Arab American Association of New York (AAANY) was founded in 2001 by Arab immigrant and Arab American leaders in Bay Ridge to advocate for the community in the wake of the September 11th attacks. Today, AAANY serves Brooklyn’s Arab immigrant, refugee, and Muslim communities, helping over 6,000 beneficiaries annually through its women’s empowerment and adult literacy programs, immigration legal assistance, mental health and domestic violence support services, and youth programming.

For free legal services and representation to meet the unmet needs of immigrant and undocumented children in partnership with community high schools.

For programs that strengthen Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian immigrant youth’s academic achievement, creative expression and healthy behaviors.

To provide court-mandated arts diversion programs for youth that engage them in social justice issues through the creation of large-scale public art projects.

To empower court-involved youth to drive policy reforms, including #buildCOMMUNITIES Campaign to reinvest money divested from the NYC justice system through closure of Rikers back into communities to support proven community-based solutions and services. JLUSA was formerly known as “JustLeadershipUSA.”