Meet NYCHA Change Ambassador Krystal Camacho

Having lived most of her life at a NYCHA development before joining the organization as an employee, Krystal Camacho is still looking out for her community. 

When the former resident of Wald Houses in Manhattan’s Lower East Side became part of NYCHA’s workforce nearly two years ago, Ms. Camacho saw the opportunity as a way to give back to the city where she was raised.  

“I always envisioned myself working for the agency and giving back to the community,” said Ms. Camacho, a Community Coordinator with the Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES), who now lives in Brooklyn. “I saw all of the great work we do on a daily basis to improve people’s livelihoods, and it’s something I’m really passionate about.” 

In recent months, Ms. Camacho has taken her community-minded spirit one step further thanks to NYCHA’s new Change Ambassador program. Along with hundreds of fellow NYCHA employees, Ms. Camacho has volunteered to serve as a Change Ambassador to bring up-to-date news to colleagues about NYCHA’s Transformation Plan, which seeks to improve how the Authority delivers services to residents.  

The Ambassadors help support change at NYCHA by sharing feedback from their colleagues, meeting with employees from other departments to learn about their work and better understand issues impacting the organization, and helping to address various concerns at their work locations.  

Upon entering the program in December, Ms. Camacho believed the role could be a strong fit for her background and skills of engaging with people. 

“I feel that what better way for them to receive input than from a former NYCHA resident,” she said. “With so many different departments making this type of impact, it will enhance the agency.”  

The Change Ambassadors have been meeting virtually once per month, allowing employees to learn about the various responsibilities of different departments within the organization and exchange ideas on how they can be a voice for the improvements taking place. Some of their first priorities have included performing outreach for the Transformation Plan survey and informing colleagues about the upcoming rollout of a more user-friendly Annual Recertification portal for residents.  

As a REES community coordinator based in Brooklyn, Ms. Camacho has enjoyed interacting with other areas across the Authority and being part of a select group of workers who are helping to support NYCHA’s Change Network.  

“I like the fact that we get to have input, and it’s been really helpful to have this little community,” she said.  

Ms. Camacho noted that the Change Ambassador initiative has demonstrated that NYCHA is helping to improve relationships among its staff and is encouraging employees at all levels of the agency to have a say on its plans for the future.  

“I think it’s really helping with the communication between the different departments,” she said. “They’re focused on every area, because every area has their own impact on how NYCHA operates.” 

For NYCHA employees who may be considering getting involved as an Ambassador, Ms. Camacho recommends the opportunity to better learn about NYCHA’s community and culture, and to help spread the word to others across the organization about the transformational change taking place.  

“NYCHA employees are people who really care,” she said. “If you want change to happen, you have to be a voice – and it’s nice that NYCHA is saying, ‘we want to hear what our employees have to say.’”   

To get in touch with the Change Network, please send an email to employee.engagement@nycha.nyc.gov.