NYCHA Notables

“I saw three generations growing up here and have never had a problem because I show respect and make friends with everyone,” said Mr. Cortes, a 35-year NYCHA resident. What keeps Mr. Cortes coming to work and working hard every day after 50 years? “Praise from supervisors encourages all employees to do their best,” he says. “The appreciation from supervisors, skilled trades staff, coworkers and residents motivates me to keep on working.”

But not all his supervisors encourage him to come in everyday. With more than 600 days of unused leave, Mr. Cortes has been advised to take some well-earned time off!

The “I am NextGeneration NYCHA” campaign will be presenting profiles of 12 residents, employees and community supporters — one about every two weeks — to put a face and a name on the 400,000 residents, 11,000 employees, and others, behind the “NYCHA” that the public hears about. Call it our own version of the popular “Humans of New York” blog.

In Mr. Torres’ case, you couldn’t find a better example. Raised in public housing, he started working in construction as part of the Sectioin 3 resident hiring program. After serving as an AmeriCorps volunteer, Mr. Torres graduated from the REES NYCHA Resident Training Academy before being hired as a caretaker. He has worked at Patterson Houses for almost one year.

On the poster, Mr. Torres tells his story this way: “When I was a kid growing up, I used to watch the Housing workers doing their jobs, bagging the garbage and stuff like that, think- ing it was easy but now I realize it’s much harder than I thought! There’s always something different everyday, a new experience to learn from. I’m trying to take it all the way I can go!”

“Helping to plan and organize employee and other events is a lot of hard work with many details for my staff and me to tend to,” says Ms. Molina. “But it’s really gratifying to see people having a good time and to receive comments of appreciation.”

In addition to employee events, Ms. Molina and her staff also handle logistics for press conferences, mayoral events, town halls, and resident meetings. She also supervises staff photographers, audiovisual technicians, and the Language Services Unit.

Having recently provided support for the CUNY Scholarship Luncheon and then preparing for Hispanic Heritage Month, Ms. Molina is a busy person — but never too busy to provide good This picture of Harrison advice or assistance to ensure that Authority events are successful.

Starting as a geriatric social worker in 1983 and earning her Doctorate in Social Work in 1996, Ms. Levine has seen a lot of changes. But one thing has remained the same. “It’s gratifying to help NYCHA’s residents and also to see the dedication of my co-workers every day,” Ms. Levine says.

Working with residents following the 9/11 tragedy and Superstorm Sandy has provided plenty of memories and highlights in Ms. Levine’s experience. For the past 10 years, she has supervised from four to six community associates from the Queens Family Services Office. During and prior to this time, “things have become more professional and changes in technology have enhanced our productivity,” she says.

In addition to the gratification from helping NYCHA’s seniors, Ms. Levine received at least one other reward from her job — she met her husband, who was then a supervising social worker at NYCHA. Congratulations on your retirement, Riva.