Haitian American Family of Long Island

El Rio, a part of the Osborne Association, provides rehabilitation programs and substance abuse treatment to parole violators and felony defendants involved with the criminal justice system as an alternative to incarceration. It accepts referrals from judges, prosecutors, probation and parole officers and community-based organizations. The programs offered by the center include acupuncture and art therapies, educational presentations on chemical dependency and the criminal justice system, vocational counseling and drug treatment programs. It also offers a variety of services, including nutritional support, herbal medicine, individual assessments and counseling, therapeutic support programs and recreational therapies. The additional services offered by the center include urine testing, HIV screenings, evaluations and referrals for ancillary services and health counseling. El Rio is located in Bronx, N.Y.

NY Writers Coalition Inc ( NYWC ) provides free creative writing workshops throughout New York City for people from groups that have been historically deprived of voice in our society. We also publish our workshop participants' writing and organize public readings of their work. Writing with others in an atmosphere of respect and acceptance, participants discover the value of their own stories, gain confidence and a stronger sense of self and become less isolated from themselves and from society. By creating a community of writers and leaders from diverse backgrounds, we galvanize the voices of the marginalized and create opportunities for all writers to connect with the larger community. NYWC's goal is to create an inclusive city, one that is aware of the diversity of voices within it and honors the lives of all of its citizens. Each person's experiences are a source of strength and power as a writer and an artist ; In creating and maintaining a non-judgmental, open and respectful community where everyone is encouraged to support and listen to each other and to take risks and grow as writers ;