New Women New Yorkers

Tagged: storytelling

Memoir piece

Cute kittens in New York City

Elena Olazabal hails from Peru where she worked as a teacher. Now residing in Queens, she is an avid reader with a penchant for novels and the poetry of Gustavo Adolfo Becker. Elena also pens heartfelt poetry, often drawing inspiration from the love-filled landscape of her soul. Central to her world are her cherished pets: her dog, Kenyi, and her cats, Trueno (meaning “Thunder”) and Luna (meaning “Moon”). They illuminate her life and inspire her writings. She expressed her gratitude...

Memoir piece

Echoes of Saudade: A Letter Across Time

Born in Brazil in 1982, during the tentative transition from military dictatorship to democracy, Clarissa is the youngest of four sisters. She grew up surrounded by transformative art, spirituality, and political activism, influences that shaped her into the graphic designer and illustrator she is today. For nearly a decade, Clarissa has called New York home, though she frequently returns to her childhood house in a quaint town in Rio de Janeiro. There, she continues her quest for ripe mangoes and...

Culture & events

5th Annual World Refugee Day Music Festival (organized by Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and Catholic Charities)

In partnership with several organizations serving immigrants and refugees, NWNY proudly participated in the 5th Annual World Refugee Day Music Festival, hosted by the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. The NWNY Community was well-represented for both the virtual and in-person iterations of this event, celebrating refugees and their resilience through music, dance, and art. Virtually, Potri Ranka Manis shared her passion for promoting indigenous rights and traditions through a poignant Maranao dance performance.  Sharing a table with Ruth’s Refuge, NWNY staff...

Portraits & interviews

How I Have Built My Community in New York City

A personal experience in building a community in New York City, written by a Russian immigrant. October 8, 2017. My plane landed at JFK airport. It was a hot fall evening. The only thing I had was a touristic backpack with all my dreams about a new life in it. My husband had his too. The first place we had in the new city was a living room in a one-bedroom apartment in South Brooklyn. On the first morning, we...