Give Back. Stay Connected.

Featuring, Karolena.

Give Back.
Stay Connected.

Featuring, Karolena.


We asked members of our community how they're staying connected + giving back.


First up, Karolena from East New York. Photographed by Bridget Badore.


We asked members of our community how they're staying connected + giving back this holiday season.

First up, Karolena from East New York. Photographed by Bridget Badore.


I’m staying connected with myself by allowing myself to have time.

"You know, giving
myself
time and setting boundaries – not so much of other people, but also within myself. Trying not to be too hard on myself, and allowing myself moments of indulgence."

"Now I like wearing nails! I never had nails before the pandemic but now, all of the sudden, I want my nails to be pretty. All of these random things, I’m just allowing myself to have, and staying in touch with myself."

 


 

 I think of my family as my community, and I think of my building.

"My grandparents moved here from Trinidad and I’m actually living in their first apartment when they lived in when they arrived here. My grandma always wanted to own it, so eventually they bought the building. It’s small in comparison to everything else they gave me."

My New York takes care of each other.

"Like my neighbours, the way they pick up my packages for me, and just being able to talk to each other. I feel like in other neighbourhoods, people don’t talk to each other like that. A lot of people, if they’re not from here, they just don’t talk to their neighbours – especially if they don’t look like you or talk like you. Here we all know that this is ours; this belongs to us. So many of the people in my neighbourhood own their houses; my neighbour Wendell owns the house next door. This isn’t just a place they live – this is their home."


"I'm close with my neighbours; this is the type of neighbourhood that's very small, you know, like BIG but really small."


In terms of giving back, honestly, I feel good knowing that I feel taken care of in my neighbourhood, and I know that I would take care of the people in my neighbourhood.

I think that is really important: making sure we all feel cared for. My neighbour takes his tenant to the doctor whenever she needs to go to the doctor. They’re not related, but he looks out for her. That’s the kind of vibe I’m talking about. When the pandemic hit & everyone was running around scooping up water and toilet paper and this and that, I was talking to Wendell and he’s like “Do y’all need water? Take some water.” When I did my front yard and I didn’t have a hose set up yet, my neighbour got me set up. His garden is so nice; he always waters my plants for me. It’s not even a big deal, it’s not a grand gesture or anything. It’s just the little things.



We asked Karolena to call out her favourite organization/hub/person who is doing amazing work in her community.



I'm staying connected with myself by allowing myself to have time.


"You know, giving
myself
time and setting boundaries – not so much of other people, but also within myself. Trying not to be too hard on myself, and allowing myself moments of indulgence."

"Now I like wearing nails! I never had nails before the pandemic but now, all of the sudden, I want my nails to be pretty. All of these random things, I’m just allowing myself to have, and staying in touch with myself."

I think of my family as my community, and I think of my building.

"My grandparents moved here from Trinidad and I’m actually living in their first apartment when they lived in when they arrived here. My grandma always wanted to own it, so eventually they bought the building. It’s small in comparison to everything else they gave me."


My New York takes care of each other.

"Like my neighbours, the way they pick up my packages for me, and just being able to talk to each other. I feel like in other neighbourhoods, people don’t talk to each other like that. A lot of people, if they’re not from here, they just don’t talk to their neighbours – especially if they don’t look like you or talk like you. Here we all know that this is ours; this belongs to us. So many of the people in my neighbourhood own their houses; my neighbour Wendell owns the house next door. This isn’t just a place they live – this is their home."


"I'm close with my neighbours; this is the type of neighbourhood that's very small, you know, like BIG but really small."


In terms of giving back, honestly, I feel good knowing that I feel taken care of in my neighbourhood, and I know that I would take care of the people in my neighbourhood.

I think that is really important: making sure we all feel cared for. My neighbour takes his tenant to the doctor whenever she needs to go to the doctor. They’re not related, but he looks out for her. That’s the kind of vibe I’m talking about. When the pandemic hit & everyone was running around scooping up water and toilet paper and this and that, I was talking to Wendell and he’s like “Do y’all need water? Take some water.” When I did my front yard and I didn’t have a hose set up yet, my neighbour got me set up. His garden is so nice; he always waters my plants for me. It’s not even a big deal, it’s not a grand gesture or anything. It’s just the little things.


We asked Karolena to call out her favorite organization/ hub/person who is doing amazing work in her community this season.


I just found out about Activation Residency.

"I admire what they’re doing to create spaces specifically for Black artists to rest and feel cared for.
They run a residency program in the Catskills called “Respite as Resistance” and they are using their platform to find new and creative ways to achieve transformative justice. Making space for Black artists and healers to just rest and be in nature, and just BE… it’s really inspiring to see what they’re creating."

Learn more about Activation Residency here.

I just found out about Activation Residency.


"I admire what they’re doing to create spaces specifically for Black artists to rest and feel cared for.
They run a residency program in the Catskills called “Respite as Resistance” and they are using their platform to find new and creative ways to achieve transformative justice. Making space for Black artists and healers to just rest and be in nature, and just BE… it’s really inspiring to see what they’re creating."

Learn more about Activation Residency here.


Join us on Instagram to
stay connected + give back.


From now until December 31st, we are donating $500+ to your favourite org/charity/person/hub doing amazing work in your community this season.