NEW YORK – A woman working with Muslim survivors of domestic violence and a community advocate training the next generation of social justice filmmakers are just two of this year’s recipients of the Open Society Institute’s New York City Community Fellowships.

Today, the Open Society Institute (OSI) announced some $570,000 to nine New York City community organizers, activists, and leaders working to improve the quality of public life in low-income neighborhoods.

The 2005 NYC Community Fellows are working on a range of innovative public interest projects, including safe housing and medical treatment for transgender prisoners, support for South Asians harmed by post-9/11 bias attacks, and a writing program for teens that fosters critical thinking and creativity.

The nine fellows will receive 18-month stipends of $48,750. Since 1997, OSI has invested some eight million dollars to support the work of 78 social justice advocates working in underserved New York City communities. Fellows have led local social change efforts that focus on economic justice, civic participation, workers’ rights, health and education.

This is the last year that OSI will administer the New York City Community Fellowships. In January 2006, OSI will transfer the fellowship program to the Research Center for Leadership in Action (RCLA) at New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service. RCLA supports leadership for social change within the public and non-profit sectors. RCLA’s administration of the fellowships will reflect OSI’s original intent to support individuals that initiate community-led projects that empower neighborhoods and address critical social needs.

2005 OSI New York City Community Fellows (listed in alphabetical order):

Ms. Nieves Ayress (Bronx) established Nuevo Podes desde los Margenes ("New Power from the Margins") to connect immigrant women, cultural, and youth groups and build an independent base of activists to work within immigrant communities and advocate for progressive local and national reforms.

Mr. Carmen Balentine (New York City) established Beyond HIV, Beyond Problems to train lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth of color to produce video documentaries to educate the public about sexual orientation diversity. The project will teach leadership skills and develop cultural programming for LGBTQ youth of color.

Mr. Davim Horowitz (New York City) designed the Prisoners' Rights and Advocacy project to address transgender inmates’ needs for safe and gender-appropriate housing and medical treatment.

Mr. Ahsanullah "Bobby" Khan (Brooklyn) launched the Coney Island Avenue Project (CIAP) to advocate on behalf of South Asians detained or harmed by bias attacks in the aftermath of 9/11. CIAP will map and assess the needs of the South Asian community and form a community caucus to combat racism and promote civic engagement and civil rights.

Ms. Loira Limbal (Bronx) created the Reel X Project, a social justice and creative filmmaking space for young people in the Morrisania section of the southwest Bronx. The video training institute will foster a new generation of filmmakers dedicated to raising awareness and organizing for social justice in their community.

Ms. Robina Niaz (New York City) established Turning Point for Women and Families to address the needs of Muslim women and children survivors of domestic violence. Through crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, advocacy, outreach, education, and training, the organization aims to provide culturally appropriate services to the Muslim community.

Ms. Karla Quinonez-Ruggiero (Brooklyn) developed Nuestro Proyecto Voz y Arte Mexicano ("Our Mexican Voice and Art") to serve the Mexican-American community in Sunset Park. The project will work to create a cultural center, increase the Spanish-language skills of Mexican-American primary-school-age children, offer immigration forums for adults, and host family cultural events.

Mr. Joseph Ubiles (New York City) created Power Writing/Youth Speaks to train teens in writing and critical thinking. The program works to strengthen reading, writing, and public speaking skills, and will offer intensive field study at political, financial, cultural, and historical locations in New York City.

Ms. Margaret Williams (Bronx) will run the Voter Enfranchisement Project for the Bronx Defenders. The project will work to educate people with felony convictions about their right to vote when their sentence is complete, maximize Bronx voter turnout, and improve election officials’ compliance with voting rights laws.