Speaking Up, Focusing In: A New Chapter of Collaboration at NYCHA
How Two Employee-Led Clubs Are Building Community, Confidence, and Creativity
At NYCHA, a rich culture of employee clubs and interest groups has taken root, reflecting the diversity, passion, and professionalism of NYCHA’s workforce — and two of the newest groups are already making waves.
The NYCHA Toastmasters Club, founded in February 2024, and the NYCHA Photography Club, which had its first meeting in March 2025, may focus on very different skills, but their unexpected collaboration has sparked a new kind of inter-club connection.
Finding Her Voice
When Fatima Lundy joined NYCHA as a Project Coordinator with the Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES) office, she knew communication would be a vital part of her job. What she didn’t expect was how hard public speaking can be.
“I was struggling with it,” she recalled. “So I looked for ways to improve, and that’s how I found my way to Toastmasters International.”
By December 2023, she had joined an external club. But soon after, when she learned that Toastmasters offers corporate chapters, an idea took shape.
“I thought, maybe I can bring this here to NYCHA,” said Ms. Lundy.
With the help of the Toastmasters leadership network, she organized a demo meeting in February 2024. From there, she recruited officers and began building a community. Today, the club Ms. Lundy founded has 18 official Toastmasters members, who meet twice a month, and over 90 employees engaged through its communications channel.
Ms. Lundy is supported by a small but dedicated team: Otica Rutledge (the club’s Vice President), Ellen Leias (VP of Public Relations), and a newly appointed club secretary, Gloria Lopez.
“It’s not just about public speaking,” she explained. “It’s a space for building leadership, confidence, and professionalism.”
Seeing the Bigger Picture
In another part of NYCHA, veteran Staff Photographer Leticia “Tish” Barboza had been imagining a club of her own. With 38 years of experience at the Authority, Ms. Barboza has seen generations of NYCHA history through her lens — and knew there were other photography enthusiasts among the staff.
“I asked Andre [Cirilo, of NYCHA’s Employee Engagement Department] if we could start a photography club,” she said. “And he said yes!”
Though the club is still in its early days, interest is strong. Twenty employees signed up immediately. Ms. Barboza is joined by Peta Campbell-Perdomo, who leads tech and education efforts, and Darrell Grey, the group’s go-to for gear and gadgets.
“We want to create a space for people to learn, share, and grow their skills,” Ms. Barboza said. “We’re just getting started.”
A Picture-Perfect Collaboration
The connection between the two clubs began when Ms. Lundy had another idea: hosting a professional headshot event for Toastmasters members.
“I was thinking about how important professional image is, especially when you’re working on public speaking and leadership,” she said. “I originally planned to hire someone or figure out funding — but then I reached out to Andre.”
Mr. Cirilo had a better idea: Why not ask NYCHA’s in-house photography team to get involved?
That simple suggestion became the catalyst for a full-circle collaboration. Ms. Barboza and her soon-to-be Photography Club stepped in to take portraits, while Mr. Cirilo captured behind-the-scenes candid photos during the session. It marked the first event that truly brought both clubs together.
“It was a great way to showcase both clubs and provide something useful to NYCHA employees,” Ms. Lundy remarked.
Interested in joining NYCHA Toastmasters or the Photography Club?
Contact Fatima Lundy (Toastmasters) or Leticia Barboza (Photography) for more information.
