Category: Current Events
BFL’s Transitional Housing Thanksgiving Event
Staff and residents at Barrier Free Living's Transitional Housing program gathered for a Thanksgiving feast this November.
CEO Paul Feuerstein was on hand to wish the team and residents a safe and happy holiday.… read more
Toy Drive For BFL’s Freedom House Kids
The Church of the Holy Trinity is gathering toys and gifts for the kids at Barrier Free Living's (BFL) Freedom House emergency shelter in New York City again this year.
The church has a sign up display (photo above, with the Rev. John Beddingfield) and is accepting donations this month.
At its programs and shelters, BFL works with families and hundreds of children each year. Donations of toys and gifts from groups… read more
BFL Halloween Events
Barrier Free Living held Halloween themed events at its programs, drawing families, kids and staff in community building activities.
At BFL Apartments, the tenant advisory group worked with the occupational therapy team to create a lively party space and spook house for dozens of kids living at the permanent housing complex in the Bronx.
BFL works with survivors of domestic violence with disabilities, and their families as well as homeless individuals with disabilities.… read more
Freedom House Bake Off
Barrier Free Living's Freedom House team held a bake-off as a community building way to honor October's Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Staff members from various departments donated a freshly baked pastry, which was judged by co-workers. There were seven "delicious" entries, but the Sweet Potato Pie baked by Ashlee from Occupational Therapy took top honors.… read more
Go Pink Day At BFL’s Freedom House Shelter
The front desk staff of Barrier Free Living's Freedom House program hosted its second annual Go Pink Day on Friday October 20.
Resident Aide Manager Linette Holmes shares that "This is the second year Freedom House is remembering all those that are survivors of Breast Cancer and those that have lost the fight."
Freedom House staff wore pink to commemorate this special cause and a GO PINK TABLE was the focal point of the celebration… read more
Shine The Light On Harlem Oct. 23
Join Manhattan Legal Services/Upper Manhattan Domestic Violence Services Collaborative to Shine the Light in Harlem, a march from a North, South, East, West point in Harlem at 5:30pm that meet at the State Office Building for a Speak Out, starting at 6:15pm
Oct 23, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
163 West 125th Street (Cross Street: Adam Clayton Powell Blvd)… read more
BFL Team Attends The Network Gala
Barrier Free Living (BFL) team members were on hand at The Network's (Supportive Housing Network of New York) 2017 Network gala on October 18th at Capitale.
BFL's Paul Feuerstein (photo top right) and LeShan Gaulman, Program Director at BFL's Transitional Housing (photo top left) joined BFL colleagues Scott Hess, Director of Communications and Tiffany Williams, Housing Specialist at Transitional Housing (in photo below, at right).
The Gala honored Commissioner & CEO RuthAnne Visnauskas of NYS Homes &… read more
Domestic Violence Project Reading Series
The Domestic Violence project, an innovative public health initiative, presents a dramatic reading from Tennessee Williams' classic play A Streetcar Named Desire, starring Daphne Rubin Vega, Glenn Davis, and Marjolaine Goldsmith on Oct. 12, 7pm, Polo Grounds Police Athletic League Community Center at 3005 Frederick Douglas Blvd, NYC.
The reading is a catalyst for a town hall discussion about the impact of domestic violence.
Reserve seats for this free event at: streetcarplogrounds.evenbrite.com
The reading is directed… read more
BFL Team Member Felipe Sepulveda Honored With Lifesaver Award
Felipe Sepulveda, Director of Social Services at Barrier Free Living's (BFL) Transitional Housing program, was among those honored at the first ever Lifesaver Awards Ceremony in New York City on October 5.
The awards, held by the Department of Health, honored 67 people who saved a collective 255 lives with the overdose-reversing drug naloxone. First Lady Chirlane McCray and Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett attended the ceremony.
Felipe, who trained earlier in the year on… read more
Todd Haynes’ Film Wonderstruck Features Deaf Actor Millicent Simmonds
Wonderstruck, the 2017 film directed by Todd Haynes, features deaf actor Millicent Simmonds (photo above) in a lead role, along with a number of deaf actors in the film.
The film is based on the 2011 novel Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick, who adapted the novel into a screenplay.
Deadline.com reported that Simmonds, a deaf actor "will play Rose, whose half of Wonderstruck will be presented as a silent film in both… read more
Barrier Free Living Begins Work On Updated Mission Film
Barrier Free Living (BFL) has begun work on an updated version of its mission film, depicting the agency's growth and evolution since the original film debuted in 2012.
The film, created in collaboration with DGNL , is a visual representation of the agency' s mission, vision and values. The new version will focus on the stories of the people that the agency works with in its programs, shelters… read more
BFL’s Secret Garden Wellness Group
This September, the occupational therapy team at Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden held a "seeds of hope" creative therapy and wellness group.
Attendees painted containers and potted seeds within them. These “seeds of hope” represent a source of inspiration. The members discussed ways in which they can strive to grow alongside the plants they created, and how that relates to their aspirations for the future… read more
October Domestic Violence Awareness Month Wear Purple Day Oct. 19
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Every year the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence partners with NYC City Council to raise awareness about services and resources for victims and survivors of intimate partner violence on NYC GO Purple Day. This year’s statewide “Wear Purple Day” is Thursday, October 19.
If you want to volunteer please contact the first district to join the effort in your community. Volunteers will:
· Hand out… read more
BFL Team Presents At Institute On Violence, Abuse And Trauma Conference
Barrier Free Living team members Cynthia Amodeo (Chief Program Officer) and Sara Eldridge (social worker, Freedom House, pictured) will present "Exploring the Intersection of Domestic Violence, Disability and Trauma" at the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma 22nd International Summit in San Diego, CA September 21-27, 2017.
This year's summit is titled "Building Peace by Linking Policy, Practice, Research & Advocacy to End Violence."
The Institute on Violence, Abuse and… read more
Barrier Free Living Presents At NY Association On Independent Living Conference
Barrier Free Living will be part of the New York Association on Independent Living Conference in Troy, NY September 18 and 19.
Paul B. Feuerstein, President/CEO, Barrier Free Living (pictured) and Cynthia Amodeo, Chief Program Officer, Barrier Free Living will present on Domestic Violence and Disability: The Threat to Parents with Disabilities.
The number one concern of women with disabilities nationwide is domestic abuse. One of the major reasons women stay… read more
INCLUDEnyc Launches Spanish-Language Website
INCLUDEnyc launched a new Spanish-language website, INCLUYEnyc.org, for the disability community created by Spanish-speaking communications experts and disability advocates with the community’s specific needs in mind.
The website contains original Spanish-language content and a wealth of never-before translated materials, says INCLUDEnyc.
“Our mission is to provide young people with disabilities and their families in Spanish-speaking communities with high quality, relevant, and accessible information,” Executive Director Barbara A. Glassman explained.
In New York City… read more
Assurant Awards Barrier Free Living $50,000 Financial Literacy Grant
Barrier Free Living (BFL) has been awarded a $50,000 grant by the Assurant Foundation to create a financial literacy program and scholarship for tenants of BFL’s supportive housing complex in the Bronx.
BFL Apartments offers 120 units of permanent housing to survivors of domestic violence with disabilities and their families, as well as veterans with disabilities.
The grant, part of Assurant Foundation’s sustainable living mission, will fund a 12-week financial literacy workshop that culminates in career-oriented scholarships for eligible… read more
Protecting One Another Showcases Service Animals Assisting People With Disabilities
New York City Emergency Management in collaboration with Council Member Borelli’s office will be hosting Protecting One Another on Saturday September 9th, a preparedness fair to showcase organizations that protect pets, and organizations that train service animals to assist people with disabilities.
This year’s event will be held at Conference House Park in Staten Island located at 298 Sattarlee Street on Saturday September 9th from 11AM-3PM.
Flyer.… read more
Barrier Free Living Communication Intern Shares Summer Highlights
Liam Chan Hodges, a government major at Franklin and Marshall college, took on the role of summer intern in BFL’s Communication Department this year. Before heading back to campus he shared with us some highlights.
BFL: What was one particular highlight of your internship?
Liam: Successfully creating an eye-catching and decently well visited Instagram page (check it out at instagram ) that authentically portrayed the incredible work that BFL does.
BFL: What is something that… read more
Columbia University Programs In Occupational Therapy Mention Student Work at BFL
Columbia University Programs in Occupational Therapy posted about students working at Barrier Free Living's Transitional Housing shelter this summer.
The story covers an MTA bus demo the students worked on with the shelter residents.
Read more.… read more
Ping Pong Champ Teaches Kids At BFL Apartments
Alexis Perez, a famed ping pong champ, is teaching the kids at BFL Apartments the art of the game.
Perez has been meeting with the kids at the supportive housing complex in the Bronx three times a week since June.
“The children have not missed a day of lessons and have been able to develop their own style of playing ping pong,” says Julie Pena, director at BFL Apartments.
The kids received sports… read more
Secret Garden At End Violence Against Women Conference
Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden attended the End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI) Conference in St. Louis, MO this August.
The EVAWI conferences address "attention focused on the many barriers confronting sexual assault victims, and the challenges associated with investigating and prosecuting cases. One critical step in changing this reality is to improve the way victims are interviewed. Better interviews will result in more thorough investigations that improve criminal justice outcomes: Excluding suspects where appropriate, and successfully prosecuting cases where the… read more
Freedom House Healthy Living Workshop
The Occupational Therapy team at Barrier Free Living's Freedom House domestic violence shelter held a healthy living workshop this August.
Participants took a trip to the local farmer's market, learned healthy living tips and shared seasonal recipes.… read more
Ribbon Cutting For Kids Playground Mural At BFL Apartments
Foxy Management and Barrier Free Living held a ribbon cutting event unveiling the new mural in the kid's playground at BFL Apartments in the Bronx.
The mural, created with the support of 501 See Streets and the talents of famed graffiti artists Crash and Bio, added color and joy to the playground. The outdoor space is connected to the supportive housing complex's child care area.
BFL Apartments offers… read more
Famed Graffiti Artists Crash & Bio Paint Kids Mural At BFL Apartments
https://vimeo.com/228406593… read more
Ping Pong Champ Teaches Kids At BFL Apartments
Alexis Perez, a famed ping pong champ, is teaching the kids at BFL Apartments the art of the game.
Perez has been meeting with the kids at the supportive housing complex in the Bronx three times a week since June.
“The children have not missed a day of lessons and have been able to develop their own style of playing ping pong,” says Julie Pena, director at BFL Apartments.
The kids received sports… read more
BFL Apartments Kicks Off Kids Summer Theatre Workshop
Workshop leader David Drake, with BFL Apartments Program Director Julie Pena
BFL Apartments kicked off its summer theatre camp workshop this July, led by teacher, actor and Obie Winning playwright, David Drake.
The program will include theatre games, technique and the creation of original material by the kids. Plans are underway to stage a finale show at the nearby 138th Street Community Garden, which has an outdoor stage.… read more
BFL Apartments Kids Show At 138th Street Community Garden Stage
Barrier Free Living apartments is working with the 138th Street Community Garden to present its kids theatre camp finale show on the garden stage this August.
The show, the culmination of a 10-week theatre camp for kids living at the complex, will be put on by theatre professional David Drake. BFL apartments offers permanent housing for survivors of domestic violence and their families… read more
Bronx Academy Of Letters Students Donate To BFL Shelter
Students from the Bronx Academy of Letters stopped by Barrier Free Living's Transitional Housing shelter this June to donate health products to the residents.
The students met with program director LeShan Gaulman (in photo above), to learn about the program which offers shelter to formerly homeless men and women with disabilities. The students also plan to donate similar products to Barrier Free Living apartments, a complex for survivors of domestic violence… read more