Month: August 2020

Power of Two

How the virus devastated workers in a Brooklyn neighborhood

August 26, 2020

Originally published by Jasmine Garsd on NPR’s Marketplace on July 13, 2020. Father Edward Mason remembers when he realized COVID-19 was going to be devastating to his community in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York City. It was back in mid-April. In…

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Power of Two

Mama, Am I Going to Die Young Because I’m Black in America?

August 26, 2020

Originally published by Erasma Beras-Monticicolo on the BK Reader on July 1, 2020. “Am I going to die young because I’m Black in America?” That was the question my 7-year-old son asked during our recent family meeting initiated by the Black Lives…

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Power of Two

Brownsville is Waging its Own Fight Against COVID-19 and Racism

August 26, 2020

Taylor Gordon bagging food for BMS and East Brooklyn Food Safety Initiative at BCCC on Belmont Avenue. Photo: Hannah Whise Originally published by Erasma Beras-Monticciolo on City Limits on June 19, 2020. In Brownsville, Brooklyn we have struggled to find the words…

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Power of Two

Healing and Protecting Children from Racial Trauma and COVID-19 Pandemic

August 26, 2020

Originally published by Erasma Beras-Monticciolo on Medium.com on June 12, 2020. Our community doesn’t get a break. In the midst of this pandemic, we’re seeing a combustible mix of isolation, job loss, sickness, and feelings of being trapped and terrorized by an epidemic…

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Power of Two

We’re Reopening, Yet Communities of Color Are Still Suffering and Social Service Organizations Are Hemorrhaging

August 26, 2020

Originally published by Erasma Beras-Monticciolo on Medium.com on June 12, 2020. New York emerges from lockdown yet black and brown communities still have high infection rates and those of us supporting them, are stretched. I’m increasingly heartened by media images of people…

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