WeAreLongIsland wants to alleviate oppression

There’s a new coalition looking to change the narrative on Long Island while providing access to resources, training and grant money for member organizations.

#WeAreLongIsland is a coalition of 17 organizations with more joining daily that will use its online organizing hub to get resources where they are needed and to connect people in different activist organizations. The funding it will provide is based on participatory grants, where the coalition decides, with help of community members, where the money goes.

“If we’re not talking to each other, if we’re not acknowledging that there’s been harm done to certain sections of our community, we’re lying,” said Mimi Pierre-Johnson, founder of the Elmont Cultural Center.

One of the main goals of the new coalition is to change the narrative on Long Island. Local leaders believe the old narrative is based on the culture of the Hamptons and Montauk, where people think everyone on Long Island is well off. But in reality, most of Long Island faces various hardships and oppression.

“They automatically assume that people on Long Island have it made,” said Jeffrey Pegram, a renowned performer of Native American music who was sitting at the Padoquohan Medicine Lodge table. “This is an area that is much in need like many other places.”

Local hardships include lack of access to healthcare, to affordable housing and to legal representation. Additional hardships outlined were sexual abuse, job insecurity and injustice, exposure to toxic materials, oppression from white supremacy, phobic aggression and micro aggression and lack of access to tribal lands.

“There’s a false narrative on Long Island that Jews are only interested in anti-semitism,” said Katie Hawklan who was reading a message from Dana Schmerzer of Bend the Arc. “That we don’t care about other issues. But in reality, we are a diverse group of people across race and class, who not only care about a vast majority of issues but are also impacted by a vast majority of issues.”

According to Dilicia Erazo, immigrants face unique struggles when they are abused as abusers use access to documents and the threat of calling Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, as leverage in keeping their victims abused.

“The institutional discrimination and mistrust of police and other government leadership makes it difficult for folks to obtain the justice they deserve,” said Erazo. “With the right tools and support from all communities, immigrants can obtain the justice and peace in a place they call home.”

According to Diane Cantave, one worker was only being paid $25 per day for house cleaning, but was too afraid of getting fired to speak up for herself.

Those facing oppression on Long Island also face phobic aggression and micro aggression.

Farrah Mozawalla, founder of Asian American Institute for Research and Engagement said that three out of every four Muslims in schools right now feel uncomfortable going to school.

The 17 organizations that make up #WeAreLongIsland include The Elmont Cultural Center, Brookhaven Landfill Action & Remediation Group, Bend the Arc Jewish Action, Gender Equality New York, Asian American Institute of Research and Engagement, Long Island Jobs with Justice, Long Island Progressive Coalition, Long Island Social Justice Network, National Coalition for 100 Black Women Suffolk County Chapter, Padoquohan Medicine Lodge, Pride for Youth, Rural and Migrant Ministry, Strong Youth, SEPA Mujer Services for the Advancement of Women, Suffolk Independent Living Organization, Teatro Yerbabruja and Women’s Diversity Network.

“Today marks the launch of the WeAreLongIsland organizing hub: a platform dedicated to supporting member organizations in realizing their visions, missions, goals and values,” said Juli Grey-Owens, executive director of Gender Equality New York. “As a part of this hub, community goals can apply for grants to enhance their capacity and infrastructure. Additionally, they can connect with like-minded organizations, stay informed about crucial events, access organizing resources and boost staff skills through monthly training sessions. Membership is free.”

The funders of this new participatory grant organization include Engage New York, Ford Foundation, J.M. Kaplan Fund, Long Island Community Foundation, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, Scherman Foundation, Social Impact Studios, Unbound, Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program and the Good Neighbors Initiative.

“A lot of the groups we’re coming across are very, very small,” said Rahsmia Zatar of Strong Youth. “They don’t have the internal capacity to do massive organizing.”