In this uncertain time, many immigrant New Yorkers will lean on the local community organizations that they trust and rely on for information and services. But many of these groups are facing just as dire a threat. Many are struggling with protecting the safety of their staff, and how to close their doors and work remotely given the extreme needs of our communities. They have limited financial reserves to enable them to weather changes in the funding climate. If this situation holds, New York’s immigrant communities — and the nonprofits that serve them — will bear the brunt of the damage to the state’s health, economy, and community.

While the particulars of the COVID-19 pandemic are unprecedented, this is not the first time New Yorkers have rallied together, in the midst of a great crisis, to support and uplift our most vulnerable. Only by standing united and working together can we ensure our own wellbeing through this outbreak and rewrite the rules to ensure better health for us all for generations to come. 

In Community,

 
Steve  Choi
Executive Director of the NYIC