Dear AMPHS Family,
Happy June! Although summer doesn’t officially start until June 21, we have already experienced some scorching hot days. Be sure to drink lots of water, wear sunscreen to protect your skin, and take breaks if you’re working or exercising outdoors.
As we say goodbye to AAPI Heritage Month, we want to recognize everyone who donated to our Give in May fundraiser for mental health services and safety trainings for AAPI community members. Together, we raised $6,000 and placed first in a fundraising challenge, winning an additional $12,000! This feat would not have been possible without the support of everyone who donated—thank you so much. If you didn’t get the chance to donate but would like to support our work, you can donate here.
As a reminder, the AMPHS team is in the office Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Make an appointment to receive a health screening, get help navigating social services, or learn more about how to keep you and your family healthy.
Upcoming Events
HERE AND NOW: Sunset Park Community Storytelling Project
Starting this week, community members (ages 18+) are invited to join us for HERE AND NOW, a series of free sessions that will encourage participants to share stories about their lives and experiences. Created in partnership with Target Margin Theater, the series aims to foster community healing, build cross-cultural solidarity, and engage community members in the creative process. An Artist Facilitator, along with one of AMPHS’ wellness specialists, will lead the sessions, which will be offered in English, Mandarin, Spanish, and Arabic and will include food and beverages. Sign up here!
Self-Defense and Safety Trainings
As our community continues to heal from the April 12 subway shooting, AMPHS and its partners have been hosting safety trainings in Sunset Park to empower community members to take control of their own physical safety. On Saturday, May 21, AMPHS co-hosted a self-defense training alongside Asian American Federation, Nonviolent Peaceforce, Team Self-Defense NYC, and South Brooklyn Mutual Aid, with AMPHS Co-Founder Mon Yuck Yu providing translation into Mandarin. We will be co-hosting another training this month—stay tuned for more details!
We are also recruiting volunteers to assist with safety accompaniment and our SafeWalks street patrolling program. If you are interested, please sign up here.
Biweekly Food Distributions
We held two successful food distributions in May with the support of the NYIC, Empire BlueCross BlueShield, and South Brooklyn Mutual Aid. AMPHS food distributions occur every other Saturday from 3-4:30pm outside AMPHS’ office. Our next one will take place this Saturday 6/4! Our team contacts members on our food interest list in advance of each event. If you are interested in being added to our food distribution waitlist, please call our office at (212) 256-9036 during our hours of 10am to 6pm, Wednesday through Saturday.
AMPHS Updates
Health is Wealth Community Screenings
On Saturday, May 14, AMPHS brought together a host of organizations for our Health is Wealth community screenings event, providing podiatric, BMI, blood pressure, and cancer screenings; COVID vaccines and testing; and healthcare resources such as NYC Care for tens of community members. If you‘re interested in attending an event like this, keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages—we’ll be holding more such events in the future!
Responding to the Sunset Park 7th Avenue Fire
On May 2, 2022, a fire tore through a residential building on 7th Avenue and 54th Street, displacing 45 families. Together with Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, Parent-Child Relationship Association (PCR), Ohel, Center for Early Childhood Health and Development, and Chinese-American Planning Council, we held a healing workshop with over 100 victims and provided food and cash assistance to help families rebuild their homes. We will continue to offer mental health support as victims undergo relocation and healing. To support these efforts, donate to our Help Sunset Park Heal campaign or donate directly to PCR’s victims fund.
Recognizing AAPI Heritage Month
In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander visited the AMPHS office to learn more about our health, mental health, and social and education services, and specifically how we serve the AAPI community. We also joined other local AAPI leaders in Mayor Eric Adams’ AAPI Heritage Month Celebration at Gracie Mansion to recognize the diversity in food, music, and leadership in AAPI culture.
COVID-19 & NYC Care Workshops
AMPHS continues its efforts to inform the public on COVID-19 updates, particularly addressing COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among our communities. We are partnering with various organizations to offer COVID-19 and NYC Care information sessions led by our Community Health Partners trained by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. If you are interested in requesting a session, please fill out this form or direct any questions to estela.cohetero@amphsonline.org.
Request a CHW for your COVID-19 vaccine event!
Our trained Community Health Workers are available to help answer vaccine questions and assist with translation at your next COVID-19 vaccine van event. Languages spoken include Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin. Email estela.cohetero@amphsonline.org for more information.
Public Health Updates
COVID-19 Update
- The COVID Alert Level was recently raised to High in NYC.
- The NYC Health Commissioner advises everyone to wear a mask in public indoor settings, and for people ages 65+ or at high risk of severe illness to wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings as well.
- When wearing masks, upgrade to higher-quality masks, including KN95, KF94, N95, or a cloth mask on top of a surgical mask.
- The best way to protect yourself and your family is to get your COVID vaccine and booster shots, and get tested regularly, especially if you’re feeling sick. Find a COVID vaccination site here and testing locations here.
- Need a mask or a COVID test kit? Visit the AMPHS office during our open office hours Wed-Fri, 10AM-6PM to pick some up for free!
Monkeypox
- Over the course of the past month, we have seen growing reports of global monkeypox transmission. Monkeypox is a virus transmitted from animals to humans with symptoms that mimic smallpox but are less severe, including flu-like symptoms and a rash with lesions.
- Monkeypox is transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials. Symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after infection.
- 257 cases have been identified worldwide across 23 countries where monkeypox has been rare in the past. NYC has observed four reported cases of monkeypox, and higher incidences have occurred among travelers returning from Portugal, Spain, the UK, Canada, and Central and Western African countries.
- A significant number of cases have been reported among men who have sex with men. There is nothing inherent about these individuals’ sexuality that makes them more susceptible to monkeypox, but members of this community are at higher risk at this stage of the outbreak because of reported monkeypox occurrence so far.
- To protect yourself, avoid contact with anyone who has monkeypox symptoms, wear a face mask, and wash your hands. If you have symptoms, self-isolate and avoid close contact with others.
Other Resources
Voter Registration Deadlines
With the newest redistricting changes, there will now be two primary elections and two voter registration deadlines! Register by TODAY (June 3) to vote in the June 28 primary for NYS Governor, Lt. Governor, Comptroller, Attorney General, and Assembly; Judicial Delegates; and US Senate. Register by August 3 to vote in the August 23 primary for US House of Representatives and NYS Senate. Youth ages 16 and 17 can also pre-register to vote. Pick up a paper ballot from AMPHS, print one online, or register online.
AMPHS News 