A wonderful item on Ebay – a photo of a woman from a Harlem photography studio:
It’s on sale on Ebay, HERE.
Note the faded name of the studio “The Harlem”:
and it’s tough to make out, but the company is listed as S. W. Cor. 124th St. and Third Ave.:
Today, that intersection looks like this:
Volunteer to Help Asylum Seekers
If you have time and want to help asylum seekers coming to NYC, consider volunteering at a community center in Harlem called Afrikana.
The center operates from a small run-down space near the corner of 145th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard, stuffed between two larger storefronts. There is no signage and no description of the building’s purpose. Inside, migrants sit in a makeshift waiting area spread among a group of donated and mismatched chairs.
The center opened a year ago to help asylum seekers and is currently run almost entirely by volunteers who are themselves, asylum seekers.
Many of the people who stop by need help with things like registering for English classes, GED classes, and filling out SNAP applications for food benefits, just to start.
New York City is straining to support asylum seekers. Afrikana is also grappling with overwhelming needs and would appreciate any time you can give.
“We’ve been able to keep our doors open through prayer, but we need more help,” said Adama Bah, the center’s founder.
Afrikana is now hoping you, as a civic-minded neighbor in Harlem will consider volunteering.
Nearly 100,000 newly arrived asylum seekers have arrived since the spring of 2022, and an estimated 18,000 newly arrived students have enrolled in the city’s public schools since then, according to city officials. Mayor Adams said he’s expecting an uptick in the number of families with children to arrive as school starts.
Some days, as many as 300 asylum seekers have come through Afrikana’s doors, said Bah. The center has become a hub in the community, with asylum seekers helping each other. The center needs people to help them connect with answers.
Dia Del Los Niños | Kids’ Day!
