Council of Peoples Organization is a lifeline for NYC immigrants

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Esme Roberts, a Caribbean immigrant who has called Flatbush, Brooklyn home for 39 years, knows crisis all too well.

The pain of loss is evident as she speaks of the many friends she lost due to the pandemic with underlying health conditions.

Her story exposes a harsh reality: immigrant communities bearing the brunt of crises, often struggling in silence. Flatbush and Kensington, boasting some of the borough's largest immigrant populations, find themselves at ground zero for crisis after crisis.

The Council of Peoples Organization in Flatbush has been a lifeline for the immigrant population, with lines for food and necessities stretching for blocks. At the pandemic's peak, they served roughly 30,000 people a week.

Mohammad Razvi, CEO of the Council of Peoples Organization, proposes a solution. A formal network connecting CBOS, religious institutions, and other trusted organizations with the help of the city's Department of Emergency Management.

Razvi said such a network would ensure a unified response to disasters. While temporary collaborations form during emergencies, there's no formal structure for ongoing support in the area.

He said a formal network would build partnerships and let organizations know where to seek help.

NYC Emergency Management said it always seeks to involve community organizations in its emergency planning. This year, it intends to accept more community-based organizations into its Strengthening Communities Program.

Roberts said the current disjointed approach leaves far too many people exposed.