Executive Director, CCDI
On Saturday, May 17, 2025, CCDI held its 6th Annual Plant Giveaway for Block Associations, thanks to City Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse. This year, 31 residents from 17 blocks participated, and more than $6,000 worth of plants, flowers, and herbs were distributed. The program is free; participants are only asked to send photos of their plants.
The program encourages residents to plant greenery instead of paving with concrete, which contributes to flooding in Canarsie. Since the program began six years ago, there has been a 40% reduction in flooding and a 60% reduction in dumping. However, more work is needed to curb dumping along Seaview Avenue and East 108th Street near the Nature Preserve, one of Canarsie’s hidden gems. A local business, I Love Junk, helps by collecting discarded materials, making it easier for residents to support cleanup and maintenance efforts.
Over the past year, CCDI has been rebuilding the Canarsie Community Garden on Schenck Street to create a space where children as young as kindergarten age can work alongside adults in cultivating plants and participating in gardening activities. Plans are underway to add a state-of-the-art greenhouse designed to encourage seniors to spend more time outdoors and help reduce the prevalence of dementia in the community.
The Parks Department has granted the Canarsie Alliance stewardship of the garden and provided additional adjacent land to develop into a community space. To prepare the area, carpet or cardboard will be laid down to eliminate invasive species. Although this process will take several months, the space will eventually serve as a venue for relaxation and special cultural events. The goal is for Canarsie to become a vibrant center of cultural activity and continue to live up to its “Flossy” reputation.
This was developed by CCDI and researchers from the Consortium for Climate Risk in the Urban Northeast to gather information about flooding and land sinking issues in Canarsie, the type of damages that occur, possible actions to remedy the issues, and satisfaction with the repair results.
Scan the QR code to learn more.
Meet Miguel Innocent, the man behind the local trash removal service, I Love Junk. Born in Haiti and a proud Canarsie resident since 2011, Innocent has deep roots in the community. After working for an ambulette company that closed its doors—leaving 24,000 employees without work—he decided it was time to pursue a new path.
Rather than returning to the same industry, Innocent saw an opportunity to serve his neighborhood in a different way.
—by launching a trash removal and cleanup business. With just one van and a big dream, he got to work right here in Canarsie. “I chose Canarsie because I live here,” he said. “This business is mobile, but I wanted to give back to the community I know and love.”
Innocent believes what sets his business apart is not only the convenience of the service but also his genuine care for the neighborhood and its residents. “The residents here are always improving their homes,” he said. “It’s inspiring—and my services help support that growth while keeping the environment clean.
For Innocent, the business is a family affair, with even his pet getting involved. The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. “I’ve had the chance to meet so many fantastic people. The support has been incredible,” he remarked.
Looking ahead, Innocent plans to expand his fleet and hire more local residents. He is committed to growth that directly benefits Canarsie. Whether it’s a large cleanup or simply helping you reclaim your space, I Love Junk is available from 10 AM to 10 PM, seven days a week. Call 347-360-5649.
Founded in 1973, the Coalition of Concerned Medical Professionals (CCMP) has spent over 50 years providing free preventive medical and non-emergency dental care to low-paid workers while advocating for comprehensive healthcare. Originally launched in Riverhead, Long Island, to confront a typhoid outbreak threatening farm workers, CCMP later expanded to Brooklyn, establishing a permanent office on Remsen Avenue—formerly the practice of longtime supporter Dr. Lawrence Cohen, who was born and raised in Canarsie.
Run entirely by volunteer health professionals, CCMP organizes free preventive medical care, non-emergency dental services, and advocacy to ensure that insurance companies and government agencies provide uninsured and underinsured individuals with the care they are entitled to receive. The group collaborates with a wide network of partners, including SUNY Downstate Medical Center, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, local businesses, and community organizations such as the Canarsie Lions Club and the Caribbean American Nurses Association. With no government funding, CCMP relies on donated services, in-kind support, and community partnerships to carry out its mission of removing barriers between low-wage workers and quality healthcare.
In addition to its health advocacy, CCMP quickly mobilized in response to Hurricane Sandy by forming a Disaster Relief and Health Impact Committee. The organization supported residents facing mold damage not covered by insurance by providing donated sheetrock and hosting mold safety education sessions.
Board member and air quality specialist Pierre Cajuste led these efforts. Their work helped counter harmful city recommendations to wash walls with bleach, which can worsen mold problems over time. Instead, CCMP provided effective, long-term solutions.
Over the years, CCMP has achieved numerous victories, from the daily successes of its benefits program to supporting patients and healthcare workers at Kings County Hospital in opposing the closure of the women’s oncology department during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the organization remains concerned about the ongoing decline in the health of low-paid workers, many of whom face preventable illnesses without access to necessary care due to public health cuts and profit-driven insurance denials.
CCMP now serves more benefit recipients than ever, including workers whose jobs once provided adequate healthcare. The organization remains committed to organizing alongside health professionals, students, and community members who believe that in the richest city in the richest country, healthcare must be a human right. To learn how you can volunteer with CCMP, call 718-469-5817 and ask for Leyla or Patrick.
Reverend Father Alexander Gunthorpes is a member of the CCMP Board of Directors. Born and raised in Antigua, he began his career as a teacher and later became a priest serving various Caribbean parishes before moving to the U.S. for postgraduate studies.
Reverend Gunthorpes first became aware of CCMP while at Emmanuel Church, where he presided for over 20 years before retiring from ministry. “Father John Farrell came at my invitation one Sunday with members of CCMP and made a presentation. I was so impressed that I had some of my parishioners with me visit the CCMP office in Canarsie, Brooklyn. The rest is history!”
Acting as a liaison, Reverend Gunthorpes has been instrumental in securing speaking engagements and building relationships with churches, offices, and potential donors, significantly strengthening CCMP’s outreach and fundraising efforts. This included meeting with the staff of St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway and establishing a close partnership. He later shared, “Father Farrell and I were able to meet with Lawrence Provenzano, Bishop of the Diocese of Long Island, and secure the support CCMP needed.” In 2012, Reverend Gunthorpes was invited to join CCMP’s Board of Directors.
Reverend Gunthorpes emphasized that CCMP is a cause worth supporting. “The fact that people devote their time, effort, and energy to ensure that those who may not have the time, courage, or resources to fight for themselves are supported is amazing to me. It means the world to me because at CCMP, the less fortunate are cared for by people who sometimes don’t even know them,” he said. He added, “That’s why every week I make time to do what I can to help CCMP move forward.”
