Categories: Network Events
10.31.2014
The Supportive Housing Network of NY recognizes the outstanding individuals of our community.
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Nicole Branca addresses the crowd.
New York's supportive housing community came together on October 15th for the Network's eleventh annual Awards Gala. Nearly 600 guests joined us at Capitale, the spectacular Stanford White-designed Beaux Arts national landmark, on a blustery Wednesday evening to celebrate both the outstanding individuals of supportive housing and the community as a whole.
Despite a downpour just as the event got underway, the mood was festive during the 90 minute cocktail hour as friends and colleagues revived old friendships and forged new partnerships.
The night’s festivities continued with our awards ceremony. This year, we honored six remarkable people and one outstanding and innovative residence. Network Board Chair and Richman Housing Resources President Bill Traylor welcomed the crowd ”and issued a rousing call-to-arms, “we will create a muscular and very BIG successor for NY/NY! We will make sure that Medicaid redesign brings more resources to supportive housing tenants and not less! We will implement the spirit of Olmstead and we will not permit stifling percentages to rule over the needs of our tenants!” Then, Interim Executive Director Nicole Branca spoke about what a pleasure it had been to lead the Network during this transition period and thanked the Network staff, the Board and the community for all their support.
The first honoree, as Government Partner of the Year, Vicki Been, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development, accepted her award with a tremendously moving speech that mentioned her personal connection to the world of supportive housing, noting “every time I attend a ground breaking or ribbon cutting or tour for supportive housing, I think of my brother David, who, after a long struggle with alcohol and depression, passed away 13 years ago. He lived in a small, very poor town in Colorado, that offered few resources, and I think of how supportive housing might have helped him.”
Dr. Robert Myers, Deputy Commissioner and Division Director, NYS Office of Mental Health, accepted this year’s Tim O'Hanlon Unsung Hero of the Year award. Dr. Myers was introduced by Ralph Fasano, of Concern for Independent Living, who recognized Dr. Myers seminal role in expanding supportive housing through his work with all three of the NY/NY agreements, implementing NY/NY I and II, and as lead negotiator for NY/NY III.
Sha'Tavia Presley of Wilson Commencement Park accepted the first of the evening’s two Tenant of the Year awards. Ms. Presley, a survivor of domestic violence and homelessness dedicated her speech first to her two children and then to the loving support of Wilson Commencement Park’s staff.
Johnny Blackmon of The Bridge was honored to receive the evening’s second Tenant of the Year award, for his accomplishments as a peer mentor and role model, and was overjoyed to have his mom Gloria in the house, saying “I couldn’t have done it without her!”
Carol Cordon, Executive Director of New Destiny Housing, accepted our Residence of the Year award for innovation in the field on behalf of The Anderson, and spoke convincingly of the importance of expanding supportive housing’s umbrella to include survivors of domestic violence.
Brenda Rosen, of Common Ground, welcomed her former colleague David Walsh, Senior Vice President of Community Development Banking, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., to the podium to receive our Private Sector Partner of the Year award. In all, Chase has invested an impressive $1.5 billion in supportive housing in New York.
Bill Traylor, returned to the stage to give special thanks to our former Executive Director Ted Houghton. For Ted’s edification, Bill presented him with a big stack of his favorite books: “The Odyssey” by Homer, Anne Sexton’s “Collected Poems,” “A Testament of Devotion” by Thomas Kelly, “The Long Loneliness” by Dorothy Day, and “Purity and Danger” by Mary Douglas.
The evening ended with more cocktails, conversation, and delicious desserts!
We hope to see you at next year's Gala!