Meet Curtis Williams
Through this new NYCHANow feature, employees write about their careers at the Authority. If you’d like to share your story, please send an email to nychanow@nycha.nyc.gov.
Since July 2016, I have had the privilege of working in the Resident Engagement Department at our Long Island City facility (and temporarily at 250 Broadway). As a Manager, I cover both Queens and Staten Island, overseeing a team of Resident Engagement staff to provide strategic resident engagement focusing on three groups: resident leaders, seniors, and youth. My work is extremely rewarding – it’s truly an amazing feeling being able to provide our Resident Associations with technical assistance and our seniors with much-needed programs, and helping countless teenagers grow as civic leaders and advocators for change in their communities as part of our Youth Leadership Councils is especially gratifying.
Amazingly, this July I will be celebrating my 27th year at NYCHA. I began my career at NYCHA as a Community Service Aide in 1992, working for Community Operations at the Beach 41st Street Community Center and eventually Hammel Community Center.
In 2006, I was promoted to Community Associate and Community Coordinator, becoming the Director of the very same community center I attended as a troubled teen. Using my past as motivation, I was able to successfully develop the community center into a nurturing hub for the entire community, providing a positive outlet for so many youths to avoid the same obstacles and pitfalls I encountered growing up in NYCHA.
After 16 years in the community centers, I was promoted to Sports Manager for Citywide Program’s Education Through Sports Unit. My time with Citywide Programs marked a very important professional change for me, as I took a leap of faith stepping outside of my comfort zone. During my time with Citywide Programs, I was responsible for developing and overseeing various sports clinics and educational programs. Two highlights that I am most proud of are when I secured sponsorship from Enyce to underwrite the cost of basketball uniforms for 9,000 co-ed participants over three years at an estimated savings to the authority of $310,000, and working with the National Football League to establish the first-ever Football Officiating Academy, providing NYCHA residents with officiating employment opportunities and a pipeline to pursue developmental opportunities connected to the NFL.
During my long career with NYCHA there have been so many success stories I can proudly say I was involved with; however, the one that stands out the most was during my time with the Education Through Sports Unit. Cynithia Smalls was introduced to lacrosse for the very first time, and after discovering her newfound passion for this non-traditional sport, she went on to become one of the top lacrosse players in the city, eventually earning a full scholarship to Howard University.
With NYCHA receiving so much negative press, I love being part of the other side of the story, the side that doesn’t always get reported. But just receiving a simple “thank you” and a smile from a resident is all I need as confirmation that we are doing amazing things for our NYCHA residents despite what the media portrays.
