TESTIMONY
Noely Reyes on Supporting Older Immigrants' Access to Services in New York City
2:06:43
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150 sec
Noely Reyes testifies about the struggles of older immigrants in New York City and Mixteca's efforts to support them.
- Reyes, a Community Organizer for Mixteca, addresses the New York City Council about the challenges older immigrants face in accessing services, emphasizing language barriers and a lack of culturally competent care.
- Mixteca provides culturally sensitive assistance in Spanish to Latinx and indigenous communities in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and Greater New York City.
- The organization serves approximately 150 to 200 individuals weekly, offering help from creating emails to applying for benefits.
- Community testimonials highlight Mixteca as a critical source of trustworthy information and support.
- Mixteca's work, according to Reyes, is vital in facilitating access to essential services for older immigrants, ensuring their well-being and dignity.
Noely Reyes
2:06:43
Hi.
2:06:44
Good afternoon.
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Honorable members of the New York City Council.
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My name is Noel Reyes, and I am honored to address the Sistine Council today as a dedicated community organizer representing Stack Organization and community members we serve Mexteca's deeply invested in advocating for the needs of immigrants in our city.
2:07:04
I've had the privilege of working closely with immigrant communities, particularly older adults.
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To ensure that they have access to essential services and support networks that are vital for their well-being and dignity.
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One of the most pressing issues for facing immigrant, older adults in New York City is access to comprehensive services, including health care.
2:07:21
Many older adults in immigrant communities face significant barriers in navigating complex systems, including language barriers, lack of culturally competent care and limited awareness of available resources.
2:07:32
As a result, they often do not receive adequate services, resources, or support.
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At MiXdeco, we provide support to Latinx and indigenous communities in Sunset Park and greater New York City.
2:07:42
Being a well established community based organization in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, we have established a strong bond with the existing and new community members in the surrounding areas and the across the city.
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This enables us to foster trust with newly arrived effectively.
2:07:56
As a sole Spanish speaking organization in Brooklyn, I to asylum seekers or team of staff and volunteers provide culturally sensitive assistance in Spanish.
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Currently, Mectca is surrounded by 17 Shell service serving asylum seekers.
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On a weekly basis, we are currently serving approximately a 150 to 200 individuals.
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In the individuals, any help, and information from creating an email to apply to benefits, and learning about the rights.
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I have some testimonies from our community members that have express the following regarding the support Demistek has brought to them.
2:08:31
As an immigrant with little resources, it is challenging to find information that is correct.
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In my community, often people share news with each other that isn't correct.
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I'm expecting I was able to find the help I needed to enroll in services such as very first in NYC Care.
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The service the information to these resource were in my language, and I knew I could apply to these services because information came from a trustworthy organization.
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Another community member said, mixed deck is my second home.
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Upon arriving in this country, In Miselda, I was treated with human warmth, felt confident, and attended different programs such as fam family workshops and mentorship program.
2:09:08
Currently, I received support with the FairFirst application.
2:09:11
I am very grateful to miss Stecca.
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Thank you for your time.