2023 Building Black Bedstuy Fundraiser

The Building Black Bed Stuy Committee was formed in 2020 as response to stagnant growth when it comes to accumulating black wealth and gentrification in our neighborhoods. We are a committee of black women who feel a personal connection to and a passion for preserving the rich history of Bed Stuy. We don't want that history and cultural significance to be erased. The worldwide covid pandemic has only amplified the disparities that our black and brown communities face and we want to take an active role in moving them forward. So in 2020, at the peak of a series of tumultuous times and events in history we came to action.

Building Black Bed Stuy believes that black liberation is key on the journey to self sufficiency within our community. Creating resources for building generational wealth gives us power and independence. Building Black Bedstuy aims to amplify that message.

Our mission is to protect, preserve, and liberate the black community within Bed Stuy and beyond. We do this by helping to provide financial aid to existing businesses and organizations in need within black communities. By investing in them, we help to uplift the black community and we can start to build economic power.

For 2023, we are raising money for the Hattie Carthan Herban Garden, The United Order of the Tents, and Alfreda’s Cinema. Hattie Carthan Herban Farm is a reclaimed space in Bedstuy that has been created by volunteer members of the community to increase access to fresh food with locally grown fruits and vegetables to Bedstuy residents. It is an actual working farm with a greenhouse adjacent to Von King Park that actively grows produce on site and hosts weekend farmers. In addition to the weekend farmers markets, this initiative offers programming for the community on health and wellness, healing through foods, and youth core opportunities. Our donation of 10k will help them to renovate an outdoor kitchen that will enable them to expand their programming and offer more services to the community.

Order of the Tents is an organization for black women that was originally founded in 1848 to assist those seeking freedom from slavery via the Underground RailRoad. The name originated from the tents that were used as temporary shelter during their journey to Liberation. The Brooklyn chapter was established in 1948 and acquired a property to serve as their home base at 87 McDonough Street in Brooklyn. Over the years, the members of the Brooklyn chapter of the Tents served the Bedstuy community in silence as a secret society providing food, shelter, and resources for black women in the neighborhood over the years. But because of that silence, they were unable to receive external funding and as membership has waned and members become ancestors, the property that has housed them for over 70 years has succumbed to great disrepair. Our 10k donation will assist in the necessary repairs to the property so that this home and its new membership can continue to be a beacon of support for the Bedstuy community as they have done for the last many decades.

Alfredas Cinemas is a film focused immersive and events experience focused on showcasing Black and POC work. Over the years, they have curated film events with independent theaters and larger arts focused organizations such as BAM, Lincoln Center, The New Negress Films Society, Film Forum, and The African Film Festival among others. Many of their initiatives have been independently funded and they are now looking to open a brick and mortar theater facility to support their initiatives to be able to feature work locally that will serve the Black Brooklyn community. The 10k donation from us will allow them to expand their online presence via film streaming capacity, support outreach, launch exclusive licensing with Black and POC filmmakers and continue to independently fund in person events which has been their most successful efforts in tapping into their audience.

We thank you in advance for your donations and continued support in helping to move our initiatives forward.