Categories: Network Events
12.16.2024
On December 13th, the Racial Equity in Supportive Housing (RESH) Workgroup celebrated the third Readying Emerging Leaders in Supportive Housing (RELISH) Cohort Graduation ceremony at the Mezzanine by Liberty Church in New York City.
The 24-week RELISH mentorship program was created in 2022 by RESH, a volunteer affinity group made up of Black leaders at half a dozen nonprofit organizations. RESH’s mission is to advocate for policies and practices that advance racial and wage equity and improve the quality of life for Black people connected to the supportive housing sector.
RELISH provides Black emerging leaders in nonprofit homeless and housing organizations with the management, leadership, and networking skills necessary for upward mobility. The program includes bi-weekly seminars and mentorship, giving scholars the skills necessary to advance in their chosen fields.
The event included passionate addresses by the Network’s Executive Director, Pascale Leone, RESH Executive Committee members Jonathan Castro and Tina Goodrich, with two keynote speakers, NYC Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom and New York State Assembly member, Brian Cunningham. Two RELISH scholars, Patrick Bonna and Fallon Theodore, also had the opportunity to address their cohort in moving and inspiring speeches.
Pascale Leone, said, “RELISH is more than a curriculum: It is a community. Today, RESH has grown from this handful of Black execs to a vibrant collective of Black leaders statewide, advocating for policies and practices that advance racial and wage equity and improve the quality of life for people of color connected to the homeless and supportive housing sectors.”
New York Assembly Member Brian Cunningham said, "It makes no sense to build housing without the support that people need. Be consistent and be relentless. This work is not easy. As we return to Albany in January, we're going to have an aggressive agenda making sure that New York State becomes more and more affordable, because we know that it's becoming far out of reach for the average New Yorker.”
Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom remarked, “You are always who you are, and you're most in yourself wherever you are. Stay open because you don't know what's around the corner and what's going to be there for you. Be a lifelong learner and appreciate those people in your lives that have helped you to get to this point.”
Patrick Bonna, Project Hospitality Director of Social Services and graduate of the RELISH program said, “Leadership is a practice that requires consistent refinement and courage. Commit to connection, build and nurture relationships with our mentors and peers. These connections did not only support us throughout this program but also serve as a lasting source of collaboration and encouragement in our careers.”
Fallon Theodore, Breaking Ground Building Director and Property Manager and graduate of the RELISH program said, “We as a collective of change makers stand on the precipice of a world that needs our unique blend of skills, insight and passion in supportive housing. I saw myself in my cohorts. I saw myself in my staff. I saw myself as a leader. I learned that I am the representation that I seek to have in my career.”
In the first graduating cohort in 2022, 28 scholars successfully completed the program and have seen an array of positive impacts, including six of the graduating scholars reporting promotions, salary increases and several scholars receiving promotions to vice-president level positions.
This year, scholars and mentors that applied to the RELISH program increased to 91. 30 scholars were accepted and completed the program, bringing the total number of RELISH graduating scholars to 89. Each scholar was paired with a mentor from one of 22 different agencies — up from 19 agencies in 2022.
Congratulations to the third RELISH class of graduates! Thank you and congratulations to RESH for identifying this critical need and launching this essential initiative.
Leading up to the RELISH graduation, the Network spotlighted the scholars in the RELISH program on social media. See the spotlight for the third cohort of RELISH Scholars here, here, and here.