Make The Road New York (MRNY) officially opened its new 24,000 square feet community in Corona on Wednesday, February 5.
The center, located in 104-15 Roosevelt Ave., has been a project of years and is now consolidated as a permanent space for immigrant New Yorkers, providing essential resources and community support in an increasingly challenging environment for these communities.
“This space is extremely important,” said Councilor Shekar Krishnan, who represents the district. “A cozy place for immigrants, which offers from legal services to community support, this center is truly incredible. I am proud to support Make The Road, and this is a testimony of how reflexive and vibrant that this organization is when creating a space to gather us.”
The new community center is designed to offer essential resources for the defense and support of immigrants, especially in the face of recent federal challenges. Following the new executive orders of the administration, MRNY has intensified its efforts to educate the community about their rights and mobilize campaigns in defense of New York.
The president of the County of Queens, Donovan Richards, highlighted the importance of the center in the current political context: “In these times, when our immigrant communities face so many fears, it is essential to have spaces like this. I am proud to have invested $ 1.8 million in this project. This is an answer to those who question our diversity and immigration policies, and today we send them a forceful message.
The Community Center, designed by Andrea Steele Architecture, seeks to reflect the resilience and diversity of the community. It has private spaces for health consultations and legal services, areas dedicated to child care and an auditorium with capacity for 300 people, offering a dynamic environment for educational and leadership programs. There are also spaces for art, defense of rights and flexible learning areas for both adults and young people.
“Queens is an incredibly diverse community, and this center will help us strengthen our power and welcome new members,” said Arline Cruz Escobar, director of health programs at MRNY. “This is a lighthouse of hope for our community, where people can come, feel protected and empowered, especially at times like this with the new administration.”
Councilor Linda Lee, who has collaborated closely with Make The Road in several projects, expressed her enthusiasm for the opening of the center: “This site and this organization will be even more fundamental to protect our immigrant communities and ensure that they have access to essential services.”
The new center also has an outdoor space, murals and works of art, becoming a cultural center in addition to a support and activism space. Gisela Vidalle, project architect, expressed his pride in contributing to such a significant resource for the community: “I think this place will be a home away from home for many people, and it has been an honor to be part of its creation.”
For more information on the services offered in the center, visit Maketheroadny.org.
