Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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 the final participant we… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

Exceptional Colleagues October 2023

October 13, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

October 2023 Sustainability

October 4, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

NYCHA’s Deputy Director of Sustainability Participates in Climate Week Panel

On September 18, NYCHA’s Deputy Director of Sustainability Programs Siobhan Watson participated in a panel discussion on the efforts of New York housing agencies to decarbonize affordable housing to improve the health, comfort, and safety of residents. Organized by Building Energy Exchange, the event was part of activities that marked this year’s Climate Week. Building… Continue Reading NYCHA’s Deputy Director of Sustainability Participates in Climate Week Panel

NYCHA Developments October 2023

October 2, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

First Graduates of the Pathways to Apprenticeship Program Are Ready to Build a Brighter Future with NYCHA

On September 22, NYCHA’s Comprehensive Modernization Department (Comp Mod) celebrated the graduation of its inaugural cohort from the Pathways to Apprenticeship (P2A) program. The ceremony was held at the new Perelman Arts Center in Lower Manhattan, marking the completion of a rigorous five-week training designed to propel residents into careers in the construction industry. Funded… Continue Reading First Graduates of the Pathways to Apprenticeship Program Are Ready to Build a Brighter Future with NYCHA

Exceptional Colleagues September 2023

September 28, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

NYCHA Developments September 2023

September 21, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Collaborative Outreach Leads to Finalized Work Scope at Two NYCHA Developments

NYCHA’s Comprehensive Modernization Department has achieved a pivotal step forward, finalizing renovation plans for two Brooklyn sites under the Gowanus Neighborhood Rezoning Plan: Wyckoff Gardens and Gowanus Houses. The milestone is the result of a year-long collective process which included residents, resident association leaders, property management, and local Council Member Lincoln Restler. “This was truly… Continue Reading Collaborative Outreach Leads to Finalized Work Scope at Two NYCHA Developments

Exceptional Colleagues September 2023

September 19, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

Health & Safety Highlighted September 2023

September 18, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Meet the EHS Employee Safety Oversight Unit (ESOU)

The Environmental Health and Safety Department’s (EHS) Employee Safety Oversight Unit (ESOU) monitors NYCHA’s compliance with regulations and standards governing employee safety. ESOU also investigates reports of unsafe conditions at workplaces. As a part of their work, ESOU performs activities such as: One of NYCHA’s critical safety programs is its Confined Space Safety Program. Confined… Continue Reading Meet the EHS Employee Safety Oversight Unit (ESOU)

Exceptional Colleagues September 2023

September 15, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

Exceptional Colleagues September 2023

September 12, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

Exceptional Colleagues September 2023

September 6, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

Exceptional Colleagues September 2023

September 1, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Meet Veronica Richardson, Rear-Loading Compactor Truck Driver

Veronica Richardson loves to go above and beyond when executing her tasks. She is also not afraid to take on new challenges, like driving one of NYCHA’s rear-loading compactor trucks. In November 2021, NYCHA’s Waste Management Department started a rear-loader collection program to remove more than five tons of waste daily from several developments across… Continue Reading Meet Veronica Richardson, Rear-Loading Compactor Truck Driver

August 2023 Exceptional Colleagues

August 31, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

August 2023 Exceptional Colleagues

August 28, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

August 2023 Exceptional Colleagues

August 17, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

August 2023 Exceptional Colleagues

August 14, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

August 2023 Highlighted

August 7, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

NYCHA’s First-Ever “Plasterer Academy” Opens

LaToya Cleary has spent 14 of her 23 years at NYCHA as a Plasterer Helper. She enjoys working with her hands – in part because her father was a builder in Brooklyn – and aims to become a Plasterer. Thanks to a new NYCHA initiative dubbed the “Plasterer Academy,” she may be able to achieve… Continue Reading NYCHA’s First-Ever “Plasterer Academy” Opens

August 2023 Changemakers Highlighted

August 3, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Meet Andrea Williams, Caretaker at Riis Houses and NYCHA Changemaker

Until recently, Andrea Williams had worked mainly as a security guard. But when the COVID pandemic hit, she had to seek other opportunities when she lost her job. That search led her to NYCHA, where she secured a role as a Seasonal Aide in 2021. After giving the position her all, she became a permanent… Continue Reading Meet Andrea Williams, Caretaker at Riis Houses and NYCHA Changemaker

August 2023 Exceptional Colleagues

August 1, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

Exceptional Colleagues July 2023

July 28, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

July 2023 News to Use

July 28, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Coastal Storm Planning

Peak coastal storm season in NYC is from August through October every year. Make a plan to keep you and your family safe! When would I evacuate? • If necessary, the City would issue an Evacuation Recommendation or Evacuation Order for your hurricane zone. • If this order is issued, evacuate as soon as possible… Continue Reading Coastal Storm Planning

Exceptional Colleagues July 2023

July 24, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

Exceptional Colleagues July 2023

July 17, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

Exceptional Colleagues July 2023

July 10, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

Exceptional Colleagues Highlighted June 2023 SafeNYCHA

June 30, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading NYCHA Recognizes Staff at 2023 Safety Awards

June 2023

June 23, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading NYCHA Participates in MWBE Expo

Highlighted IT News and Notes June 2023

June 20, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading NYCHA Rolls Out New IT Initiative to Improve Customer Service

Exceptional Colleagues June 2023

June 16, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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

Exceptional Colleagues June 2023

June 15, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants    

Highlighted June 2023

June 8, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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

June 2023

June 7, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

NYCHA’s Leased Housing Department Honored

On April 20, NYCHA’s Leased Housing Department staff were honored for their efforts to issue Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV). The recognition was from New Destiny, a New York City nonprofit that provides housing and services to survivors of domestic violence and their children. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded a… Continue Reading NYCHA’s Leased Housing Department Honored

Exceptional Colleagues June 2023

June 5, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants 

June 2023

June 2, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Inspiring the Next Generation of Public Servants

On May 24, NYCHA’s Operations Support Services hosted a tour of its Long Island City offices for a group of high school students. The tour, conducted in partnership with non-profit organization PENCIL, was part of a pre-employment training session for the students – who are interested in pursuing careers in public service. This summer, the… Continue Reading Inspiring the Next Generation of Public Servants

Exceptional Colleagues May 2023

May 29, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants 

Celebrations May 2023

May 25, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Batei Tsibur Celebrates Jewish Heritage Month

On May 23, NYCHA’s Jewish Employees Organization (Batei Tsibur) commemorated Jewish Heritage month in the Ceremonial Room at 90 Church Street. The event was attended by a variety of NYCHA staff, including Batei Tsibur leadership and Vice President for Employee Engagement Yvette Andino. The guest speaker was Alan Pelikow, a retiree who formerly led… Continue Reading Batei Tsibur Celebrates Jewish Heritage Month

Exceptional Colleagues May 2023

May 16, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

Exceptional Colleagues May 2023

May 9, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

Exceptional Colleagues May 2023

May 8, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

As a native New Yorker who grew up in Manhattan’s Chinatown, Kevin Law-Lee knows the value of community. He also knows when to seize an opportunity to serve, as he did in 2018 when he joined NYCHA from the private sector. “Public service offers me the opportunity to contribute to the greater good by… Continue Reading Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May 2023

May 1, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Celebrating Jewish Heritage Month

In September 1654, the first Jewish refugees migrating to North America found a home in present-day New York after fleeing the oppression of the Inquisition. Today, Jewish Heritage Month is celebrated every May, to honor those 23 refugees as well as the many contributions of generations of Jewish Americans. At least 11 NYCHA… Continue Reading Celebrating Jewish Heritage Month

April 2023 Exceptional Colleagues

April 26, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Meet Mariam Thorne, Property Maintenance Supervisor at Bay View Houses

Eighteen years ago, when Mariam Thorne landed a job as a Seasonal Aide at Hammel Houses in Queens, she saw it as an opportunity to launch a career at NYCHA. She did not have to wait long for her career at the Authority to blossom. At the end of her seasonal term, she got hired… Continue Reading Meet Mariam Thorne, Property Maintenance Supervisor at Bay View Houses

April 2023 Highlighted

April 17, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Celebrating Immigrant Heritage Week

On April 17, 1907, the City of New York recorded its largest-ever immigrant arrivals on Ellis Island. In honor of the significance of this moment, since 2004 the City has set aside a week in April to commemorate Immigrant Heritage Week, celebrating the contributions immigrant New Yorkers like NYCHA employee Adetoun Adeyemo and NYCHA resident… Continue Reading Celebrating Immigrant Heritage Week

April 2023 Exceptional Colleagues Highlighted

April 12, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet NYCHA’s Audiovisual Unit

April 2023 Exceptional Colleagues Highlighted

April 11, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

April 2023 Exceptional Colleagues

April 3, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

Exceptional Colleagues March 2023

March 28, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

Exceptional Colleagues Highlighted March 2023 SafeNYCHA

March 17, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet NYCHA’s Asbestos Team Supervisors

Celebrations March 2023

March 16, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

NYCHA’s NAACP Branch Black History Month Celebration

NYCHA’s NAACP branch held an awards ceremony at 1200 Waters Place in the Bronx to round off its celebration of Black History Month this year. The event also honored 10 NYCHA staff and Greg Lassiter, CEO of Grex Jet, for their “unmatched dedication and leadership.” Marked by music and dance, the event was attended by… Continue Reading NYCHA’s NAACP Branch Black History Month Celebration

Exceptional Colleagues March 2023

March 10, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

Exceptional Colleagues Highlighted March 2023

March 6, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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.… Continue Reading Celebrating Social Work Month: Meet Marina Oteiza, Director of Family Partnerships

Exceptional Colleagues Highlighted March 2023

March 1, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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

Celebrations February 2023

February 28, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Celebrating Black History Month at Red Hook Houses

Staff at NYCHA’s Red Hook West development celebrated Black History month with an extra special tribute this year – recognition of the Employee of the Month. The award went to Ann Marie Charles Kareem, a caretaker at the development. “At Red Hook West, we are trying to bring up the morale of staff,” said Angela… Continue Reading Celebrating Black History Month at Red Hook Houses

Exceptional Colleagues February 2023 Highlighted

February 13, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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

February 2023

February 3, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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… Continue Reading NYCHA Launches First-Ever Leadership Academy for Staff

February 2023

February 3, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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

Exceptional Colleagues January 2023

January 24, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Meet Victoria Vasquez, The “Voice of NYCHA”

Her name, Victoria Vasquez, might not ring a bell, but her voice is familiar to NYCHA residents and just about anyone who has ever called NYCHA’s offices. For nearly a decade, the Vladeck Houses resident has been lending her voice to the interactive voice responses (IVR) for the robocalls NYCHA sends out to residents… Continue Reading Meet Victoria Vasquez, The “Voice of NYCHA”

Health & Safety Highlighted January 2023

January 5, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

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

December 2022 Exceptional Colleagues

December 22, 2022 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Meet Shetara Turner, Smoke-Free NYCHA Liaison for Manhattan

Shetara Turner has lived at Campos Plaza since she was 6 years old. Now this mother of two is not just a NYCHA resident but is also a NYCHA employee. The former retail store employee launched her NYCHA career thanks to the New York City Cleanup Corps program, which was created to help the… Continue Reading Meet Shetara Turner, Smoke-Free NYCHA Liaison for Manhattan

December 2022 Exceptional Colleagues NYCHA Leadership

December 15, 2022 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Meet Alex Zablocki, Executive Director of the Fund for Public Housing

Until September 11, 2001, Alex Zablocki was sure he wanted to work on Wall Street. At the time, he was a student at Baruch College studying for a degree in finance and investment. He had worked for a stockbroker while in high school and was on a path to obtaining the licenses required to work… Continue Reading Meet Alex Zablocki, Executive Director of the Fund for Public Housing

December 2022

December 13, 2022 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Empowering Entrepreneurs: Graduates of NYCHA’S Construction Business Pathways Share Lessons from the Program

When Tashika Woods moved to New York City about five years ago from New Orleans, where she’d been working as a union iron worker, she was looking forward to growing her Black female-owned business, Iron Construction and Contracting Services. But her business struggled to grow. “Even though I’ve been in business for six years,… Continue Reading Empowering Entrepreneurs: Graduates of NYCHA’S Construction Business Pathways Share Lessons from the Program

December 2022 Highlighted Public Housing Preservation Trust

December 12, 2022 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Final Voting Procedures for the Public Housing Preservation Trust Now Available

We are pleased to announce that after several months of in-person and virtual public meetings with residents, resident leaders, and advocates to develop the Public Housing Preservation Trust draft voting procedures, and a nearly six-week public comment period on the draft voting procedures, the final voting procedures are now available. Based on the valuable feedback… Continue Reading Final Voting Procedures for the Public Housing Preservation Trust Now Available

December 2022 Public Housing Preservation Trust

December 8, 2022 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

NYCHA Seeks Resident Input on the Public Housing Preservation Trust Draft Voting Procedures

After two months of public meetings – virtual and in-person – NYCHA is reviewing the comments and suggestions it received from residents regarding the Public Housing Preservation Trust’s draft voting procedures. The legislation authorizing the Trust, signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul this summer, requires the establishment of a resident opt-in voting process that… Continue Reading NYCHA Seeks Resident Input on the Public Housing Preservation Trust Draft Voting Procedures

Exceptional Colleagues November 2022 NYCHA Leadership

November 29, 2022 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Meet Joy Sinderbrand, Senior Vice President for Capital Programs

For nearly two decades, Joy Sinderbrand has been instrumental in the execution of several public-private partnership projects that have shaped the city of New York; she has a knack for ensuring project teams are on the same page so they can achieve ambitious goals. As NYCHA’s Senior Vice President for Capital Programs, streamlining the… Continue Reading Meet Joy Sinderbrand, Senior Vice President for Capital Programs