A Season of Care, Connection, and Community Across NYCHA

As 2025 came to a close, NYCHA developments across New York City came together to mark the holiday season with generosity, celebration, and moments of shared joy. From toy distributions and community tree lightings to cultural outings and thousands of meals delivered to seniors, Holiday 2025 reflected the Authority’s ongoing commitment to supporting residents not… MORE

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Chanukah with the Jewish Employees Association: A Lunch of Light, Learning, and Community

On December 18, members of NYCHA’s Jewish Employees Association (Batei Tsibur), gathered for reflection, friendly conversation, and a tasty Chanukah lunch of latkes, potatoes, and jelly donuts. A few participants even joined via Zoom, including Alan Pelikow, President Emeritus of Batei Tsibur. Rabbi Yakov David Cohen, Director of the Institute of Noahide Code (a United… MORE

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“Mission Possible”: Inside NYCHA’s Healthy Homes Gathering

On November 14, NYCHA’s Healthy Homes Department brought together more than 300 staff members from across its five divisions for a day that celebrated teamwork, professional growth, and the shared mission of creating safer, healthier homes for residents. Senior Vice President Jaclyn Sullivan opened the day’s program by reflecting on the department’s evolution. What began… MORE

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Building Leaders by Building Each Other: Inside a Transformative NYCHA Mentorship

When Miguel Ballena and Avik Das first crossed paths at NYCHA, they didn’t share much more than a nodding acquaintance in the hallways of 90 Church Street. Each man worked in a different corner of this vast organization — Mr. Ballena in Performance Tracking and Analytics, Mr. Das in Internal Audit and Assessment. Then NYCHA’s… MORE

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NYCHA Staff Celebrate Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival with Warmth, Wisdom, and Community

On October 28, members of NYCHA’s Chinese-American Association (CAA) welcomed colleagues from throughout the Authority to the Ceremonial Room at 90 Church Street to celebrate a cherished tradition of East Asian culture: the Mid-Autumn Festival. On October 28, NYCHA’s CAA warmly welcomed their colleagues to the Ceremonial Room to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival The Mid-Autumn… MORE

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US Navy & NYCHA Vet Mike Marrero: A Life of Service From Wagner Houses to the South China Sea

When you talk with Mike Marrero, a few facts about him become clear almost immediately: Mr. Marrero is a lifelong New Yorker; he’s a seasoned NYCHA staffer as well as a former resident; and he’s been serving this country, this city, and this Authority for nearly all his adult life. Mr. Marrero, a Community Associate… MORE

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The New Technology That’s Helping NYCHA Repair Old Piping

The teams who oversee NYCHA’s underground water and fire-protection systems are tasked with finding and fixing underground leaks within those systems as quickly as possible – leaks which can occur anywhere, at any time. In NYCHA’s massive, aging network of pipes and plumbing, this challenge is further complicated by the fact that so much hardware… MORE

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Meet Shakyna Gorden, Bronx Liaison for Smoke-Free NYCHA

When you meet Shakyna Gorden, her positive energy is contagious — she’s part community organizer, part teacher, part big sister. She calls herself a “liaison,” but that hardly captures the enthusiasm and hands-on advocacy she’s brought to Smoke-Free NYCHA since joining in 2023. “I wear many hats,” she said. “I’m people’s connection to resources for… MORE

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NYCHA Launches “Customer Service Superhero” Course: Saving the Day, One Customer at a Time

When you work for the nation’s largest public housing authority, and it’s your job to serve nearly half a million New Yorkers, it’s perhaps not surprising to find yourself wishing for superpowers. More hours in the day, an extra set of hands, the ability to clone yourself — anything and everything possible to keep up… MORE

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The FLIR Thermal Imaging Camera That’s Improving Fire Safety at NYCHA

Preventing fires across NYCHA’s 300-plus developments is a challenge that requires both expertise and creativity. NYCHA’s Fire Safety Department — led by Senior Director Joe Terranova — is driven by both, constantly seeking new technologies to carry out its mission. The team’s work involves not just traditional fire management but also the quick detection of… MORE

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Back-to-School Month: Meet Nigel Peña

For 26-year-old Nigel Peña of Brooklyn’s Marlboro Houses, the turning point came in the spring of 2023, when a NYCHA flyer caught his eye. It led him to the NYCHA Resident Training Academy’s Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Program—an intensive, hands-on course offered by NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES) that teaches plumbing, drywall, painting,… MORE

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The Ultrasonic Flow Meter That’s Transforming Fire Safety at NYCHA

Every few years, NYCHA must test the integrity of its fire suppression systems — the underground networks which deliver water from rooftop tanks to standpipes and sprinklers across its developments. These subterranean systems span multiple buildings and often lack sectional valves, making testing and leak isolation difficult. But NYCHA’s Fire Safety Team, led by Senior… MORE

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Pride in Unity: The NYC Unity Project

The NYC Unity Project, housed within the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice (MOERJ), is New York City’s LGBTQ+ innovation hub, working to advance equity through cross-agency collaboration. By tackling the root causes of systemic inequity, the NYC Unity Project designs and delivers culturally competent programs and policies that focus on the needs of… MORE

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“Out of Many, One”: NYCHA Celebrates Law Day with Reflection and Recognition

On May 1, NYCHA’s Law Department gathered to celebrate Law Day, a national day of reflection on the rule of law and the essential role it plays in a healthy democracy. This year’s national theme — “Out of Many, One”— echoed throughout the celebration, as speaker after speaker emphasized the importance of unity, diversity, and… MORE

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Fire Safety’s “Super Freeze” Machine: A Simple Yet Innovative Tool at NYCHA

Normally, NYCHA’s Office of Fire Safety handles heat (from fires) but, in a particular instance, is focusing on freezing cold. “Frozen pipes” sounds like trouble for NYCHA residents and staff alike, but in this case, frozen pipes – or more specifically, freezing ice plugs inside those pipes – are beneficial. Let’s back up. NYCHA buildings… MORE

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Celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month at NYCHA

The Organization of Jewish Employees at NYCHA, Batei Tsibur, gathered on May 21 in the 90 Church Street 5th Floor Ceremonial Room to celebrate Jewish Heritage Month, bringing the community together to share a meal, laugh, and learn. The luncheon featured a medley of options, such as knishes, rice, potatoes, egg roll-style bites, and clementines, as… MORE

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NYCHA’s Customer Contact Center Celebrates 20 Years of Service

NYCHA’s Customer Contact Center (CCC) celebrated its 20th anniversary of service to the NYCHA community with an April 25 event in Long Island City which included Chief Administrative Officer Erin Villari and Executive Vice President Kerri Jew. The CCC, which handles both maintenance issues for NYCHA developments and customer service for Section 8 voucher holders,… MORE

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Meet Batei Tsibur’s Michael Deutsch, VP of Infrastructure & Operations

Michael Deutsch, NYCHA’s Vice President of Infrastructure and Operations, is a member of Batei Tsibur, the Authority’s Jewish employees organization. Mr. Deutsch joined NYCHA in December 2022, taking on one of the more complex IT environments in New York City government. “It’s our job to ensure that all of NYCHA’s IT systems are running and… MORE

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Speaking Up, Focusing In: A New Chapter of Collaboration at NYCHA

How Two Employee-Led Clubs Are Building Community, Confidence, and Creativity At NYCHA, a rich culture of employee clubs and interest groups has taken root, reflecting the diversity, passion, and professionalism of NYCHA’s workforce — and two of the newest groups are already making waves. The NYCHA Toastmasters Club, founded in February 2024, and the NYCHA… MORE

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NYCHA’s Jordan Bonomo Wins Hayes Innovation Prize

On the evening of April 1, NYCHA’s Jordan Bonomo was one of 22 City employees recognized with the 2025 NYC Hayes Innovation Prize for efforts to transform government operations and improve life for New Yorkers. The awards ceremony, presided over by Mayor Eric Adams, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Matthew Fraser, and Frederick O’Reilly Hayes Prize… MORE

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Latest Cohort of NYCHA’s Heating Plant Technician (HPT) Program Graduates

On March 28, the 15 most recent participants in NYCHA’s Heating Plant Technician (HPT) Trainee Program formally completed their studies and graduated, marking a significant milestone toward the clean energy careers they are ambitious to build. The program, which is funded by Con Edison, is a collaboration of CUNY’s New York City College of Technology… MORE

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Celebrating Social Work Month: Meet Victor Essah, Community Coordinator

In honor of Social Work Month, we recognize the dedication of the social workers at NYCHA, dedicated professionals who provide critical services to residents in need. Victor Essah, a Community Coordinator in NYCHA’s Family Partnerships Department, is one such professional. Originally from Sierra Leone, West Africa, Mr. Essah’s early years were shaped by the civil… MORE

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Bryttne Wright & Dorcia McDuffie: Dedicated Women in Partnership at NYCHA

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we bring you the story of two inspiring NYCHA colleagues, Bryttne Wright and Dorcia McDuffie, who formed a productive mentor/mentee partnership this year as members of Cohort 2 of NYCHA’s Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA). Bryttne Wright is a Supervisor of Civil Service Transactions and Audit in the… MORE

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NYCHA CEO Celebrates Women’s History Month at NYCEM

New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) invited CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt to participate in their Women’s History Event breakfast and panel discussion on March 6. The panelists spoke to NYCEM staff at the Command Center of their Brooklyn headquarters. NYCEM Commissioner Zachary Iscol greeted staff and guests; NYCEM Chief of Staff Yokarina Duarte introduced the panelists;… MORE

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Heating Plant Technician Training & Mentorship Program: Building the Workforce of Tomorrow

NYCHA’s latest updates to its Heating Plant Technician (HPT) training program underscore the Authority’s commitment to workforce development, equipping workers with skills to manage heating systems across its housing portfolio. In January 2024, the Heating Management Services Department (HMSD) introduced a new, direct hire-to-training protocol, ensuring all new HPT appointees receive mentorship and specialized training.… MORE

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Building Healthy Communities: A Milestone Event for the Healthy Homes Team

On November 12, NYCHA’s Healthy Homes Department and the Authority’s leadership came together at the Johnson Community Center to recognize the Healthy Homes team for their extraordinary work in the area of resident health and safety and their customer service efforts. The event marked the very first time the entire Healthy Homes roster had come… MORE

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Building Leadership and Trust at NYCHA: A Spotlight on the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy

At NYCHA, the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA) is helping staff grow personally and professionally while shaping the agency’s future. Now in its second year, the program pairs experienced leaders like Tony Maldonado, Vice President of Purchasing, Logistics and Inventory, with emerging leaders like Mercedes Manso, a Social Work Supervisor, to develop key leadership… MORE

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NYCHA’s Employee Recognition Program Honors Outstanding Staff Contributions for 2024

On November 7, 40 individual NYCHA staffers and eight NYCHA teams from across the Authority received special recognition and commendations for the exceptional contributions they made in 2024 to the work NYCHA does every day on behalf of residents. The formal presentation of the awards took place at the 2nd Annual Authority-wide Employee Recognition Celebration,… MORE

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The Rise of the NYCHA STAT Data Portal

NYCHA Performance Management Manager Ryan Shanley and the team he leads within the Performance Management and Analytics (PMA) division are justifiably proud of PMA’s game-changing NYCHA STAT Data Portal, a resource that has been in development for several years and has recently gained wider recognition as a vital step forward in the Authority’s approach to… MORE

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Empowering Leadership at NYCHA: The Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy

On August 20, NYCHA hosted a kickoff event for the second cohort of its Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA), a groundbreaking program designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders at NYCHA and help them build their professional skills and effectiveness. The kickoff, which took place at NYCHA’s 90 Church Street headquarters, was attended… MORE

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“Julydration” Event Hosted at 90 Church Street

On July 17, the WorkWell NYC Program produced a special “Julydration” meetup event on the 6th floor of NYCHA’s 90 Church Street offices coordinated and hosted by NYCHA WorkWell NYC Ambassadors Chanda Coble, Sharon Dhanraj, Paula Flynn, and Beverly Weathers. The “Julydration” Summer 2024 gathering was a two-hour midday opportunity for 90 Church Street staff… MORE

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NYCHA’s Haitian American Association Hosts Haitian Flag Day Celebration

On May 16, NYCHA’s Haitian American Association (HAA) hosted a festive gathering of HAA members and supporters in the Ceremonial Room of NYCHA’s 90 Church Street offices to celebrate Haitian Flag Day 2024. The event marked a national holiday celebrated annually not just in Haiti itself but also in the many expatriate communities that have… MORE

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NYC Climate Leadership Panel Features NYCHA’s Shaan Mavani

On May 16, two organizations devoted to helping cities improve, Greater NY and HR&A Advisors, hosted a conversation event called Climate NYC to consider an increasingly urgent question: How can New York most effectively address the complex challenge of climate change? Greater NY, which fosters partnerships among CEOs of NYC non-profits and leaders from finance,… MORE

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Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Meet Sohaib Khan, Jigna Dave, and Avik Das

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, NYCHANow spoke with three long-time staff members to learn about how their backgrounds and cultural heritage inform the work they do on behalf of NYCHA and its residents. Sohaib Khan is NYCHA’s Deputy Director of Infrastructure Engineering. He and his team work to ensure the… MORE

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NYCHA CEO Discusses the Authority’s Mission and Transformation with Former HUD Secretary at Regional Plan Association Event

On May 2, as the keynote interview of the Regional Plan Association’s 2024 Assembly’s “Homes for Everyone” day, NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt joined Shaun Donovan – President Obama’s Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from 2009 to 2014 and Commissioner of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development from 2004 to 2009 –… MORE

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NYCHA’s Katy Burgio Wins Waste360 40 Under 40 Award

Katy Burgio, Deputy Director of Sustainability Programs for NYCHA’s Asset and Capital Management group, was recently named one of 2024’s Waste360 40 Under 40 Award winners. The Waste360 40 Under 40 Awards recognize and honor the next generation of professional leaders whose work is shaping the future of the waste and recycling industry. The winners… MORE

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Citizens Budget Commission Hosts Breakfast Discussion with NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt and Board Chair Jamie Rubin

On the morning of Wednesday March 27, the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC) welcomed NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt and Board Chair Jamie Rubin as special guests for a trustees’ breakfast discussion event to hear about today’s NYCHA directly from its top leadership. Led and moderated by CBC President Andrew Rein, the conversation with Ms. Bova-Hiatt and… MORE

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Celebrating Social Work Month: Meet Suzanne Brosgole-Setari LCSW, NYCHA Social Work Supervisor

March is National Social Work Month; to honor the importance of social work and the dedicated professionals who support the NYCHA community, we reached out to longtime NYCHA Supervisor Suzanne Brosgole-Setari LCSW to learn about the broad range of social services she and her colleagues provide for NYCHA residents every day. Can you tell us… MORE

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Meet Jegan Abraham, Director of NYCHA’s Office of Water Quality

Making sure that residents have access to clean, safe water is one of NYCHA’s top priorities. In late 2022, NYCHA’s Office of Water Quality (OWQ) was established to centralize and ensure the Authority’s control of water safety and quality issues in all of its developments. The OWQ assesses and addresses any level of bacteria detected… MORE

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‘Tis the Season for the Citywide Council of Presidents

NYCHA’s Citywide Council of Presidents (CCOP) hosted a holiday meet-and-greet event for its executive board members at the Johnson Community Center in Manhattan on December 21 to celebrate the holiday season, welcome new members, and provide updates on the various projects and partnerships supported by the Public Housing Community Fund. The CCOP works to improve… MORE

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NYCHA’s OMAR Team Honored at Customer Service Week Luncheon

On the afternoon of November 13, NYCHA’s Office of Mold Assessment and Remediation (OMAR) team was recognized for its many accomplishments since its founding in 2018. The event, held at 1200 Waters Place in the Bronx, provided NYCHA’s leadership an opportunity to thank the OMAR team directly for the difference they make in the lives… MORE

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NYCHA Technology Leaders Honored at GovTech 2023

NYCHA’s Information Technology team was well represented at the most recent iteration of the Digital New York City Technology Forum (or as participants call it, “GovTech”), held at the New York Marriott Hotel at the Brooklyn Bridge this past November. GovTech is an annual conference which brings together tech-focused public-sector professionals and leading industry partners… MORE

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Meet Kenneth Worrell, Supervisor Plumber

Kenneth Worrell is a seasoned professional plumber and one of only two Supervisor Plumbers overseeing the resolution of all plumbing-related issues at NYCHA developments across Queens and Staten Island. “They go above and beyond in providing services to our residents,” said Cesar Gonzalez, NYCHA’s Vice President for Public Housing Operations in Queens and Staten Island.… MORE

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NYCHA Heating Staff “Cohort 48” Graduate from Training Program

On October 18, the 48th cohort to undertake the NYCHA Heat Training Unit’s specialized 13-week course on heating and maintenance successfully completed their training program. And on November 20, the group – who call themselves “The First 48” – were officially welcomed to the ranks of NYCHA-trained Heating Maintenance Workers and Heating Plant Technicians (HPT)… MORE

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NYCHA REES and City Tech Win CEANY’s Outstanding Business Collaboration Award for 2023

NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES) and the New York City College of Technology were honored together on November 9 by the Continuing Education Association of New York (CEANY), which awarded the partnership their James C. Hall Program Outstanding Business/Organization Collaboration award for 2023 in recognition of the continuing success of the NYCHA… MORE

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NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt Honored at Rebuilding Together NYC November Gala 

At their 25th anniversary gala on November 1, Rebuilding Together NYC (RTNYC), a non-profit organization whose mission is to “Repair Homes, Rebuild Lives, and Revitalize Communities,” presented its annual Patty R. Johnson Leadership Award to NYCHA CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt.   The Patty R. Johnson Award, named for Rebuilding Together NYC’s founding President and CEO, is presented… MORE

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NYCHA Staff Volunteer at NYCHA Farms During Climate Week

NYCHA employees from across the Authority came together during Climate Week 2023 to volunteer at six different Farms at NYCHA, give back to their communities, and enjoy a few days of urban-farming fun together. Thirty-eight NYCHA staffers – as well as two NYCHA retirees – gathered during the week of September 21 at Bayview, Howard,… MORE

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NYCHA Sustainability Recognized With DEI Impact Award

On September 20, NYCHA’s Sustainability Department became the first institution to win a Smart Energy Decisions DEI Impact Award. Smart Energy Decisions, the first web-based information resource dedicated to addressing the information needs of large power customers, inaugurated its DEI Impact Awards program this year to honor efforts in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in clean energy.… MORE

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