Get The Scoop On Fun and Empowering Events in Southeast Queens the Weekend of August 21st

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Fun and Empowering Events in Southeast Queens the Weekend of August 21st

Get The Scoop On Jamaica Bay In This Op-Ed By Neighbor Johanna Ortiz

Help Us To continue to inform and empower our community please Donate. Get The Scoop Weekly On the Global Black Community and Southeast Queens, NY. Subscribe to Our Mailing List. Receive the Latest Events, News, Jobs, and Top Community Economic Development Stories Like this one Click Here | Reach up to 1.3 million people Promote

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Neighbor Johanna Ortiz Reveals
The Magic of Jamaica Bay

Click Picture For Larger View of Jamaica Bay Northwest Aerial View 2013

Picture by Joe Mabel

Johanna Ortiz, Edgemere

Jamaica Bay is one of the most magical places in our neighborhood, a wild, living stretch of water and marshland tucked right between Far Rockaway and JFK. It’s easy to pass by it without thinking, but once you slow down and really look, you realize how special it is.

This bay has a story.  

Once heavily polluted and overlooked, Jamaica Bay has become one of NYC’s most important coastal ecosystems. It’s home to salt marshes, protected wetlands, and one of the largest bird sanctuaries on the East Coast. It’s a place where nature fights to thrive, and where we get a front‑row seat to its resilience.

Jamaica Bay From Belt Parkway 2006 Pic by GK tramrunner229

Get The Scoop On Fun and Empowering Events in Southeast Queens the Weekend of August 14th

Help Us To continue to inform and empower our community please Donate. Get The Scoop Weekly On the Global Black Community and Southeast Queens, NY. Subscribe to Our Mailing List. Receive the Latest Events, News, Jobs, and Top Community Economic Development Stories Like this one Click Here | Reach up to 1.3 million people Promote

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Fun and Empowering Events in Southeast Queens the Weekend of August 14th

Get The Scoop On Why Blacks Have A Cure for Sickle Cell Anemia But Few Can Access it

Help Us To continue to inform and empower our community please Donate. Get The Scoop Weekly On the Global Black Community and Southeast Queens, NY. Subscribe to Our Mailing List. Receive the Latest Events, News, Jobs, and Top Community Economic Development Stories Like this one Click Here | Reach up to 1.3 million people Promote

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Sickle Cell's Quiet Revolution: A Cure Exists - So Why Can't Black America Access It?

By AiSha | Digital Green Book and Kamau Austin for Southeast Queens Scoop

According to Pharmacy Times, "In a historic medical breakthrough, 21-year-old Sebastien Beauzile from Laurelton, Long Island (Queens, NYC) , has become the first New Yorker to be cured of sickle cell anemia. This life-changing transformation was made possible through Lyfgenia (in Spring 2025) , a pioneering gene therapy that corrects the genetic defect responsible for the disease. Sebastien's journey offers hope to countless others battling this debilitating condition."

Pharmacy Times also added "Sebastien's battle with sickle cell anemia began at just four months old, leading to years of excruciating pain and frequent hospitalizations. Traditional treatments provided little relief, making daily life a constant struggle. However, with the advent of Lyfgenia, a therapy that introduces healthy genes into stem cells, Sebastien's life has been transformed. He now enjoys activities previously hindered by his condition, such as working out, traveling, and pursuing his education. ​

The success of this treatment not only marks a personal victory for Sebastien but also signifies a monumental advancement in medical science. By effectively curing sickle cell anemia without the need for bone marrow transplants, Lyfgenia paves the way for new therapeutic approaches to genetic disorders. This breakthrough offers renewed hope to millions affected by similar conditions worldwide."

Sebastien and Cohen Children's Medical Center weighed in "A new birthday, a new beginning!  After living with sickle cell anemia for over two decades, Sebastien is now disease-free thanks to Lyfgenia — a groundbreaking genetic treatment.

“Growing up with sickle cell, it’s kind of been over all my life,” Sebastien said. “So now that I’m cured, I’d say it’s my new birthday because now nothing’s going to stop me.”

Sebastien was the first patient in New York to receive this life-changing therapy, and with the generous $100,000 donation from civil rights attorney Ben Crump, we will continue advancing sickle cell care for more patients. We are so happy to celebrate Sebastien’s incredible journey and the future of sickle cell treatment!

Get The Scoop On Fun and Empowering Events in Southeast Queens the Weekend of August 7th

Help Us To continue to inform and empower our community please Donate. Get The Scoop Weekly On the Global Black Community and Southeast Queens, NY. Subscribe to Our Mailing List. Receive the Latest Events, News, Jobs, and Top Community Economic Development Stories Like this one Click Here | Reach up to 1.3 million people Promote

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Fun and Empowering Events in Southeast Queens the Weekend of August 7th

Renowned Jamaican Chef
Charlotte Billings Brings
Authenic Island Cuisine to
Queens Village for 3rd Year on

August 8th 2026

 Tap Here for More Info

Tap Here To Enjoy Jamaican Food & Culture

Get The Scoop On The Renowned Jamaican Chef Bringing Authenic Island Cuisine to Queens Village

Help Us To continue to inform and empower our community please Donate. Get The Scoop Weekly On the Global Black Community and Southeast Queens, NY. Subscribe to Our Mailing List. Receive the Latest Events, News, Jobs, and Top Community Economic Development Stories Like this one Click Here | Reach up to 1.3 million people Promote

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Renowned Jamaican Chef
Charlotte Billings Brings
Authenic Island Cuisine to
Queens Village for 3rd Year

By The Southeast Queens Scoop

The irresistible aromas of authentic Jamaican cooking will once again fill the air in Queens Village, as renowned Jamaican chef Charlotte Billings brings her passion for traditional island cuisine to the Third Annual Nadz Bring Old Time Sinting Jamaican Nyamings on Saturday, August 8, in Queens Village.

For Billings, cooking is far more than preparing delicious meals. It is a ministry of love, resilience, and cultural pride that has taken her from the hills of Jamaica to communities across the United States, where she continues sharing the rich culinary traditions of her homeland one plate at a time.

A Journey of Faith, Perseverance, and Purpose

Charlotte Billings' story is one of determination in the face of adversity.

Growing up in Jamaica, Billings endured discouragement from those who repeatedly told her she would never succeed. Rather than allowing those voices to define her future, she chose to chart her own path. During a difficult period in her life, she discovered a passion that would transform everything—cooking.

Get The Scoop On Fun and Empowering Events in Southeast Queens July 31st - August 2nd Weekend

Help Us To continue to inform and empower our community please Donate. Get The Scoop Weekly On the Global Black Community and Southeast Queens, NY. Subscribe to Our Mailing List. Receive the Latest Events, News, Jobs, and Top Community Economic Development Stories Like this one Click Here | Reach up to 1.3 million people Promote

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Fun and Empowering Events in Southeast Queens July 31st - August 2nd Weekend

Tap In Here To Visit The Jamaica Jams Website