Brooklyn Clinic, 'Rock Camp For Girls' Get Thousands In New Grant

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — A local clinic and a rock camp for girls got a huge boost in their recovery from the coronavirus pandemic this week thanks to new grants from Brooklyn Communities Collaborative.

Anne Kastor Brooklyn Free Clinic on Clarkson Avenue and Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls on Flatbush Avenue were among seven nonprofits that received part of BCC's Strong Communities Fund, which is aimed at helping Brooklyn and New York City as a whole recover from the coronavirus crisis.

Willie Mae's camp was given $45,000 to help runi ts arts education for girls and trans youth, while the clinic received $20,000 from the organization.

"BCC’s Strong Communities Fund allows us the opportunity to create impactful, interactive, and supportive social-emotional online programming for our community partners, thereby meeting the moment during the COVID reality and leaning into the healing, community building facet of creative expression,” the camp's Executive Director LaFrae Sci said in a release.

The clinic said the money will help them continue a mission of combatting health disparities in the community. Anne Kastor is a student-run clinic that provides free healthcare to underserved and uninsured adults.

"These much-needed funds will help the Brooklyn Free Clinic to deliver high-quality primary care and target social determinants of health,” CFO Nicholas Tan said.

Here's the full list of Brooklyn organizations that received some of the BCC funding:

• The Campaign Against Hunger has been awarded $125,000 to meet the food needs of its constituents. Funding will be used for social services assistance, transportation, and food.
• Little Essentials has been awarded $50,000 to support the organization's goal to provide families with early childhood care supplies like diapers and strollers. The funding will support the organization's expansion in Brooklyn.
• New Heights Youth Inc. has been awarded $50,000 to provide athletic and academic support to Brooklyn's at-risk youth. The funding will be used to implement virtual and in-person learning components for its participants, minimizing the academic, athletic and social deficits caused by the pandemic.
• Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls has been awarded $45,000 to support its arts education curriculum for girls and trans youth in the digital environment. The funding will be used to provide additional digital equipment and resources, retain personnel and cover operating expenses.
• The Red Hook Initiative has been awarded $30,000 to provide funding for the residents of Red Hook.
• Anne Kastor Brooklyn Free Clinic has been awarded nearly $20,000 to support its free clinic, providing funding for personnel and operating costs.
• GrowHouse International has been awarded $20,000 to teach out of school Brooklyn youth how to create racial and health equity interventions. Funding will cover technology supplies for the Youth Leadership program.