North BK Mutual Aid Community Update - 08/20
A semi-regular email update to highlight ongoing initiatives and ways to get involved within the North Brooklyn neighborhood!
Hi neighbors,
It’s been a few weeks and it looks like we’re due for another update! Before jumping in, we’d like to first thank everyone who has supported our Mutual Aid group, either by spreading the word or donating their time and resources. We would not be able to continue this important work in North Brooklyn without your help! Now, without further ado, here’s what we’ve been up to…
North Brooklyn Mutual Aid by the Numbers
906 active volunteers (and counting!)
Over 50 volunteers weekly supporting local food pantries with deliveries and distributions*
Over 10,407 masks delivered in partnership with Face Mask Aid (big shoutout)
Over 16,350 pounds of composting so far (now that’s quite the haul!)
Over $12,590 in donations via Open Collective
*North Brooklyn Mutual Aid has partnered with a variety of non-profit and community organizations such as World Central Kitchen, North Brooklyn Angels, Bushwick-Hylan, Lindsay Park, Northside Senior Center, and more…
**Initiative of the Month**
North Brooklyn Housing Defense offers support and solidarity in an effort to build power among residential tenants at risk of eviction. Members of this initiative respond to requests for housing assistance by establishing meaningful relationships with tenants in need in our community, documenting concerns and isolating issues that may benefit from further support, and then either (a) filling in information gaps by coordinating access to resources or (b) advocating on behalf of the tenant for free legal support from a public interest legal service provider. Secure, habitable housing is a human right, and North Brooklyn Housing Defense takes the position that our ability to defend this right, both during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, is rooted in sustainable relationships with our neighbors at risk of eviction. Contact them via email or Google voice number 732-963-1309.
**Please share this information with your neighors.**
Community Projects––Get Involved!
North Brooklyn Census — With less than 40 days to go, North Brooklyn has a 53% response rate for the 2020 Census. Join a new Mutual Aid initiative to help get our neighbors counted.
GET INVOLVED — Sign up to volunteer & follow us at @nbkcensus. Make sure to fill out your Census form today to ensure that you, your neighbors, and our city gets the money, power, and voice we deserve.
North Brooklyn Narratives Oral History Project just launched and seeks oral historians to collect and preserve accounts of life in Greenpoint & Williamsburg in 2020.
GET INVOLVED — They will be hosting a socially distanced meet up and oral history training session on Saturday, August 22nd at 2pm in McGoldrick Park. Click here to learn more and sign-up!
Essentially Open North Brooklyn is a community mapping tool that helps neighbors identify businesses in Greenpoint and Williamsburg that are providing services during the pandemic.
North Brooklyn Compost Project is collecting food scraps from North Brooklyn residents. Collection is on Sundays from 10am-1pm at McGoldrick Park Farmers Market. If you’d like to help keep this initiative running or can donate storage space near McGolrick Park for bins and shovels, send Katie a note.
Greenpoint Community Fridge continues strong — located at 17 Nassau Ave beside Lot Radio — take what you need, give what you can. Watch out for more up and coming community fridges around North Brooklyn!
Neighborly reminder — if there is anything we can do to help you or your neighbors, please fill out our Request Form. You can also reach us at greenpointhelpers@gmail.com or call our voicemail system at 646-389-6016.
We couldn’t be more excited to have you here and supporting the North Brooklyn neighborhood!
Warmly,
North Brooklyn Mutual Aid team
North Brooklyn Mutual Aid is a grassroots, volunteer-led network of neighbors supporting neighbors in need and building a more sustainable, equitable community.
Stay informed on all things North Brooklyn Mutual Aid by following us on Instagram, connecting to our Slack Hub or joining our Facebook group.