Bronx First Brings Together Borough Community
Fordham's Rose Hill gym on February 5, 2026 (Photo by Alexandra Pfau for WFUV News)
On February 5, New Yorkers gathered in Fordham University’s Rose Hill Gym to launch a new initiative to support the Bronx.
The Metro Industrial Areas Foundation (Metro IAF) is a collection of mosques, churches, non-profits, and community organizations that aim to make community change. Their new platform, Bronx First, will focus on housing, mental health, and public safety in the borough.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani was invited to the event but did not show, to the disappointment of some attendees. Nina Simone, the associate executive director of New Settlement, said that Metro IAF’s message stands regardless: the people in the room can make change, whether they have help from City Hall or not.
Reverend David K Brawley emphasized a collective commitment. "You will deliver for the Bronx," he said.
Brawley said that for years, Bronx residents have been making change without support from elected officials, and that they won’t stop now. Speakers promised to address urgent priorities in the borough, like housing, mental health, and safety.
In total, the congregations and nonprofits present pledged over $150,000 in donations to the initiative.
