Join Apicha Community Health Center and LAAL NYC for a special community screening of Joyeeta (Victorious), a documentary uplifting the stories of Bangladeshi immigrant women navigating life, language, isolation, gender roles, and resilience in New York City! The film highlights the healing power of community and culturally rooted mental health support.

Joyeeta (Victorious) was inspired by Laal’s 2020 Mental Health Initiative, which studied over 60 Bangladeshi immigrant womxn in the Bronx, NYC to understand their mental health conditions exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the lens of Samsun Chowdury (Farida) and Nasima Alam, the documentary unveils the challenges faced by immigrant Bengali womxn as they navigate life in a new country, language barriers, social isolation, gender roles, and poverty in the United States. Joyeeta aims to foster open dialogue on access to culturally appropriate mental health services, reduce stigma surrounding it, and showcase the deep healing power of community.

The evening includes a featured performance by Bangladeshi artist, Niha, and a panel discussion with the aunties from the film and members of the LAAL’s and Apicha’s team, creating space for shared stories, reflection, and collective healing!

About LAAL

Laal supports Bangladeshi women in the Bronx and Queens through wellness programs, literacy, arts, and community‑building. Their work centers with joy, safety, and culturally grounded empowerment. Support Laal: https://givebutter.com/LAALNYC

About Apicha CHC

Apicha Community Health Center provides inclusive, culturally responsive primary care, behavioral health, sexual health, and community services for immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and underserved New Yorkers.

Meet our Partner Organizations:

Asiyah Women’s Center is an emergency center in New York City addressing the gap of appropriate residential services for the Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, South Asian (AMEMSA) and Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) populations

Bangladeshi Ladies Club is a member based collective dedicated to Bangladeshi women’s self determination; a space for women whose livelihood are too engage to their children, family & work, to learn, chill, think & organize together.

Bengali Mental Health Movement is a community-driven initiative dedicated to destigmatizing mental health and enhancing accessibility to culturally sensitive resources within the Bengali community. Our mission is to bridge the gap between Bengali communities and mental health services in New York City and beyond.

Chhaya CDC builds inclusive and thriving neighborhoods by fostering the self-determination, housing stability, and economic well-being of South Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities across New York City

Cyber Collective is dedicated to creating a world where all people can experience technology safely, privately, and with dignity.

Desis Rising Up & Moving (DRUM) is a multigenerational, membership led organization of low-wage South Asian and Indo-Caribbean immigrants, workers and youth in New York City.

Sakhi for South Asian Survivors is a community-based organization in the New York metropolitan area committed to ending violence against women.