For Edwin Pagan, becoming Superintendent at NYCHA’s Forest Houses was not the result of a single promotion or turning point. It was the natural outcome of years of showing up, solving problems, and earning the trust of the people around him. “I started as a seasonal [employee] back in 2000,” Mr. Pagan said. “I just… MORE
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NYCHA’s Law Department gathered earlier this month to celebrate the Authority’s third annual Law Day event, to recognize the excellent work of NYCHA’s “legal eagles” and to reflect upon the centrality of law, and public service, per this year’s national theme: “The Rule of Law and the American Dream.” “Law Day is always an important… MORE
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In honor of Jewish Heritage Month, we are featuring NYCHA employee Saul Mackler, whose retirement this summer will conclude 40 years of dedicated service to the Authority. Mr. Mackler arrived at NYCHA on April 29, 1985, after taking the Housing Assistant exam almost exactly one year earlier. Back then, many of the Authority’s systems still… MORE
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On March 26, a proud and grateful gathering of NYCHA staff came together to celebrate the graduation of CMLA Cohort 3: the newest graduating class of the Authority’s Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA) . “This isn’t just a graduation,” said Yvette Andino, Vice President of Employee Engagement and founder of the CMLA program. “It’s a… MORE
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Eighteen NYCHA residents took a major step toward new careers this winter, graduating from the Authority’s Heating Plant Technician (HPT) training program in a ceremony held at New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn on April 2. For this latest cohort, the moment marked the culmination of six months of intensive, hands-on training, as… MORE
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For Mariam Youssef, her career at NYCHA has never been just a job — it has been a journey of growth, service, and connection, shaped by a life that began thousands of miles away. “I was born in Alexandria, Egypt,” Ms. Youssef said. “It’s a coastal city, so life revolves around the beach. Anywhere you… MORE
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NYCHA’s Chinese-American Association (CAA) marked this year’s Lunar New Year celebration with all the customary fun, energy, and community spirit it does every year. But this year’s gathering carried added significance: it was also the moment of the Association’s presidential transition, as longtime CAA leader Linda Zhang passed the role to her successor, incoming President… MORE
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When Ramon Lugo came to the United States in 1987, he did not intend to stay. At the time, he was in law school in the Dominican Republic. A missed registration deadline left him with an unexpected gap semester, and he decided to spend six months in New York before returning to continue his studies.… MORE
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Alumni of the first three cohorts of NYCHA’s Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA) gathered on March 5 in the 90 Church Street Ceremonial Room for a reunion of the program’s “first generation” of mentors and mentees. The event reunited a majority of the mentors and mentees who have participated in the CMLA program since… MORE
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Founded more than a century ago as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, today’s NAACP observes Black History Month each February via a variety of compelling programs and celebrations. In that same spirit, the NAACP’s branch at NYCHA led and hosted a range of Black History Month observances this February, many serving… MORE
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For Magalie Joseph, social work begins with something simple but powerful: listening. “In social work, everything begins with listening,” Ms. Joseph said. “When you truly hear someone’s story — where they come from, what they’re facing — you begin to understand what they need. Only then can you help connect them to the right support.”… MORE
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When Johnny Wright and Shawn Perry joined NYCHA’s Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA) this past fall, each expected the program to provide an opportunity for their professional development. Neither, however, imagined that the program would turn an old friendship — one that went back to their childhoods — into a rich mentorship experience and… MORE
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When the newest cohort of the New York City Urban Fellows Program visited NYCHA recently, they came prepared with questions about some of the most complex issues facing public housing in New York City. Gathered in the Ceremonial Room at one of NYCHA’s central offices, the fellows met with Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt, who… MORE
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For most of the last 15 years, Deneisha Dixon has built her NYCHA career around helping residents exercise one of the most fundamental rights we all share as Americans: electing the leaders of the communities in which we live. As Manager of Voting Engagement in the Bronx, she oversees resident association elections — ensuring each… MORE
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For most New Yorkers, elevators are an everyday convenience — noticed only when they fail. For NYCHA residents, however, elevators are essential infrastructure, relied upon daily by seniors, parents with strollers, and anyone carrying groceries home after a long day. In apartment living, elevators provide access not only to home but also to ease of… MORE
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When Dr. Tischelle George and Mr. LaShawn Wilson were paired up as part of NYCHA’s 2025 Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA), it was more a reunion than a new beginning. Two years before each decided to enroll in the CMLA, these two experienced pros had worked together on a completely different project. That previous… MORE
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When Bernadette Vasquez entered the 2025 Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA), she brought with her more than two decades of NYCHA experience, genuine devotion to her work, and a central ambition — to understand what her new role would call for and to grow into that new role confidently. What she didn’t expect —… MORE
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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 Haitian American Association (HAA) joined the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs for a Haitian Flag Raising ceremony on May 20 at Bowling Green Park in downtown Manhattan. It was a beautiful and happy day with many attendees waving flags and wearing Haiti’s (and the USA’s) national colors blanc, bleu et rouge. The event… MORE
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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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NYCHA has released its inaugural 2024 Resident Initiatives Annual Report, showcasing a year of impactful programs aimed at supporting residents through expanded economic mobility, financial empowerment, preventive health resources, and capacity building.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Theresa Koenig-Long, a Project Manager with NYCHA’s Asset and Capital Management Department, began her NYCHA career as a seasonal worker in 1983 – and she still has her first NYCHA ID card to prove it! Ms. Koenig-Long is an enthusiastic believer in public service and NYCHA’s mission: “This is the greatest job in the world!… MORE
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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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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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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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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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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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A Journey of Service and Leadership at NYCHA If you ever meet NYCHA Project Manager Sade Humphrey, you will immediately feel the sense of purpose and positivity she exudes. With 14 years of dedicated service under her belt, Ms. Humphrey’s journey from her very first position at NYCHA, as a Customer Contact Center (CCC) aide,… MORE
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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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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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Robert Burgos is currently the Deputy Director of the Office of Mold Assessment and Remediation (OMAR) in NYCHA’s Healthy Homes Unit – but his NYCHA story began decades ago. “I first came to NYCHA when I was just 9 years old,” Mr. Burgos said. “The Authority opened its doors to my family at probably the… MORE
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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’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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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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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’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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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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In honor of Veterans Day, we asked three dedicated NYCHA staffers who are also U.S. military veterans to tell us about their service and how it has helped them in their careers at NYCHA. Joseph Pesante has worked as a Clerical Aide with NYCHA’s General Services Department in Long Island City since 2016; he served… MORE
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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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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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