“As we watch Brooklyn continue to evolve, it’s important that we preserve not only its history, but the livelihood of its native residents. It’s a balancing act, but our campaign aims to celebrate Brooklyn’s triumphs while also bringing much-needed attention to the 23% who live in poverty in our great borough.”
(Brooklyn, NY) September 21, 2016 – A diverse and eclectic group of Brooklyn movers and shakers are advocating for poor and low-income Brooklyn residents through the Brooklyn Community Services (BCS) 2016 ONE Brooklyn Community MTA Campaign now seen in 36 Brooklyn subway stations. The stylized posters are the BCS call to action is to help change the math for the 23% of Brooklynites living in poverty through volunteering, advocacy and philanthropy. The BCS 2016 ONE Brooklyn Community MTA campaign features a diverse cross section of 27 actors, musicians, poets, writers, artists, chefs and business owners living in Brooklyn neighborhoods like Bedford Stuyvesant, Williamsburg, Crown Heights, Greenpoint, Park Slope, Ditmas Park and Prospect Heights. The September launch will highlight actors Billy Magnussen (Broadway’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike and the TV series The People V. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story), Michael Chernus (TV’s Orange is the New Black, Off -Broadway’s In the Wake and film’s Captain Phillips, Men in Black and The Bourne Legacy), Will Rogers (film Bridge of Spies) and Wesley Taylor (Broadway’s Rock of Ages and Addams Family the Musical and TV’s SMASH). There’s acclaimed spoken-word poet, performer, writer and LGBT activist Staceyann Chin (wrote and performs in her one woman show Motherstruck), playwright Emily Simoness, (founder and executive director of SPACE on Ryder Farm, creative home to playwrights, musicians and dance companies) and author, entrepreneur, and LGBT advocate Jodie Patterson (founder of Doobop.com and GeorgiaNY.com, who is a frontline activist of her 7 year old transgender son).