For a Brooklyn Haitian nonprofit, new property signals strides in building collective wealth

Overview:

This story explores how Life of Hope solved its issue of constantly spending money on rent by purchasing a multi-million dollar property it plans to turn into a service and cultural hub for central Brooklyn, and model for other Haitian nonprofits.

Editor’s Note: This story aims to highlight entities involved in solving a problem, even when those solutions aren’t perfect, to inspire positive change. To learn more about solutions-focused storytelling, visit the Solutions Journalism Network.

BROOKLYN — This time last year, Porez Luxama was sure he would be cutting the ribbon on a gleaming, newly-renovated property in East Flatbush with much fanfare by this summer. But months after Life of Hope closed on the property in June 2024, the executive director began extending a ‘take it slow’ approach about the larger development he hopes to build out.