1. 350 survivors attended culinary arts programs

A Note from alumnus

By Sharlena Powell

Come into our home and see what lives here. Beauty, family, and food. Through dedication and upliftment, Mentari provides the essential things in a life that survivors need with no limiting barriers.

As a proud Mentari alumnus and ambassador, I am excited to share with you what we call home guided by food and love - the universal languages.

Check Mentari’s book publication at Balboa Press

“I knew this was the first step on my journey of self-discovery.”

— Sharlena Powell

2. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected New York City, especially Queens County where our organization resides.

Mentari identified the situation and condition before the lockdown. We allocate empowerment funds to help survivors who lost their jobs and need help and support.

Emergency programs were established due to the needs of our clients, Pandemic unemployment assistance programs were established in March 2020. We distributed groceries and supplied financial assistance to those who couldn’t pay their bills.

At that moment, the business closed, and it was a difficult time for us, Freedom For All was the main source of funding for the programs. Through their grants, we were able to provide thousands of hot meals to the first responders and survivors. Thousands of grocery bags and financial assistance for health-related expenses, rent, and phone bills.

Partnership and collaboration were very important during COVID-19 and we are thankful and grateful for Katie Ford from Freedom For All, Aya Sevila from Newlife and many more partners who help and support us.

-Shandra Woworuntu, The founder and CEO

3. Paola, the barber.

Amazed by our client’s resilience. Mentari was very proud of Paola, she is an immigrant who seeks justice in New York City. She came to our organization from the NGO that serves victims of crimes.

Paola was a victim of child abuse, bullying, labor trafficking, and sex trafficking. As a member of the LGBT community, she has difficulties accessing services.

We serve survivors equally and we practice survivor inclusion to make sure that Mentari will be able to support and help survivors with our resources. She attended culinary arts and completed the programs.

Paola worked as a kitchen helper in a restaurant in New York City but she couldn’t survive bully and mistreatment. Mentari connected her to organization partners to help her with therapies, and immigration services.

Paola’s journey wasn’t easy, and many survivors have experiences like Paola.

She found a scholarship for barber school and she graduated to become a barber. She got her state barber license and practice, but working with a barber storefront was not easy for her. She experienced mistreatment and bullying.

Paola didn’t give up, now she is an independent barber in New York City.