Celebrating Hispanic Heritage: Meet Members of OHLA’s Executive Board 

The Organization of Hispanic and Latin Americans (OHLA) is an employee association founded in 2022 to promote and provide opportunities for any interested NYCHA employees to learn about and experience Hispanic and Latin American cultures.  From September 15 to October 15, the U.S. celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month in recognition of the contributions of Hispanic… MORE

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It’s Italian-American Heritage & Culture Month

Congress proclaimed October as National Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month to recognize the achievements and contributions of Italian immigrants and their descendants in the United States. Over 5 million Italians immigrated to the United States between 1820 and 2000; currently, there are over 26 million Americans of Italian descent residing in the United States. The… MORE

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Guest Column: Help Us Reduce Pests at Your Development!

From Vice President of Pest Management Josey Bartlett & Pest Management Technical Advisors Lashawn Wilson & Geeton Bowier  The authors of this guest column – Josey Bartlett, Lashawn Wilson, and Geeton Bowier – lead a team of more than 300 people committed to reducing and eliminating pests from apartments, grounds, basements, and public spaces at… 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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Meet Jeralyn Cortez-Weir: Helping the Health of NYCHA Residents 

Jeralyn Cortez-Weir is a dedicated public health advocate with a wealth of experience in community engagement and health equity initiatives. Since joining the Authority in 2022, she has been instrumental in expanding resident health initiative programming, forging partnerships with external health partners, and creating pathways for NYCHA residents into preventive health careers.  Ms. Cortez-Weir is… 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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Batei Tsibur’s Jewish American Heritage Month Celebration

On May 30, NYCHA’s Jewish Employee Organization (Batei Tsibur) hosted its annual Jewish American Heritage Month Celebration at the 90 Church Street Ceremonial Room. The guest speaker, retired Chaplain Colonel Jacob Z. Goldstein, spoke about his distinguished career in the United States Army. The longest serving Jewish chaplain in the U.S. military, Col. Goldstein’s 38… MORE

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June Is Pride Month!

Celebrating the LGBTQIA+ Community During Pride Month, we recognize the contributions and impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, or asexual (LGBTQIA+) individuals have made to society. We also reflect on the progress made in the fight for inclusion and equality, and NYCHA’s commitment to foster a safe and welcoming workplace. It… MORE

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Celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month: Meet Aaron Trauring, IT Senior Program Manager 

Soon after entering the NYCHA workforce over 21 years ago, Aaron Trauring joined the Jewish Employees Organization (Batei Tsibur).   Learning there was an existing group of Jewish NYCHA employees who cohesively promote Jewish culture, acts of kindness, and community spirit, Mr. Trauring was pleased to become a member.  “I thought it was a great opportunity… MORE

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Celebrating Black History Month: Meet Some of NYCHA’s Creative Artists 

This year, the theme of Black History Month shines a light on African-American artists – writers, musicians, painters, dancers, actors, photographers, and more – who have helped shape our rich American culture and paved the way for current and future generations of Black creatives.   Legendary late African-American creators such as poet Maya Angelou, actress Cicely… MORE

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Spotlight on NYCHA’s New Rat Extermination Team 

Shareef Rashid and Diogenes Umanzar take their mission seriously when it comes to pest control at NYCHA.   The self-described “hit squad” for eradicating rats and other pests are two members of NYCHA’s newly formed Pest Management unit specifically targeting rat extermination across the Authority. The eight-member team, led by Program Manager Edwin Arroyo and supervisor… MORE

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NYCHA Employees Thrive in Management Roles Years After NRTA Janitorial Training 

Several years after starting their NYCHA careers as Caretakers, Tiphany Malloy and Jermaine Hall have moved up the ranks to management-level roles.   South Beach Houses resident Ms. Malloy has been serving as an Assistant Resident Buildings Superintendent at the Woodson/Van Dyke II Houses consolidation in Brooklyn for over a year, while former Saint Mary’s… MORE

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Inventions Enhance Job Efficiency for Tompkins Houses Carpenter  

Inside the carpenter shop at Tompkins Houses, Stephen Jackman opened a small door on what he calls his “keep everything compartment.”  Indeed, this universal storage cart built by Mr. Jackman is an invention that would make many a hardware store clerk proud.  Constructed of plywood and standing roughly four feet tall on wheels, the customized… 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 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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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 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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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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Say ‘Hola’ to NYCHA’s Newest Employee Association, OHLA

NYCHA has a new Hispanic and Latin American organization. Say Hola to NYCHA’s Employee Association, OHLA, the Organization of Hispanic and Latin American. Human Resources Department Associate Staff Analyst Franklin Velez launched this new employee association to share Hispanic and Latin American cultural celebrations with NYCHA employees.   Mr. Velez got the idea of starting… MORE

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Making a Difference 

Meet Ernesto Rodriguez, Administrative Training Coordinator at Learning & Development’s Maintenance Training Center Whenever Ernesto Rodriguez goes to a NYCHA development, he recognizes most of the property management and maintenance staff – because he trained them. Mr. Rodriguez is the Administrator of HR’s Maintenance Training Center, which equips assistant superintendents, superintendents, and field staff with… MORE

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Spotlight on NYCHA’s Chinese-American Association

The Chinese-American Association (CAA) is one of many employee associations at NYCHA. The association was created almost three decades ago to promote Chinese language and culture and to strengthen bonds among co-workers. Currently, the CAA has more than 200 members, including several retired employees who remain active in the association.  In May, the CAA observed… MORE

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Meet Cherry McCutchen, Director of Learning and Development

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, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+). In honor of Pride Month, we’re highlighting the work of NYCHA’s LGBTQ+ employees.    “I’m ‘Cherry.’ I don’t ascribe to labels or pronouns. If someone asks how… MORE

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Meet the OEM Field Coordinators Team

NYCHA’s Office of Emergency Management’s (OEM) Field Coordinators program improves the coordination of response efforts to emergency incidents across the Authority. Before becoming a permanent program, the initiative was launched in 2019 as a six-month pilot program, with 12 on-call field coordinators managing day-to-day communications between different responding departments (and, in some cases, other City agencies).… MORE

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NYCHA NAACP Branch’s Black Health and Wellness Event

On February 23, NYCHA’s branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) hosted an event focused on Black health and wellness as part of their Black History Month celebrations. The event was held at NYCHA’s offices at 1200 Waters Place in the Bronx. Guest speakers included Chief Operating Officer Daniel Sherrod;… MORE

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Meet NYCHA Change Ambassador Albert Freeman

When speaking to issues of change at NYCHA, Albert Freeman can draw from his extensive experience as both an employee and former resident.  After growing up at Ingersoll Houses in Brooklyn, Mr. Freeman joined the NYCHA workforce 32 years ago thanks to a program from the nonprofit Grand St. Settlement. He has served for more than a decade… MORE

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Making a Difference for Residents

Meet Devon Boyd, Contract Specialist in Procurement Operations  When handling priority assignments for NYCHA’s Procurement Operations, Contract Specialist Devon Boyd is prepared to put in the time to get the jobs done.   A former NYCHA resident who lived in Cypress Hills Houses for most of his life, Mr. Boyd said he knows how important it is to address repairs… MORE

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Making a Difference for Residents

Meet Sam Awelewa, Lead Oversight Team Specialist NYCHA is proud of our hardworking staff members who are making a difference for residents. Learn more about how we’re becoming a better landlord through their efforts. In this employee spotlight, meet Sam Awelewa, Lead Oversight Team Specialist in the Environmental Health and Safety Department. A resident of Brooklyn, Mr. Awelewa has worked… MORE

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Making a Difference for Residents

Meet Vincent Donohue NYCHA is celebrating National Customer Service Week 2021 during the week of October 18-22. This year’s theme, “Power of Service,” reaffirms and celebrates our commitment to excellent customer service. As part of the celebrations, we are highlighting NYCHA Changemakers – employees who use our core values to create meaningful, sustainable change in… MORE

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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

Meet Elizabeth McCray  Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15 to recognize the achievements, contributions, and culture of Hispanic Americans. The month also overlaps with Indigenous People’s Day, which is marked on the second Monday in October to honor Native American people and their cultures.   For NYCHA employee Elizabeth McCray, this overlap in holidays is a reflection of her DNA, family, and culture. Ms. McCray’s mother moved to… MORE

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Making a Difference for Residents

NYCHA is celebrating National Customer Service Week 2021 during the week of October 18-22. This year’s theme, “Power of Service,” reaffirms and celebrates our commitment to excellent customer service. As part of the celebrations, we are highlighting NYCHA Changemakers – employees who use our core values to create meaningful, sustainable change in every aspect of… MORE

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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Food

On September 15, to mark the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month, Capital Projects Division (CPD) employee Franklin Velez organized a special lunch break with Dominican food for his colleagues at Long Island City.  Mr. Velez has been a Staff Analyst in the QA Compliance and Training division of CPD for the past two years, responsible for coordinating training for the department.  He is also a United States Marine Corps veteran, who served in the Iraq War. “In… MORE

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Making a Difference for Residents

NYCHA is celebrating National Customer Service Week 2021 during the week of October 18-22. This year’s theme, “Power of Service,” reaffirms and celebrates our commitment to excellent customer service. As part of the celebrations, we are highlighting NYCHA Changemakers – employees who use our core values to create meaningful, sustainable change in every aspect of… MORE

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NYCHA Employee Recognized by News 12 During Hispanic Heritage Month

Marina Oteiza, Social Services Administrator in NYCHA’s Family Partnerships Department, was recognized by News 12 during the network’s Hispanic Heritage Month coverage for her work to connect NYCHA residents to COVID-19 vaccines. You can watch the segment here: And you can read more about Ms. Oteiza’s accomplishments at NYCHA here: https://nychanow.nyc/nycha-brings-vaccination-sites-to-residents/ https://nychanow.nyc/helping-feed-nycha-residents-during-covid-19/ https://nychanow.nyc/supporting-seniors-needs/ Photo caption:… MORE

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Making a Difference

Meet John Rubbo, Senior Program Manager in the Management Services Department We’re periodically featuring the hardworking staff members who are making a difference for residents. Learn more about how we’re becoming a better landlord through their efforts. In this installment, meet John Rubbo, Senior Program Manager in the Management Services Department. Mr. Rubbo started working… MORE

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Meet Shelisa Reid, Manager of Wyckoff Gardens

As part of a new series, we’re periodically featuring the female property managers who help NYCHA carry out its mission to better serve residents and strengthen our partnership with them. NYCHA supports and encourages women in leadership positions in all departments, including property management. Currently, there are 260 women working as property managers at the… MORE

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Meet Your REES Hotline Referral Associates

Tannishia Mattis of NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES) can attest to the benefits of the office’s referral services for residents.   Prior to joining the REES staff, Ms. Mattis contacted the office seeking help with employment opportunities, and a referral specialist directed her to some career training programs. Then, when a temporary community associate… MORE

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Meet Nymiah Branch, Neighborhood Administrator in Brooklyn

NYCHA Neighborhood Administrator Nymiah Branch has more than 35 years of experience to draw from when it comes to understanding the needs of NYCHA residents.    After growing up with his family in Brooklyn’s Boulevard Houses for 20 years, Mr. Branch lived on his own at Breukelen Houses in Brooklyn for another 16 years. It was that experience which inspired… MORE

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Meet Verna Ferguson, Administrative Housing Superintendent, Emergency Services Department

June is National Pride Month, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising and recognizes the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) people have made and continue to make on American history. In honor of Pride Month, we’re highlighting the work of NYCHA’s LGBTQ+ employees.   Verna Ferguson joined NYCHA in 1985 through a youth training program.… MORE

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Meet Theresa Bethea, Neighborhood Administrator in the Bronx

June is National Pride Month, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising and recognizes the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) people have made and continue to make on American history. In honor of Pride Month, we’re highlighting the work of NYCHA’s LGBTQ+ employees.    In 1984, Theresa Bethea was only 18 when she started to… MORE

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NYCHA’s Working Mom Employees: Making a Difference in the Community

We’re periodically featuring staff members for their dedication and exemplary service to NYCHA residents. In this Mother’s Day installment, meet three employees who have been coordinating work and home responsibilities throughout the pandemic.    Shana Brown has worked as a Housing Assistant at Bronx River Houses since 2013. She was also a first-time mom of… MORE

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Making a Difference for Residents

Meet Dyni Joseph, Housing Assistant for Queens and Staten Island We’re periodically featuring the hardworking staff members who provide excellent service to residents. Learn more about how we’re improving residents’ homes and becoming a better landlord through their perspective. In this installment, meet Dyni Joseph, Housing Assistant for Queens and Staten Island, who assists residents… MORE

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Meet John Williams, NYCHA Safety Associate

They are on the front line of helping to identify potential safety hazards for NYCHA workers and the larger community.   NYCHA’s Safety Associates take on a volunteer role in addition to their regular job duties to ensure that safety-related issues are reported to their supervisors and help prevent on-the-job injuries. They also serve as advocates for safer working conditions, and with… MORE

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NYCHA’s Deputy Press Secretary Highlights the Rewards of Military Service

The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) celebrated Veterans Day this year with a Veterans in City Government CityTalk Panel. The virtual event featured a panel of veterans who now work at City agencies such as NYCHA, ACS, DORIS, DOT, DoITT, FDNY, and DVS.  The five inspiring panelists discussed their professional journeys, from enlisting… MORE

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Responding to COVID-19 During My National Guard Service

By Nekoro Gomes, NYCHA’s Department of Communications As a member of NYCHA’s Department of Communications, a large part of my job calls for being able to find the right words to convey what’s happening across the Authority’s more than 300 developments at any given time. That task involves quickly sourcing, verifying, and accurately relaying information… MORE

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Changing the Way NYCHA Does Business with a Can-Do Attitude

The Employee Engagement Committee (EEC) held its monthly meeting the week before Thanksgiving, on November 14. The first item on the agenda was requests for volunteers to deliver Thanksgiving dinners to residents experiencing gas outages. This endeavor embodies an EEC principle: giving back to the community and helping those less fortunate. Next up was a… MORE

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Connecting Communities at NYCHA

NYCHA is working to update its urban design with residents and their neighbors in mind. Through the Connected Communities initiative, the Authority is comprehensively addressing the community connectivity of over 300 public housing developments across New York City. NYCHA’s new Connected Communities initiative seeks to make big changes to better connect NYCHA residents physically to… MORE

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Community Conversations on Smoke-Free NYCHA

If you haven’t already heard, all public housing across the country—including NYCHA homes—will go smoke-free as of July 30, 2018, following a requirement from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. Smoke-Free NYCHA is designed to create healthier homes for residents and healthier working environments for employees by reducing exposure to secondhand smoke. The program… MORE

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Spotlight on IT Department Employee Nina Winer

As a member of NYCHA’s IT Project Management Office, Nina Winer knows that information security is the responsibility of every single NYCHA employee. She strives to show employees how, through careful and intelligent use of technology, we can help safeguard NYCHA’s systems and data while fulfilling our mission of providing safe, clean, and connected housing… MORE

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Customer Service Week Shines a Light on NYCHA’s Core Values

In light of Customer Service Week, the Employee Engagement Committee’s (EEC) October meeting focused on the service we offer to residents and other stakeholders. EEC members discussed instances where good customer service reinforced our core values as well as some cases where poor customer service detracted from them. We examined how we can continue improving… MORE

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Building Bonds of Trust

James Scanlon, Vice President, Capital Projects/Planning and Design: On October 19, several staff members from the Capital Planning Group in Capital Projects accompanied me on a site visit to Rutgers Houses to spend time with frontline staff and to acknowledge Customer Service Week. We were greeted professionally and enthusiastically by the management office staff, including… MORE

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Seeking Success through Collaboration and Accountability

On September 13, Employee Engagement Committee (EEC) members met to discuss how we personify NYCHA’s core values in our daily work lives. One group’s conversation centered on what it means to be “a collaborative workforce, accountable to ourselves and to our residents.” It was fitting that during this discussion we were joined by the leadership… MORE

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Talking Respect, Efficiency, and Sustainability at the EEC

How important are respect, efficiency, and sustainability to you in your everyday life? It’s safe to assume that your answer lies somewhere between “very important” and “absolutely vital.” Now consider that the people we serve and serve with would say the same. That’s why these values comprise NYCHA’s first two core values (see below), and… MORE

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Employee Voices: NGO – A New Model for Managing NYCHA Developments

NextGen Operations (NGO) is a new model for managing NYCHA’s developments. Launched in January 2015 at 18 developments as the Optimal Property Management Operating Model (OPMOM), the program aimed to empower property managers to truly manage their developments. Senior Vice President (SVP) Janet Abrahams joined NYCHA in September 2015 to run this program, bringing with… MORE

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Employee Voices: One-Stop Kiosks Put the Customer in Control

NYCHA’s residents, Section 8 tenants and other customers now have more access to information and self-service features thanks to approximately 150 one-stop kiosks installed in property management offices (and soon to be installed in customer walk-in centers in Brooklyn and the Bronx). The kiosks increase access to NYCHA’s ever-growing list of online services by allowing residents to interact with… MORE

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Employee Voices: Transforming Business Operations

by Chloe Gutelle, Senior Administrator Last year, NYCHA residents made over 2.8 million requests for repairs. Over half of open repair requests are for skilled trades. In some cases, residents wait months for even one trade to service their apartment. The wait to complete a repair increases when two or three skilled trades must be sequenced to complete the… MORE

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Employee Voices: Connecting Residents to Community Resources

NextGeneration NYCHA mandates the use of data to support decision making and help NYCHA become a more transparent organization. The Performance Tracking and Analytics Department (PTAD) has taken a critical role in supporting the Next Generation NYCHA goal of operating as an efficient and effective landlord. Our mission is to provide performance management and business… MORE

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CEP Reorganization Provides Better Direct Service to Residents

The Community Engagement and Partnerships Division (CEP), formerly known as Community Programs and Development, engages and connects NYCHA residents to critical services provided by the City and to programs and resources in their communities. Serving as a bridge for resident and community transformation, CEP is grounded in NextGen NYCHA strategies and will continue to ensure… MORE

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Customer Service Week Takes Senior Staff to the Frontlines

On October 27, during Customer Service Week, 18 senior administrators took employee appreciation to another level. Early that morning, they arrived to shadow employees at 12 developments to see the details of their everyday responsibilities and even help them to complete daily tasks. The visits allowed employees who interact with residents to relay resident issues… MORE

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New Online Re-certification Provides 24/7 Information Access

NYCHANow continues its “employee voices” series featuring articles by employees about initiatives and events that they know best. To submit an article about a project in your department, please contact NYCHANow. We want to hear from you! On September 1, 2016, 14,000 NYCHA residents in 54 developments who were up for re-certification were invited to… MORE

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Public Interest Design: Why Should Designers Work Inside Government?

Studying architecture for three years and practicing for four did not make me particularly interested in mold prevention or roof flashing for 80-year-old brick buildings. However, these aspects of building science are now priorities in my work as an Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellow within the largest owneroperator of public housing in the nation, the New… MORE

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Handheld Devices Improve Customer Service

NYCHANow continues its “employee voices” series featuring articles by employees about initiatives and events that they know best. This issue includes an article about handheld devices by Project Manager Aaron Trauring, and enhanced information on NYCHA’s websites by Director for Performance Tracking and Analytics Sybille Louis on page 6. To submit an article about a… MORE

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More Information Now Featured on NYCHA’s Websites

To become a more efficient and effective organization, we have to change the way we do business everywhere, from our developments to our warehouses to our administrative offices. To that end the Performance Management and Analytics Division (PMA), formerly known as the Research and Management Division, under the leadership of Vice President Anne-Marie Flatley, is… MORE

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