Community Access

Join us right here for the 16th annual NYC Mental Health Film Festival! Saturday, Dec. 5: 6-8 p.m.

Join us right here for the 16th annual NYC Mental Health Film Festival! Saturday, Dec. 5: Noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5: 6-8 p.m.

Join us right here for the 16th annual NYC Mental Health Film Festival! The first of our four screenings starts at 6PM (EST) on Tuesday, Dec. 1. And our three other screenings will be here on Facebook Live as well: Thursday, Dec. 3: 6-8 p.m. ... Saturday, Dec. 5: Noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5: 6-8 p.m. See more

The day has finally arrived! The NYC Mental Health Film Festival is back, and this year, it's a FREE, virtual, three-day event. Film screenings begin TONIGHT at 6 p.m. If you haven't registered yet, that's okay! You can watch the event live @ https://event.gives/mhff2020 #MHFF2020

Next week, Community Access will be celebrating an important milestone in our development of new supportive housingand, via livestream, we invite you to join us! Mark your calendar: WHAT: River Avenue Groundbreaking Ceremony WHEN: 10 to 11 a.m., Thursday, October 29, 2020... WHERE: This event will be available to watch live via livestream @ https://www.communityaccess.org/river-avenue-groundbreaking River Avenue is a new, 245-unit development in the Bronx that will provide homes for individuals living with mental health concerns, low-income families, and individuals and families with histories of homelessness. We’re looking forward to a wonderful event, and hope you’ll be able to watch along too.

Art is the Cure a documentary short film tells the inspiring story of Rich Simmons, a young man living with mental health concerns who finds solace in art. From his own experience he has founded a movement, spreading the healing power of creativity to people around the world. You can learn more about his story at this year’s NYC Mental Health Film Festival, now being held as a THREE-DAY, FREE virtual event! Mark your calendars: December 1, 3, and 5. We’ll have many more wonderful films (like this one), Q&As with filmmakers, and more! More info: http://www.mentalhealthfilmfest.nyc/. #NYC #MHFF2020 #filmfestival #mentalhealth #artisthecure #hope #spreadkindness

Important story, featuring the perspective of Community Access advocacy coordinator Carla Rabinowitz, as well as Community Access tenant Phyll Fisher. We remain committed to advocating for a compassionate crisis response system. On the halting of Crisis Intervention Team training, Rabinowitz said: They ended it, but they didn’t redirect the money to solving the problem, which is creating what everyone’s asking for now, a public health team response to crisis calls. https://gothamist.com//nypd-abruptly-halts-training-progra

This Friday, at 1 p.m., tune in to this virtual forum, held by the Supportive Housing Network of New York and featuring Brittany Packnett Cunningham. Brittany is a lifelong activist and proud member of the Ferguson Uprising. She was also an appointed member of President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Today, she continues to advocate for systemic change at critical decision making tables and through national and international media. Registration info: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1f0lEwQbRPmUeVqUw7htMA.

We are extraordinarily proud of our staff. Everyone worked quickly and collaboratively to prevent COVID spread among housing tenants during the pandemic's outbreak this spring in NYC. Read about our successful interventions in this Next City article. https://nextcity.org//bronx-supportive-housing-network-kee

Shout-out to our Art Collective for being named one of "Five Art Accounts to Follow on Instagram Now" by The New York Times! From the article: "Some 40 artists in multiple mediums make up the Art Collective at Community Access, an organization in New York that provides housing and support services for people living with mental health conditions. Some are highly trained working artists with decades of material; others have found in the studio a fresh, vital outlet." Read more @ https://www.nytimes.com//instagram-art-accounts-to-follow.. And while you're at it, go follow the Art Collective Instagram page (@artcollectivenyc).

Some action shots from Community Access’ Bruckner Boulevard urban farm. Bronx-grown veggies and herbs are on their way! #foodjustice #urbanfarming #housingjustice #supportivehousing

Hear Zisa, Community Access tenant and Howie the Harp graduate, discuss her experience with calling NYC Well. Thank you for sharing your story, Zisa!

We recently caught up Phyll, a Community Access tenant and member of the Program Participant Advisory Group, to hear about her experience with Community Access during the pandemic. Read more @ https://www.communityaccess.org//963-catching-up-with-phyl

The 24th Annual Howie the Harp Graduation Ceremony - held on October 10, 2019 - was a day to remember. Many congratulations to everyone who graduated! #ThisIsHowieWeDoIt

Sally DeJesus started bringing spoken word workshops into shelters in 2005. A years back, she approached our Crisis Respite Center about doing the same, and her weekly workshops have become a fixture there a source of warmth, creativity, and hope. When COVID-19 hit, and the Respite Center had to close, Sally moved the workshop onto Zoom. No surprise, respite alumni from around town have been showing up. Read more @ https://www.communityaccess.org/connect//945-respite-poetry

Recent events have placed the need for police reform in the national and international spotlight. We appreciate TIME Magazine for spending time with our CEO, Cal Hedigan, and Advocacy Coordinator, Carla Rabinowitz to share Community Access’ critical advocacy work in this story: Black, Disabled and at Risk: The Overlooked Problem of Police Violence Against Americans with Disabilities. There truly is a deadly cost of racism and mental health stigma, and Community Access will continue to fight to transform responses to mental health crises. Read the full article here: https://time.com/5857438/police-violence-black-disabled/. You can also pick up a copy of the new issue of Time magazine on newsstands now (July 6th edition). #mentalhealth #communityaccess #NYC #timemagazine #criminaljusticereform #ccitnyc #mentalhealthcrisisform

In a new Message from Cal, our CEO reflects on the vital task of centering racial equity in Community Access’ work. https://www.communityaccess.org/connect/blog/953