Brooklyn Org Launches “Show Brooklyn Some Love” Campaign to Inspire Brooklynites to Create Change

Designed by Brooklyn-based firm, Mother New York, the campaign highlights nonprofits making a more fair, just, and equitable Brooklyn

Today Brooklyn Org (BKO) launched a new awareness campaign, “Show Brooklyn Some Love,” that invites all Brooklynites to become active, engaged backers of grassroots organizations driving social change right in their own backyards.

The campaign is truly by Brooklyn, about Brooklyn, and for Brooklyn. Brooklyn-based creative agency Mother New York developed the campaign pro-bono focusing on the stories of changemaking Brooklyn nonprofits that are supported by Brooklyn Org’s community. For more images from the campaign, visit brooklyn.org/showlove.

Brooklyn Org announced its new name and launched a new website in 2023 designed to mobilize the people and resources required to achieve its vision for a fair and just Brooklyn. BKO is reimagining community-based philanthropy to be more inclusive and engaging for everyone in Brooklyn who supports social change

The campaign is designed to inspire and engage a new wave of Brooklyn residents and a new generation of Brooklyn givers to champion local organizations working towards a more just and equitable borough. Despite being home to 30% of the City’s population and 30% of the City’s nonprofits, Brooklyn organizations receive just 7.6 percent of charitable funding.

Dr. Jocelynne Rainey, President and CEO of Brooklyn Org, said, “Brooklyn Org gives everyone a seat at the table and a role to play in driving social change forward in our borough. But you can’t know you’ve got a seat unless you’ve been invited. This campaign is our invitation to every Brooklynite to join us, donate, and spark change.”

“Brooklyn is a beloved borough, even outside New York. With the “Show Brooklyn Some Love” campaign, we wanted to turn that love into an invitation,” said Nedal Ahmed, executive creative director, Mother New York. “Every action by Brooklyn Org and its partner organizations is an act of love towards Brooklyn, and we wanted the whole borough to feel that and want to become part of it.”“

“Brooklyn Org connects our borough’s residents and nonprofits as together they drive social change in our community,” said Brooklyn Org Board of Directors Co-Chair Nicole Gueron and Co-Chair Elect Michael Gillespie. “With our ‘Show Brooklyn Some Love’ campaign, supported by brilliant partners like Mother New York, Brooklyn Org is transforming philanthropy by giving every Brooklyn resident a seat at the table.”

“Show Brooklyn Some Love” premiered at the Barclays Center on May 18 at the home opener for the New York Liberty’s 2024 season. Starting in June, ads will be placed on subways, buses, billboards, and guerilla postering throughout the borough, as well as street pole banners in Downtown Brooklyn and DUMBO. The centerpiece of the campaign is a complete takeover of the Bedford Avenue station in Williamsburg, a neighborhood that stands at the junction of old and new Brooklyn.

The campaign features five organizations that have recently won the Brooklyn Org Spark Prize, a unique honor that celebrates outstanding nonprofits advancing justice and equity in the borough:

• Mixteca, which serves the health, social, education, and legal needs of immigrant communities;
• Groundswell, which brings together youth and artists to create murals for social change;
• Workers Justice Project, a worker center that fights for better work conditions and social justice for low-wage, immigrant workers;
• Arab American Family Support Center, which empowers immigrants and refugees with the tools they need to acclimate to the world around them; and,
• Sure We Can, a recycling center, community hub, and sustainability center.

“Brooklyn Org embodies the spirit of unity and mutual support that is essential to Mixteca’s mission. We know when we come together as neighbors, there’s no limit to what we can accomplish,” said Lorena Kourousias, Executive Director of Mixteca. “As neighbors, every gesture of support we share not only strengthens our community bonds but also amplifies the impactful work done by local nonprofits like Mixteca. We are proud to stand with our fellow organizations in this campaign, “Show Brooklyn Some Love,” demonstrating that love and solidarity are powerful forces for positive change in Brooklyn.”

“The “Show Brooklyn Some Love” campaign illustrates that the simple act of neighbors helping neighbors can be one of the most powerful forces in building strong communities,” said Mark Foggin, Interim Executive Director at Arab American Family Support Center. “The Arab-American Family Support Center helps immigrant families in all five boroughs, but we started in Brooklyn 30 years ago and this is where our heart and soul is. We are proud to join with Brooklyn Org in highlighting our community’s power and commitment to building a more equitable and racially just New York City.”

Amy Sananman, Founder and Interim Executive Director of Groundswell, said, “Groundswell has been privileged to work with Brooklyn Org and its predecessor organizations for much of our 28-year history. BKO has been a critical partner in advancing our mission of using art as a tool for social change, for a more just and equitable world. It is a special honor to be part of the “Show Brooklyn Some Love” campaign by making a new mural in Bushwick with Brooklyn Org.”

Ligia Guallpa, Executive Director of Workers Justice Project, said, “Worker’s Justice Project is so proud to be a part of the Brooklyn Org community and the “Show Brooklyn Some Love Campaign.” Being a grantee of BKO means that we can continue to empower the next generation of immigrant leaders and organizers from Brooklyn who will stand up and fight for the rights of their communities and neighbors.”

“As Brooklynites, we are always ready to talk about how amazing Brooklyn is. BKO takes that pride to a new level, recognizing that the creativity and determination of those striving to overcome tremendous obstacles is part of what makes our borough so special. The marginalized canners we work with not only make Brooklyn cleaner, more lovely, and more sustainable, but they also contribute to its culture and its spirit,” said Ryan Castalia, Executive Director of Sure We Can. “Recognition and support from Brooklyn Org, from Brooklynites to Brooklynites, means the world to us and our community, and inspires us to continue working, living, serving, and growing in Brooklyn’s unique landscape.”

F.Y. Eye, the nonprofit media agency to NYC’s nonprofits, artists, and activists, planned and executed the media buying strategy.

“F.Y. Eye is dedicated to democratizing advertising for nonprofit organizations by amplifying critical messages with community-driven PSAs,” explained Christina Daigneault, Executive Director of F.Y. Eye. “Brooklyn Org’s ‘Show Brooklyn Some Love’ is a thought provoking, heart-warming awareness campaign that is poised to inspire Brooklynites to create positive change right in their own community.”

Expanding the campaign to reach audiences throughout the summer, Brooklyn Org will be a sponsor of BRIC’s Celebrate Brooklyn festival, where ads will be featured at entrances to the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park – and BKO will be the presenting sponsor of the opening day concert on Saturday, June 8.

Brooklyn Org is also partnering with City Point in Downtown Brooklyn, which will feature the ads on its digital screens, on “Show Brooklyn Some Love Fest” on June 22 from 11am-2pm with Brooklyn Bridge Parents. The campaign will conclude with a celebration at Williamsburg-headquartered Brooklyn Brewery on Wednesday, June 26 from 7-9pm.

“As an organization that advocates for our businesses, residents, and neighborhood every day, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership knows firsthand how impactful meaningful community support can be in building vibrant, welcoming neighborhoods,” said Regina Myer, President of Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. “As steadfast champions of not only Downtown Brooklyn, but of the entire borough, we are proud to be a part of the Brooklyn Org community and are excited to see some much appreciated love for Brooklyn through this exciting new campaign.”

Alexandria Sica, President of the DUMBO BID, said, “Brooklyn.org is bringing a bit of borough pride and responsibility to all of us and we love them for it.”

Paul Travis, President of Washington Square Partners and co-partner of City Point, said, “City Point is all about community, and since our inception, one of our key tenets has been “by Brooklyn and for Brooklyn.” With this in mind, we are thrilled to support Brooklyn Org and its mission to inspire Brooklynites to create change.  Mother’s “Show Brooklyn Some Love” campaign is a vibrant reflection of our diverse borough and we look forward to the community celebration at City Point on June 22nd.”

Wes Jackson, President of BRIC, said, “Whether by birth, by choice, or by circumstance, we have all made Brooklyn our home and embody its rhythms and spirit, from the stoop to the bodega. At BRIC, we embrace all the creators, makers, and audiences that make Brooklyn great. We are proud to partner with Brooklyn Org on this campaign to drive awareness for the remarkable work Brooklyn nonprofits are doing to create a more just and equitable borough for all who live, work, and play here.”

About Brooklyn Org

Brooklyn Org is a champion for Brooklyn bringing together community changemakers—the families and businesses, the grassroots leaders and growing companies, and local nonprofits and the communities they serve—to be a new model for local philanthropy, built from the ground up, in pursuit of a more equitable and just borough.

Since its founding in 2009 as Brooklyn Community Foundation, Brooklyn Org has moved over $110 million to nonprofits through its strategic grantmaking and Donor Advised Funds, while driving action to address urgent crises and long-term change in Brooklyn. Each year, Brooklyn Org partners with Brooklyn residents to invest more than $5 million in high-impact nonprofits advancing racial justice at every level across the borough. Brooklyn Org ensures that Brooklyn’s challenges are met with solutions, ideas are met with resources, and inequality is met with justice. Learn more at brooklyn.org.

Contact

Erin Clarke, erin@anatgerstein.com

Matt Sollars, matt@anatgerstein.com