CURRENTLY ORGANIZING IN FORT GREENE, BROOKLYN – GET INVOLVED!

Fort Greene

Aaron Zimmerman

Aaron Zimmerman founded the NY Writers Coalition (NYWC), a nonprofit that provides free writing workshops for under-represented communities. He got the idea for the NYWC while running workshops at a supportive housing residence in Manhattan. It was these that made him realize that he wanted to start an organization where he would be able to provide services to more groups who were rarely heard from in the writing community.

Situated in the center of Fort Greene, the NYWC has taken advantage of the fantastic neighborhood, hosting events (like its youth summer program) in the park and making essential connections that would have otherwise been impossible. With this, Aaron and the NYWC have been able to provide services to people of many communities who previously did not have access. From workshops for those incarcerated in Rikers Island Jail to online options for members of the LGBTQ+ community who did not feel safe sharing their stories where they lived, the coalition has genuinely created a community that allows writers to grow in a compassionate environment. He is exceptionally proud to honor Fort Greene’s literary history and hopes to extend it as his organization continues its important work.

亚伦·齐默尔曼创立了纽约作家联盟(NYWC),这是一个为弱势群体提供免费写作研讨会的非营利组织。他在曼哈顿的一个支持性住举办研讨会时产生了创建NYWC的想法。正是这些让他意识到,他想要创办一个组织,在那里他可以为更多在写作社区中鲜为人知的群体提供服务。NYWC位于格林堡的中心,充分利用了这个奇妙的社区,在公园里举办活动(比如青年暑期项目),并建立了原本不可能实现的重要联系。有了这个,亚伦和NYWC已经能够为许多以前无法访问的社区的人们提供服务。从为赖克斯岛监狱的囚犯举办的工作坊,到为不安全的LGBTQ+社群成员提供分享故事的在线选,这个联盟真正创造了一个社区,让作家在一个富有同情心的环境中成长。他非常自豪地向格林堡的文学史致敬,并希望随着他的组织继续其重要工作扩展

Aaron Zimmerman fundó NY Writers Coalition (NYWC), una organización sin fines de lucro que ofrece talleres de escritura gratuitos para comunidades subrepresentadas. Tuvo la idea del NYWC mientras dirigía talleres en una residencia de apoyo en Manhattan. Fueron estos los que le hicieron darse cuenta de que quería comenzar una organización donde pudiera brindar servicios a más grupos de los que rara vez se escuchaba en la comunidad literaria. Situado en el centro de Fort Greene, NYWC ha aprovechado este increíble vecindario, organizando eventos (como su programa juvenil de verano) en el parque y creando conexiones importantes que de otro modo habrían sido imposibles. De este modo, Aaron y NYWC han podido brindar servicios a personas de muchas comunidades que antes no tenían acceso. Desde talleres para personas encarceladas en Rikers Island hasta opciones en línea para miembros de la comunidad LGBTQ+ que no se sentían seguros compartiendo sus historias en el lugar donde vivían, la coalición ha creado genuinamente una comunidad que permite a los escritores crecer en un ambiente de compasión. Está excepcionalmente orgulloso de honrar la historia literaria de Fort Greene y espera ampliarla a medida que su organización continúe su importante labor.

Portrait by

Zahra Mirmalek

Zahra Mirmalek is an Iranian-American documentary photographer based in New York City. Born in San Jose, California, she and her family moved to Tehran, Iran, three years later. In 2012, Zahra graduated from a University in Iran with a degree in Psychology. In 2021, Zahra was a recipient of the Director's Fellowship from the International Center of Photography in New York. In 2022, she graduated from ICP with a certificate in Visual Journalism and Documentary Practice. Her work has been published by SHIFT magazine, shortlisted by Life-Framer, and exhibited at the ICP Museum in New York.

Text by

Elizabeth Harris

I am a high school student who was born and raised in Fort Greene. I have spent countless hours enjoying the parks, schools, and many activities that the neighborhood has to offer!

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