#community-inclusion

#community-inclusion

Clenching a broom in one hand and a dust pan in the other, Amber Levine-Mickel furiously sweeps a dirt walkway in Sunnyvale, bending small pebbles, fallen leaves and branches to her will. For over an hour, the 31-year-old and her companions from Life Services Alternatives (LSA) are braving the cold to tidy the grounds of Animal Assisted Happiness, a family-friendly barnyard in the city. Levine-Mickel loves to volunteer there every Thursday morning, even if the tasks can get tiresome.

"Food, friendship, music and song are reminders of what Irish people are," she said, adding "that identity is much stronger" when friendship is extended to all newcomers. Mercedes Verona Pereira, from Cuba - one of the event organisers - told the gathering: "You don't need to fear anything, as our mutual responsibility as a community is to take care of you."

Berlin, prepare for a radical reimagining of family! The eagerly awaited Queer Family Album: Volume 2 is set to take over Sophiensæle this December, and it's an open invitation to all. This event calls on our trans, BIPoC, neurodivergent, disabled, introverted, refugee, elder, migrant, unconventional, outcast relatives and chosen families; everyone is warmly welcomed. When: 5th & 6th December 2025 | Doors Open: 19:30 | Program: 20:00 - 22:00 Where: Sophiensæle, Sophienstr. 18, 10178 Berlin Website @ queerfamilyalbum / @ sophiensaele

But he hasn't had consistent employment since before the pandemic. As he gears up to start his new job at Judy's Beach Cafe, he says looking forward to it. "It feels very nice," Ryan said. "I can be myself like a Down syndrome person." Ryan's mom, Elyn Smith, says helping her son find a job has been tough, particularly given that people with special needs often struggle when it comes to the employment sector.

Located at 196 North 10th Street between the Bedford Avenue L train stop and McCarren Park, Oberon features spacious retro seating and tables, mirrors, industrial windows, and walls adorned with vibrant art by Gerrard Deecey. The latter includes one piece depicting the Stonewall Uprising and other ones paying tribute to historic LGBTQ icons like the late trans activist Marsha P. Johnson and the late Brooklyn-born gay DJ Larry Levan.

The cafe would breathe new life into the Carpenters, creating a welcoming and inclusive space for all. This vibrant community hub will serve residents and invite people from across Newham to connect and enjoy.