Nyja Robbins, an alumni and ambassador of The Alex House Project, shared her experience during the COVID-19 pademic as part of our Brooklyn Insights 2020 process.

Today we are pleased to share with you the findings from our Brooklyn Insights 2020 process, which is informing over $3 million in new grants through the next phase of the Brooklyn COVID-19 Response Fund. 

The COVID-19 pandemic created a health crisis with far reaching impact; however, for communities that have been systematically marginalized, composed mainly of Black, Latinx, first- and second-generation immigrants, and low-income residents already facing multi-layered economic and social crises, it has greatly exacerbated existing inequities.

Anticipating these impacts, we created the Brooklyn COVID-19 Response Fund with an explicit focus on racial justice and centering communities of color. The Fund has since become the largest community-supported emergency response in the Foundation’s history. 

In the first phase of the Fund, we distributed $3.3 million through 420 grants to 246 organizations across our borough. This next phase of grantmaking will bring the Fund's total commitment to nearly $7 million.

Explore our Brooklyn Insights 2020 Findings Here
 

We began Phase 2 in Fall 2020 with Brooklyn Insights 2020, an eight-week community engagement process with residents in the hardest hit communities. 

Guided by the belief that those who are closest to the challenges are closest to the solutions, this process has allowed us to learn from, and partner with, the communities most impacted by the pandemic.

Through Brooklyn Insights 2020, we aimed to identify recommendations for community-led solutions to achieve structural change, as well as responsive relief for urgent ongoing needs. 

What We Heard + Solutions For Social Change

As part of our Brooklyn COVID-19 Response Fund next steps, we are releasing a Request for Proposals for Community-led Social Change Grants. This funding will provide five years of support for organizations addressing systemic injustice and structural oppression in Brooklyn through advocacy, community organizing and power building, and community collaborations through coalitions.View the RFP

Change Starts Here: Brooklyn Insights 2020
Monday, April 5th | 12:30 - 1:30PM

LEARN MORE: Join our VP of Programs and Partnerships Marcella Tillett, our Brooklyn Insights 2020 Community Engagement Consultant Renee K. Smith, and participants from the sessions as we share the findings of these community discussions, including community-led solutions to barriers of systemic inequity. RSVP

We know change starts here, and it starts with you. Please consider making a donation today to invest in a better future for Brooklyn.