Artists Athletes Activists
Migrant and Asylum Seeker Response
In 2022, there was the highest level of migrant apprehensions along the US southern border with 2.3 million people illegally crossing, a 37% increase from the 2021.[1] While the country grappled with the surge in summer 2022, Texas, Arizona, and Florida authorities began transporting migrants and asylum seekers[2] to major cities across the US. By 7 October 2022, Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency[4 due to this influx. In March 2023, more than 50,000 people arrived to New York City and the number of arrivals continues to grow.[3]
While there is a vast network of nonprofit and governmental organizations in New York City, the primary problem AAA seeks to address is there is no “first line of support” for new migrant and asylum seekers. Many individuals arrive without the necessary contacts, language skills, or finances to navigate the complex network of city services.
Since August 2022, AAA received at peak times 500-700 new arrivals per day and linked them with food, clothing, and information to secure shelter, medical care, legal support, education, and employment. Even with this referral support, about 500 individuals per week returned to AAA requesting additional support because city services are overburdened, challenging to navigate, and not designed to serve this population.[5]
[2] Migrants are individuals who move for economic reasons to seek employment. Asylum seekers leave their country of origin because they were forcibly displaced due to factors that harmed them or their family and they seek protection in another country.
[3] National Public Radio, March 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/03/10/1162511149/new-york-city-says-it-has-too-many-migrants-and-plans-to-send-some-elsewhere
[4] Major Adams press conference, October 7, 2022: https://youtu.be/iXM5eRHvLXU
[5] The New York City Council acknowledged that city services are inadequate and pledged to improve them by issuing these policy recommendations in December 2022. In parallel, Major Eric Adams expressed the city requires $2 billion in federal funding to sufficiently respond.
AAA Successes
Between August 2022-April 2023, we:
- Connected 50,000 people to critical New York City services, including food, shelter, clothing
- Transported 25,000 people from airports
- Referred 15,400 cases to legal services, including change of address or venue and answered asylum case questions
- Assisted to release 200 asylees including from ICE detention centers and youth group homes and reunited them with family
Feed Families in Need
In 2021, our goal was to feed 10,000 familes. We ended serving 40,000 familes.
Our goal for 2023 is to feed 40,000+ families.
Where we are making a difference
Community
plant-based fridges
Overthrow fridge
9 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012
Essex Market fridge
220 Broome St, New York, NY 10002
Youth Mindfulness & Wellness
We take youth from the communtiy and motivate mental and physical activity in a positive environment.
Volunteer or Donate!
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth”
―Muhammad Ali
Your tax-deductible donation to Artists-Athletes-Activists will help support Mutual aid efforts in low income and marginalized Communities.
Artists-Athletes-Activists is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, EIN# 83-0530322.
Providing Groceries to Families
Example on how we are on-the-ground doing the necessary work to ensure low income families have access to fresh fruits and vegetables.