In a significant community effort to support migrants and asylum seekers, Council Member Julie Won spearheaded her third welcoming dinner and resource fair on Friday, March 22, at P.S. 111 Jacob Blackwell in Long Island City.
The event, hosted for the newly arrived residents in her western Queens council district, drew 150 attendees, where they were offered essential services alongside a warm meal.
This initiative, directly funded and organized by Won’s office in collaboration with various community partners, aimed to address the needs of many of the migrants who have arrived in New York City over the past two years. Recognizing the challenges faced by these immigrants, the event served as a crucial touchpoint for accessing employment, housing, and legal immigration services.
The partnership which includes Rethink Food, and Tacombi, ensured the provision of culturally sensitive meals, reflecting the diverse origins of the district’s newest residents.
Other community partners involved with the event are Voces Latinas, Emblem Health, The Office of Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez and New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE).
Won, who represents District 26, stressed the importance of such initiatives and the need for establishing pathways for migrants to obtain permanent residency, expedited work authorizations, and comprehensive legal services in order to integrate fully into the community.
“We are proud to host our third community dinner for migrants and asylum seekers to not only show them that they are welcome, but that they are a part of our district,” said Won.
In a similar event, Council Member Shekar Krishnan, representing the 25th District, in partnership with New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE), is organizing a lunch for asylum seekers at The Queensboro Restaurant in Jackson Heights on Tuesday March 26th at 11:30 a.m.
These events highlight the ongoing efforts within New York City to welcome and support asylum seekers and migrants, ensuring they have access to the resources necessary to integrate into the community.
