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CommunityFrom The Peopling of New York City: Indian CommunitiesThe increasing rate of Indian immigration to the suburbs of the Tri-State area can be seen firsthand in places such as Bellerose, Queens and Edison, New Jersey, where in only ten years from 1980 to 1990, the Asian Indian population rose from 900 to 6,000 . Wearing traditional Indian clothing is important to many Indians as well, and there are plenty of Indian-owned sari shops throughout New York City.
Community/Culture CentersJackson HeightsThe Chhaya Community Development Corporation, on 77th street in Jackson Heights, "is a community-based non-profit organization focused on improving access to housing opportunities, resources, and information for South Asian Americans throughout the New York City metropolitan area. They advocate for community and economic development and justice within South Asian and other immigrant communities. DRUM (Desis Rising Up and Moving) is a multi-generational, membership organization of South Asian immigrants in New York City. Their goal is to build power of South Asian low wage immigrant workers, families fighting deportation, and youth in New York City and organize through political education and membership led action for immigrant rights, racial, economic, and social justice. FlushingThe South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS), located on Holly Avenue, was created to empower under-served members of the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean community to actively engage in the civic and economic life of New York City. All services are free and can be provided in various South Asian Languages such as Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi and Gujarati. Programs Offered Include: - NYC MCCAP (Managed Care Consumer Assistance Program): This program provides assistance to individual clients and families in accessing Medicaid, Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus, Medicare and other health care coverage, solving any health care coverage problems, and raise awareness regarding their health care access. - SAEHAT (South Asians Engaging in Hypertension Awareness and Treatment): A joint project with Center for Immigrant Health at NYU, funded by National Institute of Health. It addresses the gap in knowledge about hypertension and services in the South Asian community. Through this program, immigrant clients with high blood pressure have been connected to hospitals such as Elmhurst Hospital where they are charged a nominal or sliding scale fee. - Immigrant Health Care Access & Advocacy Collaborative: Helps immigrants access healthcare services in New York by sharing resources and knowledge. This collaboration also helps advocate on city and state level for the needs of the low income immigrant South Asian population. - PEP (Parents Empowerment Program): This is a series of workshops that are held at faith-based and community centers, public schools and libraries to empower South Asian parents to ensure their children's success. Workshops are presented in the native language of participants with special focus on the public school system, effective communication with and disciplining their children, health and nutrition, financial preparedness and awareness of banking and credit systems and internet safety. - ESOL Classes: A twelve week course that offers instruction in basic conversational, reading and writing skills in English by multilingual and culturally competent instructors. Richmond HillThe Rajkumari Cultural Center, located on 116 Street, is a community organization dedicated to teaching and preserving Indo-Caribbean art and culture in NYC. Rajkumari sponsors lectures, workshops, performances, and a float for the Phagwa Parade. This group is also active in Astoria. At 133rd St. (Off of Liberty Avenue) between 105th and 107th Avenues, Sakhi for South Asian Women is a "community-based organization in the New York metropolitan area committed to ending violence against women of South Asian origin." Recognizing oppression based on class, immigration status, religion, and sexual orientation, the organization works to empower women, particularly survivors of domestic violence. WoodsideThe are no Indian community centers or organizations native to the area however, many international organizations such as the Sikh Cultural Society are active in building houses of worship in the neighborhood. CoronaThe Shiva Hindu Temple & Cultural Center is located in North Corona and provides a space for Hindus to pray, study religion, and organize cultural programs. ElmhurstThe South Asian Youth Action, or SAYA!, is located on Seabury St. in Elmhurst and provides South Asian youth, ages 11 to 19, with safe spaces to learn, grow, play, and contribute to their communities and each other. SAYA! reaches out to South Asian youth through a range of programs at its youth center in Queens, and through services offered at New York City public high schools. Center based services include leadership and organization development, academic preparation, employment training, sports activities, and "safe space" programs that allow young people to realize and develop their talents. School-Based services include counseling and advocacy for individual students, discussion groups for young women, leadership training, parent support, and cultural competency training for school personnel. |