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NYCHA Now
Exceptional Colleagues June 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 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 the mentors and mentees participating in the Leadership Academy.       

Supervisor of Housing Grounds Johnny Wright and Neighborhood Administrator Chaking Moore   

Johnny Wright is a Supervisor of Housing Grounds at Parkside Houses

Johnny Wright has been a NYCHA employee for over 20 years. Since joining the Authority in 2000 as a Seasonal Aide, he has risen through the ranks and is now a Supervisor of Housing Grounds at Parkside Houses. Mr. Wright enjoys working with his colleagues and training his staff to be successful in their jobs. He was one of 10 NYCHA staff honored at this year’s NYCHA NAACP Black History Month celebration for their “unmatched dedication and leadership.” 

He joined the CMLA to share his experience and knowledge and learn from his mentor.    

“This program has been a great experience for me and has taught me so much,” said Mr. Wright. “I have met so many new people from different NYCHA departments, but the best part for me is learning so much from my mentor. Mr. Moore has taught me how to be a better supervisor and a better person. I would like to thank the Employee Engagement Department for giving me this opportunity to be a part of this program. It really means a lot to me to see different titles in different departments come together as one.”  

Chaking Moore is a Neighborhood Administrator with the Manhattan Property Management Department

Chaking Moore has been with NYCHA for 27 years. He started his NYCHA career as a Seasonal Aide in 1994. Over the past two decades, he has held eight different titles, including Administrator of the Emergency Services Department. He is currently a Neighborhood Administrator with the Manhattan Property Management Department. Mr. Moore is a Change Ambassador and was also honored at this year’s Black History Month celebration by NYCHA’s NAACP Branch.  

Mr. Moore joined the CMLA to provide the guidance he believed he would have benefitted from at earlier points in his career.  

“This program has been an incredible experience,” said Mr. Moore. “Being able to mentor someone who is just as I was earlier in my career is amazing. I wish I had an opportunity like this. I’m grateful that now many others get to thrive in different aspects of their NYCHA careers as well as utilize this knowledge in their everyday lives. Even though I’m a mentor, I’ve also learned a lot from my mentee. This program has increased the morale of the participants, and I believe it’s a major step in helping to improve the culture at NYCHA.”