Categories: Network Events
11.19.2025
“Helen has an unmatched ability to lift others up,” said Angela Scott, Associate Vice President for Congregate Housing at Fortune Society. “She’s turned her lived experience into leadership using her voice to fight for fairness and her kindness to create community.”
Helen Taylor has become a powerful leader in many spaces—Castle Gardens, the Fortune Society, and the supportive housing community at large. Her journey is one of courage, transformation, and unwavering advocacy. After a history of incarceration, substance use, and homelessness, Helen moved into the Fortune Academy transitional residence in 2019. In January 2021, she received the keys to her own studio apartment at Castle Gardens, a permanent supportive housing residence in Harlem.
Over the past four years, Helen has become a cornerstone of the Fortune Society. She is a deeply engaged participant in their services, a pillar of their Arts Collective, and a vocal advocate for those still behind the walls—and for supportive housing residents everywhere.
“Helen’s impact on tenants and her community comes from her generosity, her ability to listen, and her desire to help people be brave the way she’s been brave,” said Policy Counsel Lily Shapiro.
Helen’s leadership shines especially bright in Fortune’s Arts Collective, where she writes and performs poetry exploring healing, love, and justice. She sings in the choir, performed Shakespeare in the Park, and shown work at MoMA PS1. This year, she was a panelist at the Network’s conference where she inspired the audience and moved many to tears.
Helen is a tireless advocate for supportive housing and criminal justice reform. She has testified before the New York City Council, been active in the Fair Chance for Housing and Just Pay campaigns, participated in Close Rikers rallies, and mentored women through the Women Rising program. When she begins remarks with, “Supportive housing saved my life,” rooms fall silent.
Fortune Society Founder David Rothenberg reflected, “She very quietly talked about the dignity of finding housing and how it shaped her life. And then she made that classic statement, ‘I went from seeping in the park to performing Shakespeare in the park.’ She has a capacity to perceive the whole issue and make you pay attention. It’s a gift.”
Helen’s commitment to her neighbors is equally profound. Known as the “Mama Bear” of Castle Gardens, she makes it her mission to check in on and support her neighbors. “She is the heart of Castle Gardens,” said Angela Scott. “She embodies compassion, resilience, and community. Everyone knows they can turn to her for advice, for encouragement, or just a smile.”
Her motto—“Love is love”—guides her every interaction and helps cultivate a thriving, caring community.
“Some of the most remarkable things about Helen are her generosity of spirit, her smile, and honestly, her ocean-size heart,” says Jamie Maleszka, Director of Creative Arts.
For her unwavering spirit and commitment to justice, we are proud to honor Helen Taylor as our nominee for 2025 Neighbor of the Year.