New Visions Blog

The Barrier Free Living Speakers Bureau has released its winter holiday newsletter. The 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.The Speakers Bureau provides training and encouragement to disabled Survivors of Domestic Violence. Click here to view the newsletter.… read more

A Teen Art Sale to benefit the children of Barrier Free Living's Freedom House Emergency Shelter will be held December 15, from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM at Hastings Yoga, 45 Main St., Hastings on Hudson NY. Freedom House  is nationally recognized as the first fully accessible emergency shelter for disabled victims of domestic violence and their families. All proceeds will go toward purchasing art supplies for the shelter kids. View the flyer. To organize an event to benefit… read more

Hearts of Gold, which has taken on BFL's Freedom House emergency shelter as a sponsored program, held its Fiesta Latina Gala this past month. Pictured at the gala are: left to right - Rhonda Ross, Board of Directors of Hearts of Gold; Myra Ricard, Director of Social Services at Freedom House; and Deborah Koenigsberger, Founder and Executive Director of Hearts of Gold… read more

A special ribbon cutting ceremony was held at BFL's Freedom House program to kick off Heart's of Gold sponsoring the shelter for the next year. The Hearts of Gold mission is to "foster sustainable change in lifestyle and levels of self-sufficiency for homeless mothers and their children. " Hearts of Gold's next event at Freedom House is a Halloween party in October for the children and families residing at the domestic… read more

Toy and gift donations from The Kids Wish Network, FPWA and Manhattan-based Holy Trinity Church brighten the holidays for the children residing at Freedom House Emergency Shelter. This year, Kids Wish included Barrier Free Living in its special Gift Bank delivering 1 pallet (650lbs) of brand new toys, games, educational items and more to the children.  BFL is part of the Kids Wish Hero of the Month program aimed at "children between the ages of 3 and 18… read more

Theresa MacIntosh, founder of BFL's Survivor's Speaker's Bureau, participated in artist Suzanne Lacy's Between the Door and the Street, a political performance that brought together close to 400 women in Brooklyn. "It was an absolutely awesome experience and the first time our Speaker's Bureau participants were able to speak. They made me so proud," said MacIntosh, pictured at center with her group. Barrier Free Living. Inc. Speakers Bureau was founded in May 2012 by… read more

Volunteers from Manhattan's RPG firm will transform the Freedom House Emergency Shelter child care area into a joyful jungle this fall. Lead by Ellen L. Friedman, Executive Vice President at RPG (Ellen is a member of AWARE which took on Freedom House last year as a partner program) the volunteers are planning a dynamic new paint design of the space (image above) which serves 54 kids. "The children we… read more

AWARE (Assisting Women through Action, Resources and Education) hosted a Family Health Fair at Freedom House Emergency Shelter on September 28. The group  also donated a new baby stroller to a consumer at BFL's Secret Garden Domestic Violence program this month (picture above). The Freedom House event, CARE FOR YOURSELF, CARE FOR YOUR FAMILY, CARE FOR YOUR FUTURE included doctors, nurses, nutritionists & other healthcare experts engaging with the shelter residents and… read more

Nicole Lesser has joined the BFL team as Director of the agency's Freedom House Emergency Shelter. An expert in the area of violence against women, Nicole brings 20 years of experience to her new position.  She has specialized in collaborative systematic change, nonprofit management and program design. What drew you to BFL as an agency and Freedom House as a program? What about the agency mission appeals to you?… read more

Freedom House will hold its 'Leaf it to Kids' fall foliage event on Thursday, September 12, 2013 from 1-4pm (for ages 1-4yrs). The event is sponsored by Moodys. Moody's 14 volunteers will participate, working along side staff on a host of activities… read more

Hearts of Gold, in conjunction with The Thrifty Hog boutique, sponsored an end of summer event to benefit homeless mothers and children, donating gifts to the kids of Freedom House Emergency Shelter. "The children each received a backpack with supplies, a new pair of sneakers, an outfit, and gift card to Children's Place," said Cynthia Amodeo, Director of Family Services at Freedom House. "At the end there was a red carpet where the families took photos with a… read more

A resident of BFL's Freedom House Emergency Shelter shares gratitude and hope. "As many of our families, I came from a place of despair, my children and I unsure of what would happen next, had to flee for our lives.  When I came to the pick up location, I was nervous and scared.  This woman approached me so shy like and kind.  She said “Hi, calling my name softly, I said yes” and my new life began.  When I arrived… read more

CODES OF HOPE, an  innovative six-week curriculum highlighting the aspects of inter-generational trauma and its relationship to domestic violence, held a graduation event for participants from BFL’s Secret Garden and Freedom House programs. Marcella Goheen and Thea Martinez are co-facilitators of CODES OF HOPE.  Activities include inventive approaches to healing, such as a dinner party theater game exploring the dynamics of power and control.Inspired by The Maria Project’s story of… read more

Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness reports in its Uncensored Summer Issue on BFL Freedom House's vibrant Beyond Freedom Group. In the article Pearl Brownstein writes about the post-shelter support group for DV survivors.  In the article “The Unlikely Homeless: One Woman’s Experience in a Domestic--violence Shelter,” published in the Fall 2012 issue of UNCENSORED, Brownstein wrote about what led her to seek shelter and about the value of her time there. Read the full article here.… read more

AWARE organized and hosted a Family Carnival for the residents of Freedom House, the country's only domestic violence shelter for disabled residents. The Carnival featured face-painting, glitter tattoos, a photo booth, basketball, live music, cotton-candy and even an appearance by Elmo.  The event hosted nearly 135 residents and approximately 35 AWARE volunteers. AWARE (Assisting Women through Action, Resources & Education) is a grass-roots organization dedicated to promoting awareness and generating funds in order to make meaningful improvements in the… 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 enjoyed a live performance… read more

Residents of BFL's Freedom House Emergency Shelter graduated from the EASE program this April. The ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT (EASE) PROGRAM, created by Robert Hawkins and Alisha Ali of New York University, helps to equip survivors of domestic violence with resources to secure sustainable employment. Pictured at the graduation are: (left to right) Zoila Vargas, Freedom House Entitlements worker; Tysheene Neely, Freedom House, Housing Specialist; Robert Hawkins, Ph.D, NYU professor; Nickeema Coy… read more

Freedom House Emergency Shelter launched a vibrant new Adult Poetry Club.  The club allows residents to "express themselves through creative writing in order to promote positive mental health while sharing their creative writing with the members of the group." The group was led by the Occupational Therapy team;  Residents contributed to the booklet which was designed and put together by Patrice C. Queen. View the poetry clubs booklet by clicking here.… read more

Since 2010 the Kids Wish Network has honored more than 30 children at Freedom House Emergency Shelter with a Hero of the Month award. The honorees of this program are children between the ages of 3 and 18 who have faced and overcome difficult circumstances, often enduring a great deal of pain and suffering. "This really speaks to the children's  courage during time of hardship, as their families enter our domestic violence shelter… read more

A Resident at BFL's Freedom House Emergency Shelter sent a letter to staff expressing gratitude about her healing journey and how she gained  strength as she moved through obstacles. Click here to read the inspiring letter… read more

AWARE organized and hosted a Family Carnival at BFL's Freedom House Emergency Shelter on April 13, bringing hope and laughter to survivors of domestic violence and their families.   The Carnival featured face-painting, glitter tattoos, a photo booth, basketball, live music, cotton-candy and an appearance by Elmo.  AWARE'S  Ellen L. Friedman said " I think it was… read more

CODES OF HOPE, an  innovative six-week curriculum highlighting the aspects of inter-generational trauma and its relationship to domestic violence, is working with participants at BFL's Secret Garden and Freedom House programs. Activities include inventive approaches to healing, such as a dinner party theater game exploring the dynamics of power and control. Marcella Goheen and Thea Martinez are co-facilitators of CODES OF HOPE.  Inspired by The Maria Project’s story of Maria Salazar, the CODES OF HOPE curriculum reflects an interdisciplinary approach… read more

Created in 2012, Beyond Freedom is a transitional support group that grew from the agency’s mission to guide people with disabilities to lead dignified lives free of abuse. It was spearheaded by BFL’s Freedom House Emergency Shelter team. The idea was to create a dynamic group where current and former Freedom House residents meet weekly to discuss experiences, progress, challenges, barriers and success as they navigate life after residential… read more

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

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

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

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

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

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