MISSION • LOISAIDATV • ECOLIBRIUM • SENIOR DAY • FESTIVAL • CONTACT

December 9th, 2022

Hello The Loisaida,

The versatile team taking part in Loisaida's Climate Science Literacy program and initiative: Ecolibrium continue to gather weekly to discuss their findings, analyze data, and document their research. Now, with the launch of a website dedicated to the project; ecolibrium.nyc the team will be able to start sharing publicly crucial research, maps, real-time data and more information as the project moves steadily into the upcoming year. Send us your questions to: info@loisaida.org

Last month, during Loisaida's biggest ever Annual Community Turkey Drive event in partnership with Assembly member Hon. Harvey Epstein and together with 50+ community partners, individual supporters and sponsors, we distributed food to more than 900 families residing in the Lower East Side! Thank you!

Check out the distribution event's photo album courtesy of community leader and photographer David Sanders.

We invite you to visit City Lore's exhibition: RISE UP! The Art of Activism in the Lower East Side. The exhibition kicks off an oral history-based place-marking project honoring sites of cultural and arts activism in our neighborhood. The exhibition will open Friday. For more information, please email citylore@citylore.org

Lastly, over the past 6 months, quietly and successfully, Loisaida Inc., in partnership with Acacia Network and with the support of Trinity Church Wall Street have launched a FREE pilot program for asylum seekers. The pilot Language & Creative Arts Program specifically designed for asylum seekers whose first language is not English. The services being provided by Loisaida are after school Arts & Crafts workshops for children and their families, as well as an introductory 8 week intensive ESL/ESOL Program for hundreds of migrants living in over 8 temporary housing sites located in throughout Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and The Bronx.

More info below.

Ecolibrium's multi-disciplinary team continue to discuss, study, survey, research and learn more about ultra-local energy consumption, airborne toxins and environmental conditions in the LES. Our goal of improving overall public health and quality of life in our community begins with climate science literacy, technical training and social practice.

By using analog and digital tools, the team has developed and modified a comprehensive hazard map of the Lower East Side including data on our neighborhoods energy use, emissions, solar potential and stormwater runoff as well as surveying trees and its ecological benefits.

Ecolibrium is also launching its 2023 multimedia campaign in collaboration with Loisaida's M.U.J.E.R. program (Media Used for Justice, Equity and Respect) participants and recent alumni to focus on a socio-cultural approach to climate science literacy and enhance public awareness of our surrounding urban environment's health, needs and goals to arrive at short and long-term nature-based solutions that can reduce emissions and energy waste in our community.

Ecolibrium is funded by the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation, and the Office of Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, New York State Assembly member Harvey Epstein and the office of Council member Carlina Rivera.

Holistic energy efficiency building retrofits are urgently needed to help the Loisaida neighborhood adapt to climate change! Just as urgent is the need to train/upskill a local climate workforce to meet these demands. Climate Jobs are Good Jobs!

Check out some upcoming job training opportunities:

During the Summer of 2022, New York City began experiencing a surge in the numbers of undocumented migrants arriving in large numbers from Texas; by September, the number of migrants who had arrived at the City were estimated to exceed 9,000, according to CNN. Even more are expected to arrive by the end of year.

Many of these newly arrived immigrants hail from South American countries and had made a perilous journeys –often times on foot– to cross the United States’ border into Texas seeking asylum as they fled from violence and/or discrimination.

Because New York City is one of the few remaining municipalities around the Country to have a “Right to Shelter” mandate in effect, the state of Texas has not only encouraged migrants to travel to NYC, but it has arranged transportation –by the busloads– to thousands of asylum seekers.

Acacia Network has answered New York City’s call to support the waves of new arrivals by opening emergency transitional housing sites throughout the City, in partnership with the NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS). To date, they have opened eight (8) emergency transitional housing sites which, combined, provide shelter and social services to over 1,500 migrants of all ages, including families with children.

In our duty and commitment to serve vulnerable individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, income

status, country of origin, or citizenship status; Loisaida Inc. operates and develops an ambitious eight-week long Language & Creative Arts Program serving hundreds of migrant families.

Please join City Lore Gallery, 56 E. First Street for the opening of their new exhibition, Rise Up!: The Art of Activism on the Lower East Side on Friday, December 16th from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm.

Rise Up! The Art of Activism on the Lower East Side is an oral history-based place-marking project honoring sites of cultural and arts activism. Join us in celebrating neighbors, past and present, and raising a glass to the Lower East Side! Enjoy a performance by Sonido Costeño! 

Masks are mandatory. Capacity is limited. For more information, please email citylore@citylore.org

Senior Day Parranda Celebration

An annual tradition, this past Friday, December 2^nd

The last Senior Day of 2022 was a blowout! The Loisaida Center was packed with dozens of seniors and members of the community wanting to celebrate for the holiday season. There was so much food, music, dancing, and joy in the room and was the perfect way to end the year.

Special thanks to Wellcare, Vision Urbana, and UA3 Community First for sponsoring this event.

Our next Senior Day will be on Friday, February, 3^rd 2023. See you next year!

Loisaida Inc. and Assembly member Harvey Epstein's

4th Annual Community Turkey Drive

Over 900 local families served.

This year's annual Community Turkey Drive was the largest holiday distribution event in Loisaida's 4 year tradition. We handed out turkeys, perniles and dry goods to over 900 families and community members forming part of 10 Neighborhood Schools, 6 Houses of Worship, 10+ NYCHA buildings, and 10+ Community Based Organizations!

We would like to acknowledge the support of our sponsors, co-organizers and over 40 local businesses, independent merchants, as well as the dozens of individual supporters who participated in our annual fundraiser and most specially all the volunteers that during in this year's distribution event. Thank you all so much!

All photos courtesy of: David Sanders

¡Feliz Navidad and Happy Holidays!

Team at Loisaida, Inc.

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Founded in 1979, Loisaida, Inc. offers year-round, accessible arts & culture programming that celebrates the rich heritage of the Lower East Side and its Puerto Rican and immigrant communities. Through its multi-purpose space, the Loisaida Inc. Center provides opportunities to emerging artists and creators working in diverse disciplines, promotes a vibrant social and community life, and serves as an incubator for self-sustainable initiatives.

Stay Connected!

You are receiving this email because of your outstanding commitment to the Puerto Rican and LatinX Cultures and the preservation of our heritage in New York City. Thank you.

Loisaida Inc. | 646-726-4715 | info@loisaida.org | loisaida.org

710 E. 9th Street New York, NY 10009