Community outreach worker Malika Shagaraeva glanced over the room of seniors at the Shorefront Y in Brighton Beach and knew her work was cut out for her. Many were Holocaust survivors and political refugees from the former Soviet Union, others were estranged from their adult children, and virtually all were still recovering from Hurricane Sandy’s crippling aftermath.
“They had many traumas, and I tried to give them the attention they deserved so that they felt somebody was interested in their problems,” says the mental health coordinator with the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services storm trauma response team tasked with helping victims cope with their losses and emotional struggles.
Some of the seniors were hesitant to accept the help because they remembered all-too-painfully the Soviet-era practice of punitive psychiatry to silence critics.
“It took time and a lot of effort to inspire their confidence,” says Shagaraeva, a trained psychologist from Russia. “But I was from their background and I knew I could find the key to comfort them.”
She walked the streets and knocked on doors in heavy-hit coastal communities — coincidentally Russian-American strongholds — looking to assess problems and offer free counseling, legal, housing, employment, and other support services.
“It was a big responsibility,” says Shagaraeva. “You have to heal them, and it is important to have the right words.”
Her clients included the local bookstore owner who lost his livelihood, the welfare widow unable to repair her wrecked house, the family whose breadwinner died of a heart attack because of the stress, the homeowner who owed the federal government thousands of dollars in reimbursements for improperly issued emergency payments, and the once-glorious synagogue that was a shell of its former self.
The Woman of Distinction, who was profiled on Channel 7’s “New York Viewpoint” show, rallied to their side.
“Every minute I’m thinking, ‘What more can I do for them?’ ” says Shagaraeva, 50, who has helped to uplift Sandy’s children with art therapy, empower disaster case managers with secondary trauma workshops, and repair broken families.
One Brooklyn couple spiralled out of control after both spouses lost their jobs, the wife became pregnant, and the husband who wanted the baby aborted started drinking and beating her. Shagaraeva counseled them and referred them to employment, pre-natal, and financial-aid services to aid their recovery.
“We built a plan for them to keep them together and safe,” says the community advocate. “Now they are doing better.”
Unemployed Sheepshead Bay resident Tamara Kotsar was laid off from her job of 20 years when she met Shagaraeva, who offered her volunteer work that turned into a paid position.
Kotsar works as a case manager now and is nicknamed “311” by clients for her capabilities — skills she credits to her mentor.
“Malika was the one who introduced me to the work I do, and the one who brought me into the community,” says Kotsar. “I learned from her how to help people.”
OCCUPATION: Mental health coordinator.
COMPANY: Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services.
CLAIM TO FAME: I love to care and give attention to the needs of people.
FAVORITE PLACE: The ocean.
WOMAN I ADMIRE: Late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher because she was a good woman and a good leader.
MOTTO: The difficulty in life is making the choice.
