Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

In January 2023, NYCHA launched its first-ever Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA). Participants in the 16-week program received training and coaching in areas such as strategic communications and crisis management, and they had the opportunity to enhance their leadership and management skills through mentorship.       Read on to learn more about a few of the… MORE

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New NYCHA Leadership Appointments

Jamie Rubin Named Chair of the NYCHA Board, Lisa Bova-Hiatt Named NYCHA CEO, New Members Named for NYCHA & Public Housing Preservation Trust Boards  Mr. Rubin comes to NYCHA with three decades of experience in government, nonprofits, and the private sector, including leading the New York State Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery, New York State Homes and Community… MORE

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NYCHA Recognizes Staff at 2023 Safety Awards 

NYCHA’s 2023 Safety Awardees and Safety Associates were honored at a June 28 Safety Awards Ceremony for their efforts to create, practice, and uphold healthy and safe working environments.  At the awards ceremony, held at the Johnson Community Center in Harlem, awards were also presented for two employee-nominated categories: Safety Innovation and Safety Leadership. The… MORE

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Meet the Leaders of NYCHA’s New Caribbean-American Association  

June is Caribbean-American Heritage Month in the U.S., which celebrates the culture, heritage, and contributions of people of Caribbean descent living in America. This month, a new employee group, the Caribbean-American Association, launched and is open to all employees, including Caribbean Americans and those who have an appreciation for the countries and their cultural diversity.… MORE

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Meet Arturo Vargas, Supervisor City Laborer for Mold Remediation 

As the supervisor city laborer for mold remediation at NYCHA, Arturo Vargas was ready to take on the challenge of battling mold.   He knew that by helping to rid apartments of mold growth, he would be ensuring a healthier environment for residents in their homes and improving their quality of life.  “I was ready for… MORE

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NYCHA Participates in MWBE Expo 

On June 20, NYCHA’s Director of Vendor and Contract Management Dorcia McDuffie participated in a panel discussion on providing opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses in the construction sector.   The panel, titled “Health, Commercial and Residential Construction,” was part of Empire State Development’s 2023 New York State Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Regional Opportunities… MORE

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Touring Edenwald to Learn About Green Infrastructure & Climate Change Resiliency in NYC 

In May, Edenwald Houses was featured as one of the destinations for Jane’s Walk NYC, an annual walking tour of free, citizen-led conversations where tour guides make connections with neighbors, fellow New Yorkers, and visitors through the sharing of stories about neighborhoods and communities.  The “A Resilient Garden of Eden(wald)” tour was guided by NYCHA’s… MORE

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NYCHA Rolls Out New IT Initiative to Improve Customer Service  

Management offices across the five boroughs will soon experience a reduction in the amount of time they have to wait for their information technology (IT)-related challenges to be resolved, thanks to a new “Neighborhood IT” initiative launched in March.   Led by Kim Maxwell (formerly senior driver of NYCHA’s Digital Van), technicians from the new… MORE

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Passing the Torch at the First Session of NYCHA’s Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy 

The first session of NYCHA’s Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA) wrapped up on June 15 with a call to action to participants, especially the mentees, to pay things forward by mentoring others in the Authority.   Twenty-five supervisory staff from across NYCHA with diverse leadership experiences mentored 25 other staff to help them fulfill… MORE

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Whitman Houses Breaks Ground for Upgraded Recreation Space  

On June 15, the Whitman Houses community celebrated the future opening of a revitalized recreation area, featuring both basketball and handball courts.   Resident leaders and community members were joined by NYCHA representatives and local elected officials, including City Councilmember Crystal Hudson and Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest, to ceremoniously break ground for the renovation project at… MORE

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Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants     

In January 2023, NYCHA launched its first-ever Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA). Participants in the 16-week program are receiving training and coaching in areas such as strategic communications and crisis management, and they get the opportunity to enhance their leadership and management skills through mentorship.      Read on to learn more about a few of… MORE

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Meet Michael Sills, Housing Manager of LHD Central Office Operations

June is National Pride Month, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising and recognizes the impact and contributions of individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+). In honor of Pride Month, we highlight the work of NYCHA’s LGBTQIA+ employees.

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NYCHA’s Runners Club Participates in 2023 JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge 

On June 1, members of the NYCHA Runners and Walkers Club joined thousands of runners and walkers from across the city for the 2023 JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in Central Park. The 3.5-mile race, established in 1977, is the world’s largest corporate running event.   More than 20,000 runners from over 500 companies participated in… MORE

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Meet Claudia Dillon, NYCHA’s New VP of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 

Claudia Dillon is NYCHA’s new Vice President of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI). She joined NYCHA in April; under her leadership, the Department of Equal Opportunity was renamed and its mission was expanded to develop more proactive functions, through tailored training; assessment of hiring practices using workforce data; and other Diversity, Equity,… MORE

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Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants 

In January 2023, NYCHA launched its first-ever Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA). Participants in the 16-week program are receiving training and coaching in areas such as strategic communications and crisis management, and they get the opportunity to enhance their leadership and management skills through mentorship.     Read on to learn more about a few of… MORE

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NYCHA’s Capital Projects Roundup: Spring 2023 

Upgraded play spaces were among the newly renovated facilities and grounds improvements recently welcomed by NYCHA developments in Manhattan and Brooklyn. This spring, NYCHA’s Asset and Capital Management Division (A&CM) marked the completion of these and other capital projects to bring a variety of community benefits and improved services for residents.     A&CM oversees a multi-billion-dollar… MORE

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Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants 

In January 2023, NYCHA launched its first-ever Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA). Participants in the 16-week program are receiving training and coaching in areas such as strategic communications and crisis management, and they get the opportunity to enhance their leadership and management skills through mentorship.     Read on to learn more about a few of… MORE

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Transforming and Strengthening NYCHA 

As part of NYCHA’s efforts to strengthen our organization and improve service to residents, several structural improvements and new leadership appointments are underway across the Authority.   In line with our Transformation Plan, we are restructuring our Operations and other divisions to create more connections among our teams, expand subject-matter expertise, and evolve and improve as… MORE

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Meet Amanda Moore, Assistant Director of Intake, Assessment, and Zone Coordination  

Growing up in Tilden Houses in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Amanda Moore always knew she wanted to work in public service. In the summers, she went to camp through her development’s community center and took part in the center’s after-school program: “The center gave us a place to go, and the staff were amazing! I’ll never forget… MORE

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Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Meet Chief Administrative Officer Kerri Jew 

As someone who relishes taking on a diversity of tasks, Kerri Jew welcomes a NYCHA job portfolio that can be “extremely varied.”   “I really like to do lots of different things at once,” Ms. Jew said about her responsibilities as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. “I think it’s exciting and interesting to learn… MORE

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NYCHA Healthy Homes Staff Participate in ‘Stand-Down’ for Construction Safety Week 

In recognition of Construction Safety Week (May 1 to 5), NYCHA Healthy Homes field staff and contractors participated in group discussions promoting various ways to ensure workplace safety.   The sessions, also known as “toolbox talks,” supported the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) National Safety Stand-Down campaign, which aims to raise awareness about fall… MORE

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Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

In January 2023, NYCHA launched its first-ever Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA). Participants in the 16-week program are receiving training and coaching in areas such as strategic communications and crisis management, and they get the opportunity to enhance their leadership and management skills through mentorship.    Read on to learn more about a few of… MORE

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Meet Kimberly Tyre, NYCHA Resident & Emergency Preparedness Associate 

Kimberly Tyre is a longtime Jefferson Houses resident who is committed to bettering her community. She recently became a NYCHA employee, in a position that enables her to pursue her passion for engaging her fellow residents and connecting them to beneficial resources. In November 2022, Ms. Tyre joined NYCHA’s Emergency Management and Services Department as… MORE

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Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

In January 2023, NYCHA launched its first-ever Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA). Participants in the 16-week program are receiving training and coaching in areas such as strategic communications and crisis management, and they get the opportunity to enhance their leadership and management skills through mentorship.   Read on to learn more about a few of… MORE

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Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month: Henry Street Settlement Offers Vital Mental Health Resources

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an opportunity to recognize NYCHA’s partnerships with organizations and nonprofits throughout New York City that provide crucial mental health resources to residents. One such partnership is with Henry Street Settlement, a 130-year-old community-based organization that supports Lower East Side residents and other New Yorkers through social services, the arts,… MORE

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It’s Air Quality Awareness Week

Every spring, during Air Quality Awareness Week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partners with federal agencies such as the National Weather Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Department of Energy to raise awareness about efforts to protect and improve air quality, highlight available resources, and encourage people to incorporate… MORE

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Honoring NYCHA’s Administrative Professionals

NYCHA appreciates the hard work of our administrative staff who support residents and employees across the five boroughs. In honor of National Administrative Professionals Day, celebrated during the last week of April, we recognize the contributions of Red Hook West Houses Secretaries Brenai Campbell and Laura Gonzalez, two of the many administrative employees whose dedication… MORE

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Earth Day Spirit Thrives at NYCHA 

The spirit of Earth Day was on full display in neighborhoods across NYCHA, where residents, employees, and community partners joined together to help the environment, support green programs, and promote a sustainable future.     Through volunteer plantings, community celebrations, guest speeches, and new environmentally friendly initiatives, NYCHA is advancing the mission of its Sustainability Agenda, a… MORE

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Farms at NYCHA Welcome Employee Volunteers for Earth Day Plantings 

NYCHA employees are invited to join residents and community partners this Earth Day weekend to help the Farms at NYCHA sites across the city prepare for spring planting.  Volunteers will get their hands dirty by pulling weeds, picking up trash, assisting in the composting process, and laying down new soil at the urban farms.    The… MORE

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Meet NYCHA’s Audiovisual Unit 

If you have ever attended an official NYCHA event, either at a central office or at a development, or used NYCHA’s conference room audio-visual equipment to conduct a meeting, then you have experienced firsthand the handiwork of NYCHA’s Audiovisual (A/V) Unit.   The unit, part of the Department of Communications, is made up of two audio-visual… MORE

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Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants 

In January 2023, NYCHA launched its first-ever Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA). Participants in the 16-week program are receiving training and coaching in areas such as strategic communications and crisis management, and they get the opportunity to enhance their leadership and management skills through mentorship.  Read on to learn more about a few of… MORE

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Employees Get Forum with Interim CEO in New Monthly Coffee Sessions 

For one morning each month, some NYCHA employees are getting the chance to grab a coffee with the boss.   The informal meetings with Interim CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt are part of the newly relaunched “Coffee with the Interim CEO” series. A group of approximately 20 NYCHA employees can speak directly with Ms. Bova-Hiatt about their work… MORE

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Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants 

In January 2023, NYCHA launched its first-ever Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA). Participants in the 16-week program are receiving training and coaching in areas such as strategic communications and crisis management, and they get the opportunity to enhance their leadership and management skills through mentorship.   Over the next few weeks, we will profile some… MORE

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Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

In January 2023, NYCHA launched its first-ever Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA). Participants in the 16-week program are receiving training and coaching in areas such as strategic communications and crisis management, and they get the opportunity to enhance their leadership and management skills through mentorship.  Over the next few weeks, we will profile some… MORE

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Celebrating Women’s History Month: Meet Andra Stanley, NYCHA’s New Deputy Chief of Staff

During Women’s History Month, we honor the contributions women have made and continue to make. From frontline staff at developments to executives in the central offices, women employees at NYCHA are leading the way in helping to improve and strengthen NYCHA.    We spoke with Andra Stanley, who joined NYCHA as Deputy Chief of Staff last… MORE

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It’s National Poison Prevention Week

Chemicals are an important part of the workplace, from specialized industrial chemicals to everyday cleaning products. However, for everyone’s safety, they must be handled properly. In recognition of National Poison Prevention Week, which is March 19 to 25, NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department would like to share the following guidance on properly handling and… MORE

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Meet NYCHA’s Asbestos Team Supervisors 

Richard Kocurek, Mohammed Hossain, and Jose Seymour lead a small but vital team of asbestos inspectors and handlers who address about 90 percent of asbestos issues in NYCHA developments across the five boroughs.   The three supervisors have a combined 87 years of experience in the field of lead and asbestos abatement. Mr. Kocurek, an asbestos… MORE

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Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants 

In January 2023, NYCHA launched its first ever Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy. The 16-week program is providing participants with an opportunity to enhance their leadership and management skills through training and mentorship.   Academy participants are receiving training and coaching in areas such as strategic communications, public speaking, crisis management, effective writing, customer service, and… MORE

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Celebrating Women’s History Month: Meet Lauren Gray, Chief of Staff to the Chief Operating Officer

During Women’s History Month, we honor the contributions women have made and continue to make. From frontline staff at developments to executives in the central offices, women employees at NYCHA are leading the way in helping to improve and strengthen NYCHA.  We spoke with Lauren Gray, Chief of Staff to the Chief Operating Officer (COO),… MORE

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Celebrating Social Work Month: Meet Marina Oteiza, Director of Family Partnerships 

March is Social Work Month, an opportunity to celebrate the profession and help others learn about the many positive contributions its practitioners make to society.  NYCHA has had its own social services department since 1978. The department, now known as Family Partnerships, has undergone several changes – in name and function – since its creation.… MORE

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Celebrating Women’s History Month: Meet Michele Moore, Director of Comprehensive Modernization 

Michele Moore is not one to shy away from a challenge. On the contrary, she welcomes it. Coming from a family of public servants – her mother was a public school teacher and her father worked at NYCHA for over 30 years – Ms. Moore said she knew public service could be challenging sometimes. But… MORE

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Celebrating Black History Month  

Meet Annika Lescott-Martinez, NYCHA’s Chief Financial Officer  Managing the funds of the nation’s largest public housing authority might seem daunting, but Annika Lescott-Martinez isn’t one to be intimidated.   “I’m used to dealing with big numbers; big numbers don’t scare me,” stated Ms. Lescott-Martinez, NYCHA’s Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Finance.  Her… MORE

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Meet George Gomez, Supervisor of REES Job Generation 

Connecting NYCHA residents to sustainable employment has a deeper meaning for George Gomez.  As the Supervisor of Job Generation in NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES), Mr. Gomez works with NYCHA departments, development partners, and contractors to provide residents with a variety of economic opportunities, including training and employment.   “I’ve definitely found… MORE

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Meet Yolanda Brooks, Community Associate in the Office of Public Safety & Security 

For nearly a decade, Yolanda Brooks dreamed of becoming a NYCHA employee.   In 2011, after recovering from a stroke she suffered in 2001, the Taft Houses resident got her first shot at collaborating with NYCHA as a supervisor for the Resident Watch program. It was a volunteer position that saw her helping to ensure the… MORE

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NYCHA and Resident Leaders Select PACT Partners to Address $85M in Repair Needs at Metro North Plaza and Gaylord White Houses

891 residents will receive comprehensive repairs and upgrades to all 523 apartments, common areas, public spaces, heating and cooling systems, elevators, security systems, and other building systems. The PACT project builds on the more than $2 billion driven in 2022 to renovate over 8,500 apartments across 17 developments, with support from the Adams administration.

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Celebrating Black History Month

During Black History Month, we are reminded of the opportunity that public housing has provided to countless families since its foundation and its role in fostering a society that is more fair and just. We spoke with Marvin Walton, NYCHA’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer, who has spent decades working in public housing, to get his thoughts on the institution, what it’s like to help run the largest public housing authority in the nation, and what the future may bring.

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Meet Richard Meyers, Project Manager in Asset & Capital Management

Richard Meyers has over 25 years of experience managing construction projects at college campuses, hotels, Universal Orlando rides, American Dream theme parks, and more – yet his most rewarding projects have been at NYCHA developments in service of NYCHA residents.  Mr. Meyers joined NYCHA in summer 2019 as a project manager in Asset & Capital… MORE

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NYCHA Launches First-Ever Leadership Academy for Staff 

NYCHA’s first-ever mentoring program for staff, the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy, is now up and running; the pilot program began on January 31 and will run for 16 weeks. It will provide participants with an opportunity to enhance their leadership and management skills through training and mentorship.   Twenty-six supervisory staff from across NYCHA with… MORE

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NYCHA Opens “Comp Mod” Resident Engagement Office at Todt Hill Houses Ahead of Renovations  

NYCHA’s Comprehensive Modernization (Comp Mod) team has opened the first-of-its-kind resident engagement office at Todt Hill Houses on Staten Island.   Comp Mod  oversees and utilizes capital funding to deliver comprehensive apartment and building rehabilitation focused on abating mold, lead, and asbestos; kitchen and bathroom renovations; and elevator replacement. This streamlined renovation approach will bring improved… MORE

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NYCHA’s Interim Chief Executive Officer Featured on CBS News

On January 29, NYCHA’s Interim CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt appeared on CBS New York’s “The Point with Marcia Kramer” to discuss the Authority’s rent shortfall of almost half a billion dollars and how it is working to find other resources to help residents pay rent and secure additional funding from all levels of government. Ms. Bova-Hiatt… MORE

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NYCHA’s Capital Projects Roundup: December – January 

A NYCHA development in Brooklyn recently welcomed dozens of sustainable lighting fixtures, while other developments in Brooklyn and Manhattan received new fire alarms and gas and ventilation system renovations. NYCHA’s Asset and Capital Management Division (A&CM) marked the completion of these capital projects throughout December and January to improve services for residents.     A&CM oversees a… MORE

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Read “Healthy Happenings,” the EHS Newsletter

Happy New Year!

I hope this latest edition of the Environmental Health and Safety Department’s (EHS) newsletter finds you and your family well.

Because we all play a part in creating and maintaining a healthy and safe environment at NYCHA, EHS engages with residents, colleagues across the Authority, and the Federal Monitor to develop long-term solutions that address any environmental health and safety-related issues.

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Resident Groups Awarded Climate Action Grants for Community Sustainability Projects  

Rejuvenating local gardens with new crops and green features, promoting energy efficiency in the community with sustainable lighting, and developing a “one-stop-drop” site for recyclables.   Such resident-led efforts at NYCHA are among the sustainability-focused projects that have been selected to receive funding under the Resident Climate Action Grants Program, an initiative of NYCHA and the… MORE

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NYCHA Celebrates Key Landmarks for Sustainability in 2022 

In a year when climate policy advancements took shape across the globe, NYCHA and its partners celebrated several local achievements that continue the Authority’s progress toward a more sustainable future.  From the launch of a Clean Energy Academy and other programs supporting green careers, to the awarding of several grants and development of innovative projects,… MORE

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Two Residents Named New Members of NYCHA Board

Two longtime residents have been tapped to serve on the NYCHA Board of Directors. Mayor Eric Adams appointed Williams Plaza resident James McKoy and Johnson Houses resident Raymond Miller to the NYCHA Board on January 18.  Board members represent the more than 400,000 people who call NYCHA home when voting on contracts, resolutions, policies, rules… MORE

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Meet Tischelle George, Director of Special Projects in Operations Support Services

While Tischelle George has held roles in different departments throughout her 16-year career at NYCHA, they have all furthered her passion for education, mentoring, and ensuring residents and employees have the information and resources necessary to be successful.  Currently, Ms. George is the director of special projects for Operations Support Services (OSS), where she provides… MORE

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NYCHA’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer Featured on PIX-11

On January 12, PIX-11 featured an interview between reporter Monica Morales and NYCHA’s Interim CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Eva Trimble at Wald Houses to discuss their work and goals. During the segment on NYCHA’s leadership team, the Interim CEO and COO met with front-line heating and elevator teams composed of women.… MORE

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Mariner’s Harbor Houses to Receive Upgraded Entrance Doors for Improved Safety 

Former State Assemblyman Michael Cusick announced in late December that his office secured $2.7 million in funding to replace dozens of entrance doors at Mariner’s Harbor Houses.   The project funding – acquired through the State and Municipal Facilities Program – will help provide enhanced security at the Staten Island development.   Assemblyman Cusick, who… MORE

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Celebrating Chanukah

NYCHA’s Organization of Jewish Employees (Batei Tsibur) held its annual Chanukah celebration via Microsoft Teams on December 20, 2022 (26 Kislev on the Jewish calendar). Chanukah, the eight-day Festival of Lights, celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the year 139 BCE.  Guest speaker Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin, co-founder of Congregation B’nai Avraham in… MORE

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NYCHA’s Healthy Homes Unit Makes Significant Progress for Residents in 2022 

The past year was a productive one for NYCHA’s Healthy Homes Unit as it increased its efforts to provide safe and healthy homes for residents, through projects such as roof fan replacement and collaboration with other NYCHA departments to clean up mold and stop leaks.   In 2022, the Healthy Homes Unit’s Office of Mold Assessment… MORE

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