NYCHA Now

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NYCHA Now
Dancing at the NextGen resource fair
August 2017 

A Fair Way to Get Connected

Michael Corwin
Summer activities for kids
Borough Coordinator James Ortiz shows off some fun summer activities for kids.

NYCHA staff demonstrated just how seriously we take our NextGen goal of engaging residents in new and different ways at two resource fairs this summer at Hope Gardens and Wise Towers.

Info about Resident Watch
Community Associates Dwayne Barnes (left) and Karla Alonso provide info about the Resident Watch program.

The fairs provided a fun forum for residents of those and nearby developments to learn directly from staff and NYCHA partners about a range of initiatives and programs. Under the summer sun and along with music spun by Deputy Director for Community Safety Strategies (& DJ) Andre Cirilo, hundreds of residents found out more about REES opportunities, the RAD/PACT program, recycling, emergency preparedness, Resident Watch, and services available from the City and other NYCHA partners. A NYCHA Digital Van was onsite to help residents complete their annual recertification and learn more about the Authority’s other digital initiatives, and residents got assistance with work orders at NYCHA’s Emergency Services Van.

DJ Andre Cirilo
DJ Andre Cirilo spins some hot tunes for the appreciative crowd.

According to Andre Cirilo, who reported to Hope Gardens for four years when he was in Community Operations, residents really appreciated the opportunity to get connected to a variety of services and resources and to speak with property management staff without having to make an appointment. “Their comments were simple, but the sentiment was clear,” said Mr. Cirilo, who heard comments from residents such as ‘This is nice, you should do this more often.’

Dancing at the NextGen resource fair
Analyst Sophie Dover and Community Coordinators Denise Guess and Tracy Lovelace (left to right in foreground) get down to some funky sounds with Gianina Boszeta of the Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council and Hope Gardens residents Margarette Jarrell and Carmen Colomba (left to right in background).

Mixed Finance Director Darrell Laval said residents were able to have conversations with NYCHA staff at different levels from a variety of departments. “And staff thought the fair was an important step in showing residents that we care,” he said.

Wise Towers caretakers
Caretakers Lache Mapp (left) and Myasia Smith at the Wise Towers resource fair.

The Hope Gardens resource fair was co-sponsored by Assembly Member Maritza Davila and Council Member Rafael Espinal. The Wise Towers fair was co-sponsored by Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Borough President Gale Brewer, State Senator Brian Benjamin, Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell, and Council Member Helen Rosenthal.

Resource Fairs by the Numbers

  • 300 residents learned about recycling
  • 150 residents learned about the RAD/PACT program & 28 learned about NextGen Neighborhoods
  • 134 residents received resources about Family Services/Family Partnerships and Family Re-entry
  • 75 residents enrolled in REES services
  • 28 residents signed up to start a Resident Watch patrol at their development
  • 4 residents signed up for programming from a local partner
  • 115 repairs requested on the Emergency Services Van
  • 42 annual recertifications completed on the Digital Van
NYCHA Digital Van and staff
Standing proud in front of NYCHA’s Digital Van (left to right): Senior Vice President for Property Management Operations Brian Clarke, Deputy Director for Community Safety Strategies Andre Cirilo, Resident Watch Program Manager Zulenmi Castillo-Martinez, Hope Gardens RA President Gloria Estrada, General Manager Michael Kelly, Resident Watch Borough Coordinator for Brooklyn Tracy Lovelace, and Resident Watch Program Consultant Hamlet Santos, along with representatives from Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez’s office.