“I Am NextGen” Honoree Is Award-Winning Caretaker
NYCHA continues to bring outstanding employees, residents and other stakeholders to the attention of the public with its popular “I Am NextGen” campaign. Our latest honoree is Caretaker Roberto Rodriguez, Jr., winner of the 2016 John DeCarlo Memorial Award for Caretakers. Mr. Rodriguez joined NYCHA as a caretaker in 2008 and was runner-up for the prize for the past two years. He launched his NYCHA career by working in NYCHA’s Summer Youth Employment Program in 1999, and then working as a seasonal employee at East River Houses, where he grew up. He is assigned to Johnson Houses in Manhattan.
What do you like about your job?
This is something that I always wake up looking forward to. I feel very comfortable helping residents and with residents helping me in return. Since I was a little kid, I used to always like to help clean. I wanted the experience to help to clean where I live, my community. That’s when my mom enrolled me in Summer Youth.
How do you get along with residents and staff?
The staff at Johnson makes me feel really comfortable; I really appreciate everyone. And my residents: I always give them as much as I can. They take the initiative and pick up trash in the halls and bring it downstairs. I’m familiar with a lot of people in the development because I have family in the development – they’ve known me since I was a baby. That makes it more of a relaxing atmosphere.
How do you feel about winning the DeCarlo Award?
When they told me I won, I couldn’t believe it. I was very honored and happy. This is something I work hard for. The job is what you make of it—if you come with a positive attitude, you will shine amongst your co-workers.
