Vote for Libertas to win $50,000!

The Libertas Center was selected as one of four semi-finalists for the Heart of Healthcare Grant Challenge. As a semi-finalist, we were awarded $2500 and have been featured on The Heart of Healthcare Podcast with Halle Tecco. The podcast allows its listeners to vote for one of the four semi-finalists to win a one-time grant of $50,000 and a full featured episode. We are very excited for this new opportunity and grateful for the ability to share Libertas’ work through this platform. 

Please listen to the “Vote for the Heart of Healthcare $50,000 grand prize winner” episode on the Heart of Healthcare podcast and vote for Libertas! Your support will help us reach a significant fundraising goal and continue to provide essential services to our clients. Voting ends on October 1st. 

Click the link below to Vote!

https://www.heartofhealthcarepodcast.com/grants

The podcast is available on:

@Apple Podcasts 

@Amazon Music 

@Google Podcasts 

@Stitcher

@Spotify

Libertas Receives $60,000 from NYC Councilman Shekar Krishnan!

The Libertas Center received $60,000 in funding from Councilman Shekar Krishnan! This funding will allow Libertas to continue to provide comprehensive medical and mental health services for survivors of torture, many of whom are seeking asylum in the US. We would like to thank Councilman Shekar Krishnan and the NYC Council for supporting Libertas through the Immigrant Health Initiative and providing us with the means to continue to help survivors. 

Click the link below to read the full article!

Queens councilman allocates $60K to Libertas Center for Human Rights at Elmhurst Hospital – QNS.com

Libertas Takes DC!

During the week of March 20th, members of the Libertas staff, Dinali, Walter, Ben, Flint and Jason attended the National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs (NCTTP) Annual Meeting in Washington D.C. Each year, members of the Consortium are invited to attend a full day Symposium, a multidisciplinary forum for the exchange of original research and systematic literature review among professionals providing services for survivors of torture. This year’s symposium “A Long and Winding Road: Ongoing Challenges and Healing Processes for Forced Migrants and Survivors of Torture” discussed the care of survivors across the disciplines of  medicine, psychology, social work, case management, epidemiology, and law.

Libertas staff members Flint, Jason, Walter, Dinali, and Ben pose with our client, Achiro Olwoch (center left), after the The Paying it Forward panel!

A Libertas client and brilliant playwright Achiro P. Olwoch participated in The Paying it Forward Panel in which she and other survivors of torture share a glimpse of their history, experiences, and how they pay it forward by advocating for other survivors of torture and trauma. Achiro notes that she feels she can make a difference through her art and continuing to write and create.  We are extremely proud of not only Achiro’s progress but all the panelists who fled persecution in search of hope. 

Colleague Julia Leschi from HealthRight International, Jason, Ben, and Flint in front of House Representative Jeffries' office!

In addition, Libertas staff  went to Capitol Hill for NCTTP Advocacy day and met with staff members for Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, and House Representatives Hakeem Jeffries and Grace Meng to advocate for support for survivors. They were also granted a brief tour of the House Floor. 

We would like to thank the NCTTP for extending this invitation to us and for sharing the work of organizations dedicated to the wellbeing of asylum seekers and torture survivors. 

Libertas Clinical Director & Social Worker attend Choose Healthy Life Fair in Jackson Heights

Walter and Jason have made a concerted effort to continue Libertas community outreach to continue to connect with Queens residents and survivors throughout the five boroughs.

On December 17th, Clinical Director Walter Fendrich and Social Worker Jason Yu attended the Choose Healthy Life Health Fair in Jackson Heights, hosted by St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church!

Libertas connected with community members at an event that also offered free health scans, giveaways, flu shots, and insurance information. Walter and Jason were excited to discuss our services and healthcare opportunities with local seniors. Thank you St. Mark AME!