Lay down your brick and join us in building community in Brownsville 🏘️

 

"What I like about the ATD Fourth World Festival of Arts and Learning is that it challenged my preconceptions, fueled by media outlets, that Brownsville is the most dangerous neighborhood in Brooklyn.

"Even though Brownsville is an under-resourced area, I saw that there is so much community love and strength within. This experience changed me to be open-minded and to make decisions based on firsthand experiences."

- Michelle He, ATD Fourth World Communications Intern and Festival of Arts Facilitator

Dear ATD Fourth World Supporter,

Do you know how Story Garden is intentionally a part of the Brownsville community where it takes place? As examples:

  • Story Garden strengthens the neighborhood public elementary school’s offerings through Tapori, connecting 5th grade students to children from different backgrounds around the world.

  • Story Garden’s partnership with the Brooklyn Public Library, notably the bookmobile, extends the library’s reach into the Brownsville community, providing easy access to library materials for children and adults the library often doesn’t connect with.

  • Through Good Shepherd Services, ATD Fourth World has the opportunity to work and talk with young adults who live in the area. Understanding the reality of their lives improves the development of local programs.

  • WALTER, the eco-social business recently launched by ATD Fourth World USA, brings unique job opportunities to the neighborhood, removing the challenges young people face when having to leave their community to find meaningful work. This enterprise also gives ATD Fourth World an ability to further engage in the realities of everyday life of adults in Brownsville.

"We owe a great deal to the Brownsville Houses program team from ATD for their investment in the enrichment of children in our community and recognizing the tools that the public library could offer in service of some of the most vulnerable people in our borough."

- Darren J. Glenn, Outreach Librarian, Brownsville Branch, Brooklyn Public Library

Part of Story Garden’s mission is to very intentionally and respectfully join the community in the neighborhood where we lay our blankets to read and do projects. By not working in a vacuum, Story Garden can be bigger than itself and strengthen others’ endeavors, all for greater positive impact to the children and adults of Brownsville.

The relationships and partnerships that build a community’s durable strength do not form over weeks or months. Your contribution makes sure we have the resources to continue that building for years to come.

Please help us to continue reaching beyond our Story Garden blankets! Donate today!

"Y’all have the heart of Brownsville.… I want to make sure we continue to do the work that we need to do in this community because the kids have lost a lot. They’ve really lost a lot and just to have the one thing that’s consistent for kids to do is the Story Garden."

- Karrie Scarborough, President of the Brownsville Houses Tenants’ Association and grandmother of Brownsville Story Garden participants

 
Katelryn Cheon