2025 PathMakers to Peace Recipients: Neighborhood Groups: NY 08, NY 10 & 139 For Palestine

NY 08 Neighbors for a Gaza Ceasefire

Constituents in Congressman Hakeem Jeffries district, NY8, formed to build a campaign powerful enough to pressure him, the Minority Leader of Congress, to call for a permanent ceasefire of Israel’s devastating war on Gaza, to end US military aid for that war, to allow for the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and recognize the State of Palestine. We have been collecting  signatures throughout the district on a letter addressed to the Congressman and have been delivering them to his office in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. We organized a rally in front of his office and have met with staff members of Congressman Jeffries to discuss these issues. Our work is ongoing.

NY-10 Neighbors

NY-10 Neighbors is a collective of Congressional District NY-10 residents coming together to stand against the occupation of Palestine and the genocide of Palestinians. Through political education and collective action with our neighbors, we build community and demand that our congressional representatives end U.S. support for Israel’s occupation, apartheid, and war crimes. NY-10 Neighbors believes in the power of our community to hold our elected officials accountable until U.S. policies respect the inherent dignity, humanity, and right to self-determination of Palestinians and all people.

139 for Palestine

139 for Palestine is an autonomous group of families whose children attend P.S. 139 in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. The group came together in the fall of 2024 after two parents realized that the fight for Palestinian liberation should not only be happening at protests in Manhattan or in other spaces far-removed from their day-to-day lives and communities. The group started with around a dozen families meeting at the playground.

In January 2025, 139 for Palestine launched weekly, family-friendly vigils outside the neighborhood tot lot. These vigils have since drawn an ever-growing crowd of community members spanning a wide range of ages and backgrounds. In the spring of 2025, 139 for Palestine connected with a tent school in Gaza: the Without Borders School. The school has served thousands of Palestinian students over the past two years in the midst of the ongoing genocide. When it was forced to temporarily shutter in September 2025 during the intensified ground invasion of Gaza City, the school’s administrators gathered and distributed water and food to the community, and visited with injured students. After relentless days and nights of fear, destruction, and loss, the bombing and heavy artillery stopped in October 2025. Without Borders School is currently erecting tents to rebuild the school, in the midst of their immense grief. 139 for Palestine fundraises for Without Borders School at their weekly vigil and through events like kids’ lemonade stands, art builds, soccer games, and neighborhood street fairs.