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NYCHA Now
Exceptional Colleagues September 2023 

Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

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 a few of the mentors and mentees participating in the Leadership Academy.   

Property Manager Latoya Hansley and Property Manager Philip John  

Latoya Hansley is a Property Manager at De Hostos Houses

Latoya Hansley started her NYCHA career in 2012 as a floating Housing Assistant for Mixed Finance. She later transferred to the Leased Housing Department, where she served as an Apartment Inspector. After two years in that position, she was promoted to Assistant Housing Manager at Castle Hill Houses in the Bronx. She is currently a Property Manager at De Hostos Houses in Manhattan.   

Ms. Hansley joined the CMLA because she wanted to grow as a manager, network, and learn from others.  

“I am incredibly grateful that I was chosen to be part of a program that has allowed me to learn more about myself,” said Ms. Hansley. “I met some incredible people who boosted my confidence in the work I do and showed me that I am not alone. When you meet great minds who have a positive outlook, show appreciation for the work you do, and are overall team players, it makes what you do on a daily basis more meaningful even when you have bad days. I am happy to have met a lot of experienced people, especially my mentor, whom I can lean on to point me in the right direction. I hope this program continues so other employees from different walks of life will get the opportunity to experience the positive reinforcement it brought me.” 

Philip John is a Property Manager at Stapleton Houses

Philip John mentored Ms. Hansley. He started his NYCHA career in December 1994 as a Teller/Bookkeeper. He then served in various supervisory roles until March 1998, when he became a Housing Assistant. He went on to serve as an Assistant Manager and is currently a Property Manager at Stapleton Houses.    

Mr. John joined the CMLA program to provide leadership and guidance to future leaders at NYCHA. 

“It was a great pleasure and an honor to be a mentor in the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy,” said Mr. John. “I had the opportunity to mentor Ms. Latoya Hansley, a manager I had previously worked with in a different capacity and was happy to reconnect with once again. Since we are both managers in different boroughs, we had the opportunity to learn from each other, share different experiences, and offer guidance when needed. This mentorship program was a great success which offered an enormous set of tools and skills to improve our day-to-day work as well as our personal lives. I truly wish to see this program expand to all our staff members so that everyone can take advantage of this great opportunity to succeed.”