Kantha and Visioning in Kensington

In Kensington, Brooklyn, Bangladeshi and South Asian immigrant women have not traditionally been part of public life. They need safe and brave spaces where they can redefine their roles in the community, learn new skills, build relationships, and find outlets to address their issues. Common challenges among these women include isolation, navigating identity, domestic violence, mental health concerns, and the need for skills training. This work is essential in Kensington because much of the organizing has been done by men, often excluding the needs and input of women. Faculty Fellow Emily Ahn Levy and Student Fellow Ghuncha Shaheed will work to support and amplify the efforts of the Bangladeshi Ladies Club while facilitating connections between community members to strengthen their networks, build and share resources, and organize together.

Founded in 2017 by Annie Ferdous and friends, the Bangladeshi Ladies Club (BLC) is a member-based collective dedicated to Bangladeshi women's self-determination; a space for women whose livelihoods involve engaging with their children, family, and work, to learn, relax, think, and organize together.

This project will provide direct support to the BLC, which has recently become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This support includes visioning sessions on future programming, fundraising, and advocacy, all of which will take place during project-supported kantha-quilting workshops led by the BLC. The project cultivates opportunities for these women to express themselves, engage civically, continue building safe and brave spaces, and curate opportunities for future conversations by and for their community. It shines a light on the creativity and resilience of the women in Kensington who are deeply engaged in the community but may not always be visible