Categories: Network Events
12.18.2023
On December 15th, the Racial Equity in Supportive Housing (RESH) Workgroup celebrated the second Readying Emerging Leaders in Supportive Housing (RELISH) Cohort Graduation ceremony at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. 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.
Deputy Mayor Ann Williams-Isom opened the ceremony with praise for the scholars and said “My heart is full this morning because I am so happy to be here with you,” she continued, “I am going to try and give you some wisdom, but what I am going to take is the energy, and the hope, and the inspiration that you are giving me as I go through my day… I am so proud of you. I feel like New York City is in good hands because of the work that you are doing.”
Borough President Vanessa Gibson followed with remarks and said “Many of us are firsts in our fields – as leaders, as advocates, as role models. But while you may be the first, you should not be the last. You have been instrumental – and will be – in dismantling systemic racism and removing all the barriers to provide supportive housing for our neediest families.”
Pascale Leone, Executive Director of the Supportive Housing Network of New York expressed how important RELISH is, saying, “We know that the pathways for economic opportunity and mobility for Black and brown and Latin-A, and indigenous people are really inaccessible a lot of the time,” she continued “That is why we need programs like RELISH, equipping Black leaders with management and leadership skills, and with the networks necessary to really address some of the systemic barriers that serve as occupational segregation.”
Jonathan Castro, Senior Director of Jericho Project’s Veteran & Young Adult Supportive Housing Program and Horticulture Therapy Program and graduate of the RELISH program said, “I have a lot of the skills that can let me get the job and go up against people going for the same position, so, humbly speaking, why not me?” he continued “What I learned was fundamental, and without RELISH I would not have been able to swallow this truth: It is not about what you know, it is about who you know; it is about the network that you build that provides a connection.”
Renee Blackwell, Program Director for CUCS’ Williamsbridge Gardens Supportive Housing Program and graduate of the RELISH program said, “I am so happy to be among this group of learners and leaders,” she added “Meeting my colleagues in this industry, learning from voices in the field and the educators here at Hunter, I feel that I am armed with the tools that I need to be a change agent.”
The first graduating cohort in 2022, 28 of 31 scholars successfully completed this vital 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 50. 31 scholars graduated, bringing the total number of RELISH graduating scholars to 59. In the first cohort, each scholar was paired with a mentor from one of 22 different agencies — up from 19 agencies in 2022.
Congratulations to the second 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 scholars and mentors in the RELISH program on social media:
See Rasheed Ford’s spotlight here.
See Jeffrey McQueen and Jonathan Castro’s spotlight here.
See Cherisse Buffonge’s spotlight here.
See Theresa Manuel’s spotlight here.
Learn more about RESH here.
See graduation press coverage here.
See an op-ed in City Limits by Chinetta Mitchell and Chandra Redfern here.