irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $38KThe Caribbean Equality Projects launched its monthly Food Justice program in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its economic crises impacting Caribbean-centric neighborhoods across New York City. Collectively, with its community partners and elected officials, the organization distributes culturally responsive groceries, fresh produce, PPE, toiletries, period products, safe sex kits, and coats and toys, especially during the Thanksgiving, Diwali, Christmas, and Kwanzaa holidays. In 2022, the organization served over 16,200+ low-income and undocumented LGBTQ+ people, immigrant families, seniors, single-parent households, and HIV-impacted people through the organizations food justice program. CEP has organized over 9+ hyper-local pop-up pantries in Flatbush, Brooklyn, and Soundview, in The Bronx, serving an average of 350-450 families
- #2 $11KCaribbean Equality Projects Live Pridefully: Love and Resilience within Pandemics exhibition celebrated queer and trans Caribbean resilience through a racial justice lens,fostering critical conversations related to pride, migration, surviving colliding pandemics,and coming out narratives. Caribbean diasporic immigrant rights, gender justice, and trans rights advocates live at the intersections of outdated immigration policies, anti-Black violence, racism, homophobia, transphobia, gender-based violence, xenophobia, and misogyny in the United States and throughout the Caribbean region. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, queer and trans immigrants of color have lived ina constant state of fear and isolation, from food insecurity, and a lack of access toequitable healthcare, to rising rates of anti-Asian violence and police brutality against
named programs · 11 · from sources
What they call their work
Black Future Tings
Annual Black History Month program celebrating queer Caribbean histories and lived experiences through cultural events and education.
COVID-19 Programs
Response initiatives including panel discussions, mask distributions, and community outreach during the pandemic.
Food Justice
Monthly culturally responsive food distribution at Parkside Plaza, Brooklyn, providing groceries, fresh produce, and essential supplies to low-income and undocumented LGBTQ+ individuals and families.
Immigrant Justice
Legal and social support program helping LGBTQ+ Caribbean immigrants navigate complex immigration systems and access essential services.
Knowing Matters
Sexual health and wellness program addressing HIV/AIDS through education, arts, and community dialogue to break stigma and promote awareness.
LGBTQ Community Iftar
Annual Ramadan dinner event in partnership with organizations serving LGBTQ+ Muslims in NYC, fostering inclusion and community.
Phagwah Collective
Coalition supporting Indo-Caribbean and South Asian communities in South Queens through cultural and social justice initiatives.
Queer Liberation Coll.
LGBTQ+ contingent in the West Indian Day Parade advocating for Caribbean trans lives and visibility.
Queeribean Crossings
Annual conference exploring queer Caribbean histories and contemporary issues through storytelling, art, and academic discourse.
Trans Justice Unit
Support program for trans immigrants and asylum seekers focusing on advocacy and access to healthcare, housing, and social services.
Unchained
Healing space for Caribbean LGBTQ+ people in Little Guyana, Queens, and Little Caribbean, Brooklyn, offering community support and resources.
activities · 14 groups
What they do
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LGBTQ+ Immigrant and Asylum Support Services 3 activities
- Advocacy for transgender immigrants and asylum seekersProvides targeted advocacy services for transgender immigrants and asylum seekers on critical issues including healthcare access, housing, and legal rights, and organizes the only LGBTQ+ contingent in the West Indian Day Parade to advocate for trans justice.
- Legal services campaign for LGBTQ+ immigrantsRuns a campaign to establish and sustain a dedicated fund providing legal services to LGBTQ+ immigrants in New York City.
- Unchained Healing Justice ProgramProvides holistic support services to over 3,200 Caribbean immigrants and asylum seekers, including legal aid, immigration coordination, mental health support, and advocacy on healthcare and housing, with a focus on transgender individuals.
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LGBTQ+ Community Events and Celebrations 3 activities
- Annual cultural and empowerment eventsHosts recurring events including the L.O.V.E. forum, Little Guyana Pride, Black History Month celebrations, LGBTQ+ Community Iftar, and participation in Queens Pride and NYC Pride Parades to celebrate queer Caribbean culture, history, and resilience through performances, storytelling, and joyful resistance.
- Florida-based Caribbean LGBTQ+ visibility eventHosts the "Free-Up Yuhself" event in Florida to amplify Caribbean LGBTQ+ activism and visibility through storytelling, music, food, and performances.
- Visibility campaigns during major public eventsRuns social media and public presence campaigns to increase visibility of diasporic Caribbean LGBTQ+ immigrants during events such as World Pride and the West Indian Day Parade.
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Civic Engagement and Voter Mobilization 1 activity
- Civic engagement and voter education initiativesConducts non-partisan voter education campaigns, organizes the Little Guyana Votes Festival, and engages over 550,000 New Yorkers in civic participation, including voter registration and U.S. Census outreach, with a focus on Caribbean immigrant communities.
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LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency & Community Education 1 activity
- Community outreach and volunteer mobilizationOperates a Community Action Team of volunteers to support community outreach, civic engagement, and event planning, and conducts year-round street outreach and educational workshops to build intergenerational support networks for Caribbean LGBTQ+ communities.
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Distribution of PPE and Crisis Supplies 1 activity
- Emergency and pandemic response programmingProvided critical support during the COVID-19 pandemic, including mask distributions, panel discussions, and culturally responsive aid, to protect and inform vulnerable LGBTQ+ Caribbean immigrants.
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Direct Financial Assistance to Individuals 1 activity
- Financial assistance for LGBTQ+ immigrantsRaises and distributes funds to help LGBTQ+ immigrants cover essential needs such as groceries, healthcare, utilities, and toiletries.
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LGBTQ+ Legal and Policy Advocacy 1 activity
- Government liaison and policy advocacyServes as a liaison between Caribbean LGBTQ+ communities and government agencies or elected officials to advance equity, including advocacy in legislative redistricting and for the passage of the Equality Act through virtual lobby days.
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LGBTQ+ Community Support and Resource Centers 1 activity
- Healing spaces for Caribbean LGBTQ+ communitiesOperates safe, affirming healing spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals of Caribbean heritage in Little Guyana, Queens, and Little Caribbean, Brooklyn, offering intergenerational support and community building.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Monthly culturally responsive food distributionsOperates monthly food distribution events at Parkside Plaza in Brooklyn and other hyper-local pop-up pantries in Brooklyn and The Bronx, providing culturally responsive groceries, fresh produce, PPE, toiletries, period products, safe sex kits, and seasonal items to over 185,000 New Yorkers annually.
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Oral History Collection and Preservation 1 activity
- Queer Caribbean oral history and multimedia projectsProduces the "Queer Caribbeans of NYC Stonewall50" multimedia exhibit and an ongoing oral history series documenting the lives and advocacy of LGBTQ+ Caribbean immigrants and first-generation Caribbean Americans in New York City.
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HIV/AIDS Prevention and Support Services 1 activity
- Sexual health and wellness programmingImplements HIV/AIDS prevention and care initiatives through education, cultural programming, arts, and community support networks, including public workshops and campaigns addressing stigma and access to care.
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Documentary Film Production 1 activity
- Short film production on Caribbean LGBTQ+ experiencesProduced the short film "Gyal Film" to explore racial, sexual, and gendered violence within the Afro-Asian Caribbean diaspora, using cultural storytelling as a tool for education and healing.
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LGBTQ+ Community Grantmaking 1 activity
- Trans Equity FundFunds and supports initiatives that empower the transgender community in New York City through the Trans Equity Fund, established in 2020.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Advocacy for cultural recognitionParticipated in successful advocacy efforts that contributed to the recognition of Diwali as an official holiday in New York City public schools.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$351K
Contributions & grants$351K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$357K
Program expenses48%
Admin / overhead52%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$141K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$353K
Cash$68K
Investments$0
Liabilities$75K
Net assets$278K
Liquid reserves2.3 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +17.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 8
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOHAMED Q AMIN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $54K |
| TIFFANY JADE MUNROW | TRANS JUSTICE COORDINATOR | 15 | $12K |
| NALIMA AMIN | VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR | 20 | $5K |
| SAI ALI | UNCHAINED PROGRAM MANAGER | 10 | $5K |
| XOE STANLEY | COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL CONTEN | 10 | $4K |
| ISABELLA D FERNANDES | COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR | 15 | $3K |
| DIAHANN BROWNE | BROOKLYN UNCHAINED FACILITATOR | 10 | $2K |
| STEVEN ROSE | SEXUAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS MANAGE | 10 | $250 |
board members · 3
- DARREN J GLENN — TREASURER
- KADEEM ROBINSON — SECRETARY
- THEO BROWN — BOARDCHAIR
relationships · 9
Who they work with
- APA Voice Partner — Collaborates with APA Voice to advocate for the interests of Indo and Afro-Caribbean immigrants in legislative redistricting.
- Care For Immigrants Coalition — CEP is part of a coalition including community organizations, legal providers, unions, and advocates focused on LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights.
- Phagwah Collective Coalition — Part of a coalition of social justice organizations supporting Indo-Caribbean and South Asian communities in South Queens.
- State Sen. Liu Partner — Co-hosted a rally with the Caribbean Equality Project calling on Governor Hochul to take action on immigrant protections.
- community partners Partner — Collaborates with community partners to distribute food and essential items through the Food Justice program.
- elected officials Government — Works with elected officials to advocate for an equitable society for LGBTQ+ members of the Caribbean diaspora.
- elected officials Partner — Works with elected officials to support food and essential item distribution in Caribbean-centric neighborhoods.
- government agencies Government — Liaison relationship to advance equity and inclusion for Caribbean LGBTQ+ communities.
- orgs serving the LGBTQ+ Muslim community in NYC Partner — Collaborates with organizations serving the LGBTQ+ Muslim community in New York City to host the annual LGBTQ+ Community Iftar.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Centered Advocacy and Mobilizationmethodology: community-centered advocacyBy grounding policy advocacy in community mobilization and participatory action, the organization advances safety and rights for LGBTQ+ Caribbean New Yorkers because solutions emerge from within the community, ensuring responsiveness and sustainability.
- Culturally Responsive Service Deliverymethodology: culturally-responsive-service-deliveryBy aligning food and essential item distribution with the cultural and religious practices of Caribbean communities, the organization increases accessibility and relevance of services, thereby improving engagement and impact because services are grounded in lived experience and tradition.
- Integrated Cultural Programming and Storytellingmethodology: cultural-programming-and-storytellingBy using storytelling, art, and cultural programming as tools for public education and advocacy, the organization combats hate violence and advances rights because cultural expression fosters empathy, visibility, and intergenerational healing within the Caribbean LGBTQ+ diaspora.
- Intersectional Community Buildingmethodology: intersectional-liberation-movementBy intentionally fostering solidarity across lines of race, religion, gender identity, immigration status, ability, and HIV status, the organization strengthens belonging and family acceptance because inclusive spaces reduce isolation and build collective resilience among marginalized identities.
- Volunteer-Powered Community Resiliencemethodology: community-poweredBy centering volunteerism as a core methodology, the organization builds community power and resilience because collective participation fosters ownership, trust, and sustained engagement in liberation efforts.