Georgina Ngozi and Gwen Sumter, Brooklyn Children's Museum
Georgina Ngozi (left) and Gwen Sumter of the Brooklyn Children's Museum receive the award for 2011 Neighbor of the Year. During their acceptance speech, Ms. Sumter launched into an impromptu rendition of "You've Got a Friend."
Some neighbors are merely cordial. Others, like Georgina Ngozi and Gwen Sumter, can make you feel like a welcome part of the community. As the respective President/CEO and Community Development Liaison of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Ms. Ngozi and Ms. Sumter have leant their time, creative energy and resources to connect with the tenants of Institute for Community Living’s (ICL) nearby St. Marks Residence and those who live in scattered-site supported housing in the surrounding communities.
St. Marks houses 48 single adults living with mental illness. It sits just one block from the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. Through their public championing of ICL in community settings, Ms. Ngozi and Ms. Sumter have helped to neutralize fears about the individuals housed by the organization.
For years, Ms. Ngozi and Ms. Sumter have helped ICL tenants realize the powers of artistic expression. Ms. Ngozi is known to visit ICL residences to discuss art and help tenants with their visual creations. The museum also donates art supplies -- brushes, stencils, paints -- for both ICL tenants and ICL sponsored events.
“Georgina and Gwen are true visionaries who have embraced our tenants wholeheartedly,” said David Kamnitzer, Senior Vice President of Adult Mental Health Services at ICL. “They’ve helped our tenants cope with mental illness and come alive artistically.”
One tenant in particular, a former seamstress with chronic schizophrenia, was inspired by the women to begin sewing again. As a result, Mr. Kamnitzer said, she interacts more with others and has had fewer hospitalizations.
In addition to its direct work with tenants, the museum helped ICL stage two major events in 2011. In May, ICL collaborated with the museum to throw a block party. The museum designed and printed flyers for the event, helped secure the necessary permits, provided staff and donated supplies for arts and crafts activities.
In October 2011, the museum also assisted ICL with its annual Pumpkin Patch, donating staff and supplies to help neighborhood children decorate pumpkins for Halloween. The event was held on the grounds at the St. Marks Residence. Ms. Ngozi, Ms. Sumter and the museum were essential to these events, both of which served to integrate ICL within the community and destigmatize its tenants.
They have also attended neighborhood meetings to champion the St. Marks Residence. As representatives of a venerable Brooklyn institution, their hearty endorsements have helped legitimize the presence of community residences and supportive housing. For their energy, passion and belief in the cause, Georgina Ngozi and Gwen Sumter are our 2011 Outstanding Neighbors of the Year.