The health of our residents is integral to the strength of our community. The conversations about nutrition and mental health are crucial to achieving our dreams.
The most valuable asset in our community is the people.
Lifting each other up is the Brooklyn Way. Spread Love.
Closing the socioeconomic gap for the residents in the community takes a village.
Join our village to help bring positive change to our neighborhood.
Working with a purpose. Address racial inequality in East New York by closing the socioeconomic gap for the residents, uplifting the community through a multi-phased plan focused on Nutrition Education, Mental Health Outreach, Youth Mentorship, and Employment Outreach.
Today, East New York is similar to any underserved community in the world. Lack of funding and resources creates a community that is in perpetual need of assistance, but this was not always the case in East New York, as race discrimination began to play a factor. By the 1930s, East New York was widely regarded as a stable, working class community, boasting of great housing stock, schools and low crime. After World War II, however, the neighborhood unfortunately experienced a slow decline that it is still recovering from today. After the war, the city lost a great number of manufacturing jobs at the same time as large numbers of Puerto Ricans and African Americans were arriving in the city seeking employment. East New York was hit particularly hard in the 1970s by the FHA Mortgage Scandal and the unethical, racially-charged real estate practice of “blockbusting,” which resulted in home foreclosure and abandonment. Unemployment, drug abuse and crime became commonplace in East New York, and its notorious reputation unfortunately lingers today.
In recent years, East New York has begun to experience a rebirth. Vacant lots have been transformed into community gardens; well-maintained homes have helped to revitalize blocks; desolate sections under the elevated train tracks now exhibit vibrant murals; and diverse groups are working to enhance the neighborhood. Now is the time to continue that push for a better East New York.
Longstanding and rising income inequality, combined with a history of racial residential segregation, has led to startling health inequities, quality education access, and lack of employment attainment between neighborhoods. Such negative circumstances tend to cluster in places that people of color call home and where many residents live in poverty, diverting what could be a dream realized and achieved. This is the case in Brooklyn, East New York which has a population of 0ver 183k, with a minority base of 52% Black residents and 37% Hispanic. Policies and practices based on a history of racism and discrimination (often referred to as institutional racism) have created neighborhoods with high rates of poverty and limited access to resources. 30% of residents in East New York live in poverty and lead the city in categories detrimental to overall wellness; 35% rate of obesity with only 5% of food establishments being supermarkets, 14% educational attainment for residents over 25 receiving a college degree, and an unemployment rate of nearly 10%. The practice of removing funding or refusing to provide funding to communities of color has caused poor outcomes to cluster in these communities. A person’s health, access to education, employment, nutrition, and achieving their dreams should not be determined by his or her ZIP code.
Dreams Achieved understands that education and fostering genuine relationships with the community are the foundation for positive change for its residents. To drive systemic change to address systemic issues Dreams Achieved will focus on a four-year multi-phased plan, addressing Nutritional Education for Youth and Adults, Mental Health Outreach connections for ENY residents, educating them on identifying and the value of seeking mental health when needed, Mentorship program for youth (utilizing college students, recent grads, and professionals), providing tangible examples of possibilities for post-secondary education completion, and Employment education and attainment outreach referral.
To that endeavor, Dreams Achieved will not only partner with local agencies, schools, and community leaders but implement a strategic plan to engage community residents and begin to close the socioeconomic gap.
“Investing in Brooklyn means investing in the people who reside there. We commend and support Dreams Achieved for doing the work in the community to foster tangible change”
Alison W.
Co-Founder, Iconic Cheer Elite
Paris M.
East New York Resident
Your life matters. Your experiences matter. Your health matters.
Your well-being matters. Together, we can achieve our dreams.
