REES Honored With Partner Award
The HOPE Program helps empower New Yorkers economically through job training, placement, and education programs, making it an excellent partner for NYCHA. At its annual ceremony on June 1 honoring program graduates and alumni achievements, HOPE also recognized its partnership with NYCHA by honoring REES with its “Referral Partner of the Year” award.
REES (Department of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability) Director Shanna Castillo and Kisha Jackson, a REES Zone Coordinator in Downtown Brooklyn, accepted the award on the department’s behalf.
Speaking with pride about Ms. Jackson, Ms. Castillo remarked, “Kisha has really been the driving force of this partnership, spreading information about HOPE to NYCHA frontline staff and resident leaders.”
HOPE Director of Work Readiness and Work Wellness Elyssa Gersen-Thurman commented on NYCHA’s selection by noting: “NYCHA and HOPE have partnered to successfully connect 20 men and women with jobs—more than any other single referral partner.”
She further credited REES’ partnerships and programs— including employment and career advancement, financial literacy and asset building, adult education and training, and business development— with measurably supporting residents’ increased income.
“As the largest provider of public housing in the country, it is so important that NYCHA focuses not only on providing safe housing, but also the tools and resources for New Yorkers to provide for themselves and their families,” Ms. Gersen-Thurman said.
