friends violated. V-Day REFUSES to stand by as more than a billion women experience violence. On February 14th, 2013, V-Day's 15th Anniversary, we are inviting one billion women and those who love them to walk out, DANCE, RISE UP, AND DEMAND an end… read more

ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival coming March 7-12 to NYC, is the largest festival in the country dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities. Tickets are on sale for a host of films, including  Geoffrey Enthoven's quirky road movie about three young men with disabilities on a quest to lose their virginity… read more

The national Office of Violence Against Women has funded a collaborative effort between Barrier Free Living, the Crime Victims Treatment Center of St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Harlem Independent Living, CONNECT, the New York County District Attorney’s Office, to increase access to therapeutic and advocacy services for members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community who are survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence.  The grant will bring all five organizations together to lend their expertise through partnership… read more

The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs has partnered with FPWA to implement a plan designed specifically to meet the needs of our City’s immigrant communities.  Click here to view PDF. Serving as an intermediary organization, FPWA will work with other agencies over the next several weeks and has started to deploy teams of outreach who will canvass the hardest-hit areas of the City to survey immigrant households about their needs, connect them with services, and provide information on… read more

The Pajama Program, which "delivers warm sleepwear and nurturing books to children in need" has connected with BFL's Freedom House program. The program will drop its first donation this January… read more

Barrier Free Living’s Domestic Violence Program Secret Garden Offers Reiki Sessions for consumers with Practitioner Antoinette Calabretta. Certified in Reiki, Anotinette is also a Case Manager at Secret Garden. Click here for flyer. Reiki session is offered bimonthly, on Wednesdays starting February 6, 2013. For more information contact Antoinette Calabretta at (212) 533-4358. Reiki is a very specific form of energy healing, in which hands are placed… read more

A Support Group where family and loved ones of LGBTQ survivors of Intimate Partner Violence create a safe space filled with education and understanding, and share ways to support themselves, each other, and their loved ones. All sessions will be held at AVP’s Midtown Offices: 240 West 35th Street, 2nd floor. Click here for flyer. To learn more or to schedule an intake session: Call Suzy or Julia at 212-714-1184 x24. Participants must attend an intake session by February 1, 2013… read more

Court Legal Interpreting Coalition (CLIC) is offering assistance and a chance to share your experience and stories. Did you get an interpreter for your day in court? Did you understand your interpreter? Did the interpreter understand you? CLIC wants to collect your information, your experiences and any concerns you may have encountered in the legal process and court system.Tell your story. VIEW THE INFO. VIDEO HERE.… read more

A great video to check out: The Deaf Justice Coalition ("DJC") wants to learn about Deaf and hard of hearing individuals' experiences with the NYPD! This video explains the survey the DJC is doing. Click here for video.… read more

The agency's Breaking Barriers newsletter (click here for the latest 2013 edition) is shipping out its last print edition this month, turning to an online version moving foreword.  The shift is part of the agency's overall mission to go green, and continue to ramp up it's social media presence… read more

An article (excerpt below) in  Jan. 14, 2013 NY Times, about Secret Garden consumer Alejandrina Cruz. Click here to read the full article. Alejandrina Cruz may be the only Bronx grandmother with a kung fu movie collection to rival that of a subway salesman laden with cartons of contraband. Ms. Cruz, 65, lived in the city shelter system for more than three years while working to repair wounds left by years of physical and emotional abuse. For the past 100… read more

ABC News' Lauren Glassberg reports on the journey of a resident at BFL's Freedom House Emergency Shelter for survivors of domestic violence. See Grace's story here.… read more

Institute for Healing of Memories, Director Fr. Michael Lapsley released the groups annual newsletter, noting that: "We have come to the end of the year. For the Restoring Humanity Youth project of the Institute for the Healing of Memories it has been a year of growth. Our last newsletter for the year reflects on some of these activities that allows the young people to explore the impact of our past, and the wounds we have to… read more

LeShan Gaulman spent a good deal of time at Barrier Free Living before signing on this January as the new Transitional Housing Program Director. “For the past three years I have been Independence Care System’s (ICS) Social Service Coordinator for BFL, working on site at BFL’s Transitional Housing Program,” said Leshan, a native of the Bronx and life-time New Yorker.  “ICS provides services for the residents that are enrolled and provides long-term… read more

Theresa Sareo is a New York-based singer/songwriter. In June 2002 she was struck by an impaired driver and her injuries forced the amputation of her right leg. Since the accident she has also become a motivational speaker, and has appeared on CNN's Larry King Live and in New York Magazine. Her documentary film "Theresa Sareo: Alive Again" chronicles the story of her life and career and has garnished "Audience Choice for Best Documentary" (2012 Gasparilla International Film Festival—Tampa) and "Best… read more

Anne K. Markowitz, L.C.S.W., a consultant providing workshops around the topic of anger for Barrier Free Living, held a special fund raising event in her home this month, raising more than $1,000 in cash and gift cards for the residents of BFL's  Freedom House Emergency Shelter. Markowitz, who has worked in hospitals, shelters and other agencies as a consultant on domestic violence and anger issues, plans to make the fund raiser an annual event.  She was honored last year as… read more

The HSC Leadership Awards Reception on Dec. 12 drew a host of leaders and luminaries, applauding the work of the not-for-profit services sector. Honorees and attendees enjoyed a sumptuous buffet and a stunning skyline view from the 35th floor of Mutual of America.… read more

FEGS's Center for Women and Families has a New Job Club for survivors of Family Violence.  View Info. Flyer here. The FEGS's Center for Women and Families Job Club is a FREE group for job seekers.  The Job Club offers: *       Assessment *       Resume / Cover letter assistance *       Interview skills *       Job search techniques *       Access to jobs *       Employment support and counseling If you have… read more

In his introduction to BFL's recently launched Domestic Violence and Disability expertise web page,  President/CEO Paul Feuerstein points out that the agency has  "the largest DV intervention program in the country." Feuerstein states that: "In 1986, I hired Liz Lederman, a new graduate from NYU’s Deafness Rehabilitation Master’s Program, to join our clinic team. She had around 12 years’ experience working with disabled victims of abuse. Prior to her joining us, we had no knowledge of abuse among people with a… read more

BFL's Organizational Development Manager Scott Hess (pictured fourth from left) was honored on Dec. 12 with the Human Services Council's Next Generation Leadership award at the annual awards reception on the stunning 35th floor of Manhattan's Mutual of America. Honorees were noticed for advocacy, influence and community service. Click here for the full list of award recipients and reception info… read more