AAFSC is proud to celebrate our very own Farah Salam, who was honored with the United Neighborhood Houses (UNH) 2020 Civic Advocacy award due to her work around the 2020 Census, Public Charge, and COVID-19.
Community Health & Well-Being, Civic Engagement & Know-Your-Rights
As New York continues to weather COVID-19, AAFSC remains on the front line providing uninterrupted service to immigrant and refugee community members. Learn more about how we’re balancing safety with presence for our clients during this crisis.
Community Health & Well-Being
AAFSC was proud to speak with the Texas Tribune about the barriers and exclusions that prevent Arab-Americans from fully participating in data collection efforts like the census.
Racial Equity & Inclusion, Civic Engagement & Know-Your-Rights
Every October, AAFSC rededicates ourselves to breaking the cycle of domestic and gender-based violence. Learn more about what activities are going on this month and how we’re adapting to COVID-19.
Anti-Violence Program
In partnership with the Protecting Immigrant Families campaign, AAFSC is urging Senate leadership to push forward the HEROES Act and ensure our immigrant families are not left behind.
Community Health & Well-Being, Legal Services
Immigrants are bearing the brunt of COVID-19. The data being collected by New York, however, fails to capture this and limits our ability to fully understand who is disproportionately impacted by this public health crisis so that we can better respond in the future.
Community Health & Well-Being, Racial Equity & Inclusion
Ramadan is traditionally a time when the Muslim community partakes in uplifting communal activities, including group prayer and feasts. This year, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic means making difficult changes to Ramadan to adapt to social distancing directives.
Food Security Initiatives, Community Health & Well-Being
The coronavirus (COVID-19) is upending the 2020 Census, disrupting an already fragile operation that faced immense challenges in counting marginalized populations. The Guardian recently intervewied AAFSC about how COVID-19 has changed our 2020 Census outreach plans.
Racial Equity & Inclusion, Civic Engagement & Know-Your-Rights
For decades, the U.S. government has categorized people with roots in the Middle East or North Africa as white on the decennial census. AAFSC joined NPR for a conversation about this gap in the question about race and what being left out yet again in 2020 Census means to those communities.
Racial Equity & Inclusion, Civic Engagement & Know-Your-Rights
The 2020 Census is coming up and AAFSC is working hard to ensure every New Yorker is counted! Feeling unprepared? Read our informative FAQs post to learn more about what the Census is, why it is important, how to fill it out, and what languages it will be available in.
Racial Equity & Inclusion, Civic Engagement & Know-Your-Rights
AAFSC considers every day an opportunity to celebrate racial and cultural diversity but we are taking dedicated time this February to reflect on the crucial role that the Black community has played in shaping our history and how we can all collectively serve as better allies and advocates.
Racial Equity & Inclusion
On January 31, 2020, the Trump Administration aimed a new attack at immigrant communities by signing a presidential proclamation expanding the Muslim Ban to six additional countries: Burma, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania.
Legal Services
On January 27, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 in favor of allowing new changes to “public charge” that seek to target immigrants, which had been halted in October 2019, to now be implemented at the discretion of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Community Health & Well-Being, Legal Services
To kick off 2020, AAFSC was proud to host a Citizenship Celebration to recognize AAFSC students who became citizens in 2019, as well as honor the legacy of Sharrif Wilson through a Day of Service.
Adult Readiness
For immigrants and refugees across New York and beyond, 2019 was an alarming and tumultuous year. In the face of rising xenophobia, racism, and hate, AAFSC doubled down and strengthened our commitment to our mission.
AAFSC is pleased to announce it has received an award from the NYC Complete Count Fund — a partnership between CUNY, Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York City Council.
Racial Equity & Inclusion, Civic Engagement & Know-Your-Rights
AAFSC’s New Immigrants and Refugees Fund was recently featured on BRIC TV, exploring the effect debt has on immigrant and refugee families.
Emergency Fund
The U.S. Census, set to be distributed in mid-March, is one of the most important events taking place in 2020. An undercount in the 2020 Census puts New York at risk of losing funding, resources, and more.
Racial Equity & Inclusion, Civic Engagement & Know-Your-Rights
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Monday, August 12th that the proposed changes to the public charge rule have been finalized and will take effect on Tuesday, October 15th. Learn what this means and next steps to take.
Legal Services, Civic Engagement & Know-Your-Rights
The All Of Us Research Program seeks to prioritize precision medicine which would benefit all communities, including AMEMSA communities, which are currently underrepresented in our healthcare system.
Community Health & Well-Being
Throughout Pride Month and on World Refugee Day, AAFSC is taking time to acknowledge the intersection between the fight for full human rights across LGBTQIA+, immigrant, and refugee spaces.
AAFSC was 1 of 16 non-profits across the U.S. selected to win a 2019 National Grant through USA TODAY’s A Community Thrives Program!
AAFSC partnered with the Brooklyn Children’s Museum to host an Eid Celebration, welcoming Brooklynites to learn the story of Eid al-Fitr and interact with a variety of exciting activities.
Young Adult & Youth Program
Reuters reported that the Department of Justice (DOJ) drafted a proposal that would make it easier for the current administration to deport U.S. lawful permanent residents who use critical public benefits.
Community Health & Well-Being, Legal Services
AAFSC’s President and CEO, Rawaa Nancy Albilal, was interviewed live on WBAI Radio 99.5FM NYC speaking about the rise of hate crimes in New York and the services AAFSC provides to our immigrant and refugee community.
Legal Services
AAFSC applauds the introduction of legislation in both houses of Congress today proposing to end the anti-Muslim Travel Ban that has torn families apart and shamed our country.
Legal Services
The upcoming U.S. Census will be collecting responses in Arabic for the first time in history – but it will also be heading online. AAFSC was featured in NPR speaking about the accessibility of the #Census2020.
Civic Engagement & Know-Your-Rights
AAFSC is proud to partner with the Brooklyn Borough President and local community based organizations to present the annual Arab-American Heritage Celebration on April 4 at Brooklyn Borough Hall.
For decades, the State Department has funded travel loans to refugees that must be paid back to resettlement agencies who keep a portion of the payments. Some advocates think they should not be taking money from those they are trying to help.
Legal Services
AAFSC was proud to join the Youth Rally Against Hate hosted by Council Member Chaim Deutsch. Our Youth Program participant, Malaz Gadai, represented AAFSC by giving a personal statement against hate crimes in our city.
Young Adult & Youth Program, Civic Engagement & Know-Your-Rights
We are proud to recognize Black History Month and remember those who helped pave the way for all marginalized people.
Racial Equity & Inclusion
Every ten years, the U.S. Census Bureau sets out to count every single person living in the United States. What does this mean for the communities we serve, and why is there so much fuss more than a year ahead of Census Day in 2020?
Racial Equity & Inclusion, Civic Engagement & Know-Your-Rights
Our successful two-day Reclaiming Our Health (ROH) Workshop on February 2-3 welcomed community members from across the city in support of our Brooklyn-wide Mental Health Initiative.
Mental Health Initiatives
AAFSC is proud to partner with Maimonides Medical Center’s Community Care of Brooklyn (CCB) and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to host a two-day Mental Health Initiative Workshop on February 2-3.
Mental Health Initiatives
Women in marginalized communities suffer cervical cancer disproportionately because of limited access to care, resources, and knowledge. AAFSC works daily to bridge this gap in our healthcare system.
Community Health & Well-Being
As we continue reflecting on the new year, we are proud to share our continued commitment to inclusion and social equity in 2019.
Young Adult & Youth Program
A Little Neck teen used his Eagle Scout service project to give back to refugees at AAFSC.
Our healthcare system historically has not taken into account the diversity of those living in the U.S. Thanks to the All of Us Research Program and precision medicine, this gap in our healthcare system can be a thing of the past.
Community Health & Well-Being
New proposals to “Public Charge” are taking aim at immigrants and refugees by threatening their health, safety, and livelihoods. Learn more about what public charge is, who it may affect, and how to take action today to protect our community.
Legal Services
AAFSC proudly supports over 302 refugees in paying back exorbitant travel loans to the International Office of Migration, making their transition to life in the United States just a bit easier.
Emergency Fund, Legal Services
Read the story of an Iraqi refugee who fled death threats in his homeland and now helps other refugees resettle in Brooklyn as AAFSC’s Director of Community Outreach.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and today is NYC Go Purple Day – a citywide day of awareness and action against domestic violence. Victims of domestic abuse and violence in the immigrant and refugee…
Anti-Violence Program
October 10th is World Mental Health Day, a day for mental health workers and those dealing with mental illness to discuss their experiences, breaking the stigma around mental illness, and more. There is no health…
Mental Health Initiatives
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed a change to public charge, which threatens the health, safety, and livelihood of immigrants and refugees and in so doing, the very core of our nation. Rawaa…
Legal Services
We are thrilled to partner on this incredibly important initiative and look forward to working with the Mayor’s Office to support all those affected by violence.
Anti-Violence Program
A young couple who fled death threats in their native Iraq when they were teenagers are now raising their young daughter in Sheepshead Bay through AAFSC’s New Immigrants and Refugees Fund.
Look around you. Do you hear people speaking in different languages? Do you see people practicing different cultural traditions? Do you see people observing different religions? Although the United States is just one country, it…
Community Health & Well-Being, Racial Equity & Inclusion
The second-annual World Refugee Day Festival connected asylum seekers with city groups that help them resettle locally, including AAFSC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 26, 2018 Contact: Hannah McIntire, hannah@aafscny.org, 718-643-8000 ext. 23 The Arab-American Family Support Center Stands in Solidarity with Those Affected by the SCOTUS’ Travel Ban Ruling New York, June 26,…
Legal Services
AAFSC’s President and CEO told HuffPost that she’s witnessed a rise in hate crimes and acts of discrimination in her community over the past few years.
In light of the Supreme Court’s decision on the Travel Ban, AAFSC staff and community members joined Governor Andrew Cuomo in solidarity with the immigrants that make our city a rich and vibrant place.
The Arab-American Family Support Center launched a Mental Health Initiative in partnership with Maimonides Hospital and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and community stakeholders.
On Wednesday, April 27th, several AAFSC staff members joined more than 25 other organizations from all over New York City to participate in Asian Pacific American Advocacy Day – a day that included legislative meetings…
Arab-American heritage was honored by Borough President Eric Adams’ “Embrace Your Hyphen” series, through which he encourages Brooklynites to embrace whichever part of the world they are from.
Run to support immigrants and refugees in your community on April 29th! AAFSC is taking part in the Generosity Series 5k on April 29, 2018. Join us for a run/walk in prospect park at…
In honor of Muslim Women’s Day on March 28th, and Arab Mother’s Day on March 21st, please enjoy another short story by one of our female students! “In the name of Allah, I’m happy because…
A family of Iraqi refugees who fled Baghdad amid death threats from terror groups built a new life in Bay Ridge with the support of AAFSC’s New Immigrants and Refugees Fund.
“Thoughts From Our Beautiful Life: A Collection of Short Stories from the Ladies of the Arab American Family Support Center”, is a small bound book of poems and stories written by some of the ladies…
For nearly 25 years, AAFSC’s Youth Program has provided tutoring, enrichment activities, and a space for young people to engage with their communities. One of our most important features is that most of our staff…
AAFSC’s Brooklyn headquarters serve one of the largest Yemeni communities in the United States. On February 2nd, 2017, thousands of Yemeni bodega owners and their friends, families, and supporters protested the Muslim Ban at Borough…
United Neighborhood Houses, a collection of settlement houses and community centers throughout the five boroughs, has been working in Albany this past week to restore and increase funding for four key issues– the Settlement House…
February 2, 2018 marks the one-year anniversary of the Yemeni Bodega strike – a citywide response to Muslim Ban 1.0, which abruptly banned visitors and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations: Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Syria, Libya,…
Nasma is 10 years old, a member of AAFSC’s Youth Program and a talented poet! Let her explain for herself. I Am From I am from my huge community. I am from the school I…
After years of trying to flee a war-torn Syria, the Jwan Kanj family are relieved to finally live peacefully in their new Bay Ridge community thanks to AAFSC’s New Immigrants and Refugees Fund.
AAFSC’s Audacious Young Women of Action! (AYWA!) Program presents “Stomp Out the Muslim Ban” — an evening in Brooklyn filled with art and music dedicated to social justice and activism.
The Arab-American family Support Center has a campaign to raise money to pay off the travel debts of refugees like the Al Samakeh family, who left everything behind in Syria.
This summer, AAFSC hosted Amanda Haydar as our Development and Communications Intern. Amanda is a rising senior at Lebanese American University in Byblos, Lebanon, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Political Science. After graduation, she…
AAFSC is proud to join Muslim and immigrant advocates across New York City to continue fighting for equity and the opportunities of our communities against the bigoted executive order.
AAFSC is proud to work with the Mayor’s Office in a citywide anti-discrimination campaign. We are committed to creating a safer environment for all New Yorkers to thrive in.
The meaning of this poem are the qualities of Muslim women that make me feel proud that I am a Muslim when I talk about it. When I wrote this poem I didn’t have to…
On Friday, March 10th, our youth and teens took to the streets of Brooklyn to protest President Trump’s bigoted executive orders and stand united against hate. Students from our Youth Program gathered with friends and…
My name is Sheima. I’m the new Development & Communications and Youth program intern. I come Monday-Friday 2pm-5pm. I’m 16 years old, I’m from Yemen and I live in Brooklyn, New York with my family. I’m 11th grade…
On Tuesday, February 14, lawyers, Yemeni grandmothers, neighborhood allies, and other community members gathered at our Brooklyn office to take a stand against hate and learn more about navigating the current political climate. In response…
by Susan Schneider In my four years as a volunteer ESL teacher with the Adult Education and Literacy program at the Arab-American Family Support Center (AAFSC), I have always been in awe of my immigrant…
After Trump signed his executive order, nine young women met at AAFSC to study for the citizenship exam.
Civic engagement is a key component of AAFSC’s youth program. On Wednesday, October 19th, Saif, 10, testified at City Hall to share his experience of being bullied at school for his identity as an Arab…
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the addition of five new languages, including Arabic, available on voter registration forms. An Operating Officer at AAFSC has been pushing to get more people in his community to sign up to vote.
In a display of true athletic ability and fabulous teamwork, AAFSC’s soccer team, the Yemen Cobras, became the NYPD Youth Soccer League champions on Tuesday, August 30th at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens. The…
Fadi, 17-years-old, has been coming to AAFSC since he first arrived to New York from Yemen 10 years ago. This summer, Fadi taught his very own fashion class every Thursday at our 6-week summer…
With the current climate of hatred and Islamophobia in the United States, Muslims from New York come together to say We Are Not Invisible! In the media, average Muslims are not visually represented and…
One of our Youth Program students, Moheeb, has self-published a book of poetry! Moheeb is a 5th grader at P.S. 261 in Brooklyn and created his poetry collection, “The Open Poetry,” for a school project. Here he…
Alf mabrook to our high school student Naef Othman, who was awarded a 2016 United Neighborhood Houses Viacom Scholarship. When Naef arrived to New York from Yemen, he did not know English. He first visited our…
The Girls Club at AAFSC undertook a month long project that explored the lives and work of Arab females in the literary field. The girls focused on 6 Arab female writers that have had an…
Leen Shumman is one of our two youth fellows this year, who has been with AAFSC for quite a long time. Leen’s mom, Nidal Alloubane, has been working with AAFSC for 14 years and first…
Isabella Arroyo is one of our outstanding youth fellows this year. As a senior at Khalil Gibran International Academy she has been exposed to Arab culture during her high school years and joined AAFSC initially…
Going to the Arab American Summit was an incredible experience that I definitely won’t forget. It allowed me to meet other civic-minded youth and Arab American leaders from across the country that aspire to impact…
Last weekend, the National Network for Arab American Communities hosted its Arab American Summit in Michigan, which I was able to attend as part of my fellowship with NNAAC. Overall, it was a very engaging…
One of our talented high school students made it to New York Fashion Week this past September through designing and creating his own piece that was featured in Way Zen’s fashion show for her JSong…
In NYC, noncitizens are four times more likely than citizens to lack health insurance — but not enough immigrants are signing up for the state’s exchange under Obamacare, advocates worry. AAFSC hopes to change that.
Last week, students in our Youth Program were asked to write short essays about the things they care about as a way to practice their writing abilities. Two of the participants, Leen and Fadi, decided…
By Jake Karr AmeriCorps VISTA Youth Program Development Assistant On Monday, the students from our Youth ESL classes came together for a workshop led by Nancy Weber of…
To celebrate the National Day of Service, our AmeriCorps VISTAs Jake and Jacob coordinated a month-long food drive to provide for the immigrant and underserved communities with which we work. With support from the Khalil…
Jacob Agus-Kleinman AmeriCorps Vista Adult Education Development Assistant Hello, my name is Jacob Agus-Kleinman and I am excited to be working this year with the Arab American Family Support Center as an AmeriCorps VISTA as…
By Jake Karr AmeriCorps VISTA Youth Program Development Assistant So my fellow AmeriCorps member, Jacob, and I have been working with the Arab-American Family Support Center for more than a month now, and we still haven’t introduced…
By Jennifer Cohn AmeriCorps VISTA: Youth Program Development Assistant Saturday May 11th was the 9th annual National Arab American Day of Service. With projects in 12 cities across the US, Arab American organizations all over…
By: Jake Keyel, Youth Program Coordinator After school students took a trip to Bear Mountain on May 4th. Students hiked, rode paddle boats, and had a picnic lunch in the park. They also played basketball…
By: Claudia Wald Women’s Economic Empowerment Development Assistant International Women’s Day (IWD) is a globally celebrated on March 8th. The day commemorates the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. IWD…
By: Roberta Baum, Adult Education Instructor Susan Schneider, Adult Education Volunteer In a new initiative, teachers at the Arab-American Family Support Center (AAFSC) recently launched a Reading Buddy Project with Packer Collegiate Institute, a neighbor…
By Jennifer Cohn AmeriCorps VISTA: Youth Programs Development Assistant This week, March 9-17, is AmeriCorps Week. AmeriCorps Week is a week dedicated to recognizing the commitment of AmeriCorps members and alums by highlighting their impact…
By: Claudia Wald Women’s Economic Empowerment Development Assistant It has been more than four months since Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc across the Caribbean and up the East Coast of the United States, leaving thousands homeless…
