New Visions Blog

Más de 60 residentes, participantes e inquilinos de los programas de violencia doméstica para personas con discapacidades de Barrier Free Living asistieron a un alegre evento por Spread The Sparkle el 8 de mayo para el Día de la Madre. Celebrada en Home Studios en la ciudad de Nueva York, las madres, los niños y las familias de los programas de BFL fueron tratados a un día de mimos y… read more

Over 60 residents, participants and tenants of Barrier Free Living's domestic violence programs for people with disabilities attended a joyous May 8 Spread The Sparkle Mother's Day event. Held at Home Studios in New York City, mothers, children and families of BFL programs were treated to a day of pampering and appreciation. A buffet lunch was served, the children participated in a talent show, and a special "remember this day"… read more

Barrier Free Living (BFL) Apartments welcomed participants of the  National Housing Conference's (NHC) Solutions for Housing Communications conference Mobile Workshop on April 28. Paul Feuerstein, BFL President/CEO welcomed the group along with Thomas Obrzut, BFL Apartments Director and Lenore Warren, Director of Social Services. Mega Construction was also on hand. The group took a tour of a resident apartment and had a Q&A with the BFL Apartments' team. NHC's Solutions for Housing Communications 2016 Convening connects affordable housing developers, advocates, funders… read more

Shine Foundation held a Spring Soirée / financial fair at Freedom House on April 25 to culminate its month long Financial Engagement workshop for residents at the emergency domestic violence shelter. In addition to celebrating and reaffirming goals set during the 4 week workshop, Shine set up an "Aida's Dare to Dream" booth, and asked residents, staff and volunteers to write down what they "dared to dream" … read more

Caelan Manning, a case manager at Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden program,is one of three IRCares Scholarship Grant award winners for 2016. The IRCares Scholarship Grant is an award of $1,000 in unrestricted funds. Three winners are chosen, based on a nomination for the award by another employee from his/her organization. This Grant is designed to recognize the hard work and dedication of direct care and/or support-level workers in nonprofit… read more

For the fourth consecutive year, the Assurant Foundation has awarded Barrier Free Living a $10,000 New Growth Fund grant in support of the agency’s work with severely disabled formerly homeless individuals. Over the years, funds have been used to buy a new stove to feed shelter residents, and to fund initiatives like Barrier Free Living’s successful Project Give Back, where a former shelter resident designs a workshop or project to inspire current shelter residents… read more

“Made in NY”(MINY) Production Assistant Training Program. We are currently accepting applications for the May, 2016 class.Application deadline April 25th at 1pm Sharp.  If you know of anyone who meets the above eligibility requirements, please have them attend a “Made in NY” Information Session at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in Building 92 on Monday at 1pm Sharp. Info Sessions take place weekly. Last opportunities to apply for May Training: ***April 18th & April 25th @1pm*** To get to BLDG 92: Enter the… read more

Denim Day NYC held its campaign video release party and fashion show on April 13, 2016. The packed event, held at Lereve in Manhattan, included a denim day fashion show, raffle and showing of a special Denim Day video. Denim Day NYC is a coalition of community agencies, elected officials, students, and volunteers united to promote awareness around the issue of sexual assault. Denim Day grew out of a case in… read more

Heralded Artexpo NY Artist Socrates Marquez rolled out a red carpet welcome to the residents, participants and tenants of Barrier Free Living's programs on April 14. Socrates, who did a live painting demo on the opening day of the expo weekend, gave free tickets and a warm welcome to BFL's programs for people with disabilities and disabled survivors of domestic violence. More… read more

Each April, the federal Office for Victims of Crime helps lead communities throughout the country in their annual observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), which will be observed April 10–16, 2016. This year’s theme -Serving Victims, Building Trust, Restoring Hope – underscores the importance of early intervention and victim services in establishing trust with victims, which in turn begins to restore their hope for healing and recovery. NYC events include: On April 10, 2016:  The Center Against Domestic Violence – designated… read more

Denim Day NYC and Outsmart BK are hosting a video release party at LeReve in NYC Wednesday April 13th from 6pm-9pm. Scott Hess, Director of Communications at Barrier Free Living, is a Denim Day NYC Board Member at large. DENIM DAY NYC AND OUTSMART BK PRESENT DENIM DAY NYC HAPPY HOUR WEDNESDAY APRIL 13, 2016 6PM-9PM LeReve 125 East 54th Street… read more

Scooter LaForge, whose much sought-after one of a kind made to order garments have been worn by stars from Madonna to Rihann and Beyonce', donated a hand painted T-shirt to Denim Day NYC on behalf of Barrier Free Living. The shirt will be part of a silent auction at a Denim Day NYC event in April. Scott Hess, BFL Director of Communications and a Denim Day NYC board member at large, names Scooter as a great supporter of the agency's… read more

Nyle DiMarco has already accomplished several firsts. The model, actor and activist was not only the first Deaf contestant to appear on (and win) American's Next Top Model (Cycle 22)  he is now wowing the judges as the first Deaf contestant on Dancing with the Stars. A native New New Yorker, Nyle was born into a large multi-generational Deaf family and is an alumni of Gallaudet University, the only… read more

Team members from Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden and Freedom House programs participated in the Department of Women & Gender Studies at Hunter College's  Grassroots Democracy & Community Fair on March 29. The Fair introduces the Hunter community to progressive community organizations  that aim to transform the lives of people, especially women and children, by supporting, educating, activating and organizing people around crucial issues, such as the epidemic of gender based violence, the lack of living wages, the stalling… read more

Shine Foundation kicked off a new 4-week Financial Engagement workshop for residents at Barrier Free Living's  Freedom House  emergency shelter this March. The goal in the next 4 weeks, says Shine coordinators, is to "have clients set and achieve their savings goals for housing." The mission of Shine Foundation is to improve the financial health of homeless abuse survivors in NYC and Baltimore.  First session residents identified over $400 in savings. For additional… read more

Tom Obrzut, Director of Barrier Free Living Apartments (photo, at right)  and Jonathan Berkley, Social Worker at BFL Apartments (at left), attended Social Work in the City, the 2nd Annual National Association of Social Workers Conference held March 14 in New York City. The conference enables licensed social workers to obtain 6 continuing education contact hours while sharing in a collective experience with a large gathering of colleagues, peers… read more

A Denim Day Rally and other related events are planned for New York City in April Denim Day Rally/Press Conference: April 27, 2016 11:00 a.m. City Hall Steps New York, NY 10007 Denim Day NYC is a coalition of community agencies, elected officials, students, and volunteers united to promote awareness around the issue of sexual assault. Denim Day grew out of a case in which a rape conviction was overturned because the judge reasoned the victim’s tight jeans meant that she had to have helped her… read more

Nyle DiMarco, an actor, model and spokesman is the first deaf contestant to appear on Dancing With The Stars and is already wowing the judges. He is a native New Yorker and was born into a large multigenerational deaf family. He is an alumnus of Gallaudet University, the only liberal arts university in the world for the deaf. He was the stand out star and winner of America's Next Top Model's Cycle… read more

Second Chance Toys & a group of teens with Hatch and SheKnows Media delivered toys to the kids of BFL Apartments this March. The teens brought pizza and cupcakes and delivered the toys to children living at the complex… read more

The 8th Annual ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival kicked off last Thursday night with opening remarks from actor Mark Ruffalo and a screening of the film Margarita, With a Straw. Closing night, which is March 16, features the NY premiere of In Harmony from director Denis Dercourt at 7 p.m.  at JCC Manhattan  334 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10023. The screening is followed by Q&A and closing night reception.… read more

Fred Alger Management Inc.  donated colorful Easter baskets to the young tenants of Barrier Free Living Apartments this March. BFL Apartments, which opened in 2015, offers permanent homes to survivors of domestic violence with disabilities and their families as well as veterans with disabilities. “On behalf of Fred Alger Management, Inc. and the Alger Candlelight Giving Committee, we are proud of the work you do to ensure the… read more

Leaders from nonprofits and government met in lower Manhattan February 25 to assess the systemic threats to New York’s nonprofit providers, the New York Nonprofit Media reports. At the panel discussion, hosted by the Association for a Better New York, the Human Services Council, a membership organization that represents many of the most prominent social services nonprofits, unveiled a new report that used the closure of FEGS as a springboard to… read more

Toward the end of Lady Gaga's powerhouse performance of the Oscar nominated "Til It Happens to You"  on Sunday night a curtain parted onstage, and dozens of men and women stepped forward, all of them survivors of sexual assault. They brandished phrases on their forearms like "Survivor," "You Are Love," "Unbreakable" and "Not Your Fault." The song, co-written by Gaga and Diane Warren, is from "The Hunting Ground," a CNN Films documentary about sexual assaults on American college and university… read more

Following sold-out runs at Stage 72, The Bijou Theatre, United Solo Festival, Barrington Stage Company (Tony-Award winning William Finn’s Cabaret Series) and a nationwide tour, the incredibly talented and inspirational Amy Oestreicher will bring her hit one-woman musical Gutless & Grateful back to NYC as part of the Emerging Arts Theatre’s New Works Series on March 11th at 9pm. In this moving evening of song, performer Amy Oestreicher weaves her near death experience and unique personal story with an… read more

Presented by JCC Manhattan, the 8th Annual ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories, and artistic expressions of people with different abilities. The festival presents award-winning films in various locations throughout the NY metropolitan area. Discussions and other engaging programs bring the community together to explore, discuss, and celebrate the diversity of our shared human experience. Tickets go on sale on Feb 11! The Opening… read more

The newly formed Tenant Advisory Committee held its inaugural meeting on January 22, 2016 at Barrier Free Living Apartments. Ten members attended to discuss issues relating to holiday events, support groups and building environment issues. The group's elected officers thus far are: public relations,Carol Johnson; public relation assistant, Myra Ormond-Pitts; secretary/party coordinator, Soloma Drumo.… read more

Freedom House Emergency Domestic Violence shelter hosted a book fair for young residents in January, trumpeting the call that "Today's Readers will be Tomorrow's Leaders." The fair, which drew shelter residents aged 4 to 12, was made possible due to an In-Kind donation of dozens of  books, workbooks and other literature.  Children shared ideas and perused books, discussing the merits of reading. The event was led by the… read more

The Blaze reports: Justin Anderson, an Iraq War veteran from Omaha, Nebraska, is not finished serving his fellow citizens. The amputee has found a way to alleviate his neighbors of the burden of heavy Omaha snowfall — all while confined to a wheelchair. Last winter, Anderson converted his off-road wheelchair into a one-man snow plow. He added a blade to the front and used the chair’s on-the-fly tilt as a lever to adjust the blade as he pushed snow. Read the story… read more

Nicolyn Plummer, Social Worker at Barrier Free Living's Secret Garden Domestic Violence Program, was one of three Deaf/Hard of Hearing advocates who testified on communication access for the Deaf/Hard of hearing at the council committee on technology and public safety on 1/14/2016 in New York City. Plummer says part of the mission is "making text to 911 accessible for everyone." View testimony video here.… read more

Barrier Free Living honored the life of Theresa McIntosh (pictured here) at a special event that drew friends and supporters on January 12, 2016. Read about Theresa here. At the event, poet and tenant of Barrier Free Living apartments Felicia Ridges performed her moving poem, Knock Knock. View a performance of Knock Knock here.… read more