A Brief Checklist For Banned Books Week In Brooklyn

For Hispanic Heritage Month, from September 15 to October 15, Brooklyn Org is spotlighting three of our grantee partners whose leadership honors the histories and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx people across Brooklyn. Nearly one in five Brooklyn residents—over 500,00 Brooklynites—identify as Hispanic or Latino, representing one of the largest communities in the borough. These organizations strengthen Brooklyn by fighting for workers’ rights, expanding access to the arts, and organizing low-wage immigrant communities to build collective power.
Laundry Workers Center organizes low-wage immigrant workers in food service, laundry, and warehouse jobs, many from the Hispanic community, to fight wage theft, unsafe housing, and workplace exploitation.
“With the support of Brooklyn Org, we’re going to expand our outreach to more areas in Brooklyn so we can provide information about workers’ rights, have one-on-one conversations, and see how we can support people to improve their conditions at work and in the community.”
– Rosanna Rodriguez, Co-Executive Director
¡Oye Group! provides low-income residents and minority groups – especially young people and older adults – with opportunities to engage in arts education and performance arts.
“[Because of Brooklyn Org’s support], we can actually start planting really good roots at each program and get more into relationship building. We can breathe.”
– Modesto ‘Flako’ Jimenez, Founder & Artistic Director
Worker’s Justice Project organizes low-wage and immigrant workers across industries including construction, cleaning, food and app delivery services, tobacco processing, and more to advocate for fair wages and safe working conditions through education, leadership development, grassroots outreach, and legislative advocacy that builds a strong labor movement.
“Immigrants and low-wage workers continue to be the fabric of our city’s economy. They are the ones who run New York City. If we want families to have a dignified life in our communities, everything starts with making sure they have a dignified workplace.”
– Ligia Guallpa, Executive Director