We Are Not Afraid Community Resource Center

WANA’s mission is to provide welcome, affirmation, connectedness, support, advocacy, opportunities for wellness, development and creative expression, and access to resources to people of all ages who are: Facing the debilitating consequences of poverty or economic hardship, including but not limited to food insecurity, housing insecurity, lack of access to health care, lack of educational and employment opportunities, and/or seeking safety and liberation from oppression and/or bigotry. WANA has two Primary Programs:

The Elizabeth Wright (EW) Food Programs include three primary initiatives: a Client Choice Food Pantry, in which participants choose food from various categories for each member of their family; Saturday Outreach/Mobile Soup Kitchen in which lunch packets are assembled and distributed to hungry New Yorkers; and Friday Hot Meal Movie Nights which include a three course dinner and social engagement. Through all the programs, people are informed and encouraged to engage in other services offered by WANA, St. Mary’s Church and community, thereby offering a strong community building function and networking opportunity.

The Robert Daniel Jones (RDJ) Refugee Shelter specifically seeks to foster community for immigrants and asylum seekers experiencing homelessness living in West Harlem. We focus specifically on people who have fallen through the cracks of our city’s homeless programs, and who can’t qualify for assistance elsewhere. The RDJ Refugee Shelter is currently the only shelter in New York City specifically for homeless asylum seekers and refugees. We provide up to 8 guests with a 6-month stay while they wait for asylum or for work authorization, and link them to the identification, education, employment, legal, and language resources they need to thrive in their new home.