Building bridges across borders

In Brooklyn, about 10 miles from Ellis Island, sits another metaphorical bridge to other countries. While not as historic as the landing site of millions of immigrants, the 6-year-old organization, the Bridge Multicultural and Advocacy Project, looks to unite and energize people of all backgrounds to face societal issues and advocate for change as a united community.

The organization has members around the world, and its founder and executive director, Mark Appel, of Woodmere, explained that a large portion of the work they do involves helping those members’ home countries, including Haiti, Israel, Puerto Rico and Yemen. “Everyone talks about diversity and coming together,” Appel said, “but what we’re doing is trying to get people to really communicate.”

Appel also helped found Community Health and Protective Services, a primary care diagnostic and treatment center for children with special needs and their families, and the New York State Early Intervention Center, which provides services to children under age 3 who have special needs. He has also served on New York City’s Mayoral Mental Health Advisory Board, and is a member of the American Jewish Congress.

Dr. Monalisa Ferrari, president of the Society for Haitian Research and executive director of the United Front of the Haitian Diaspora, said she appreciates Appel’s efforts. “He’s always embraced my culture and my community,” Ferrari said. “I can’t think of the last event we had that he didn’t attend.”

The Bridge hosts multicultural events, blood drives, coat drives and more. A majority of the attendees are Jewish and Haitian, and the events give them a chance to start conversations while doing some good, Appel said. “You can’t be in the same room with someone, giving blood for a couple hours, without talking to each other,” he said. “The things we do aren’t so expensive. Health fairs, things like that, that bond us all as a people. Everyone is interested in safety and health.”

Appel and 15 other Bridge members traveled to Israel on July 15. This was his 17th trip to the Jewish state, but he said it was unlike any other. The group was overseas for 10 days, and spent nine of them touring Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Bethlehem and Husan, a Palestinian village in the Seam Zone of the Israeli-occupied territory that is separated from the West Bank by the Israeli West Bank Wall.

Ferrari said she had been to Israel more than 10 times as well, but added, “This really felt like I was there for the first time . . . The entire experience was refreshing. It was a real eye-opener.”

Farah Louis, the deputy chief of community outreach for the New York City Council, agreed. “This trip has brought clearer understanding to me that we are all children of God,” she said. “Understanding and working together are musts for us to be able to lead and build a stronger nation.”

Rabbi Bob Kaplan, a leader of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, met the group in Israel. “Multicultural trips are a great educational experience for different, diverse communities to better understand each other,” he said, “by bringing respect and unity to all.”

Bridge members were given a private tour by Yoni Peres, the son of the late Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres, at the Peres Peace Center in Tel Aviv. Appel said it was one of the highlights of the trip. “I’ve never had a trip like this before,” he said. “You can never duplicate the passion and the love and unity we experienced by blending in with the people and experiencing their everyday life.”

Appel said that members would continue to travel, and since many come from the Caribbean, they plan to visit Haiti within the next eight months. After that, he said, he would like to organize a mission to Europe. He imagines members doing Habitat for Humanity-type projects no matter where the group goes, he said.
To lean more, go to thebridgemcp.com.