The latest from Lambda Legal ... Eva Moskowitz ... NYC contracts

New York City-based Lambda Legal is declaring victory after a big win in court. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit overturned a lower court ruling on Aug. 27, finding that a for-profit senior living facility in Niles, Illinois had purposely failed to protect a lesbian senior from harassment from other residents, according to a press release. Lambda had provided legal services for senior Marsha Wetzel after the Glen St. Andrew Living Community retaliated against her after she complained about the harassment, which included being the subject of numerous anti-gay slurs, according to the press release.

Hear Wetzel tell her own story below:

New York City-based National Institute for Reproductive Health has received a $296,875 contract from the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The money will fund “FY2017 2666 teen outreach reproductive challenge,” according to the City Record. A $7.3 million contract from the city Department of Homeless Services went to South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation. This money will go toward operations of a transitional residence for homeless families at Samuel D. Proctor Residence on 138th Street. Another Bronx-based organization, Tolentine Zeiser Community Life Center, received a $4.4 million contract to provide shelter to homeless families at Sammon Build Center, located at 2294-96 Grand Avenue in the Bronx.

Eva Moskowitz, founder of Success Academy, has something to say about why her son was teaching economics. Media reports had noted that her older son Culver lacked a college degree but was nonetheless sent into the classroom at the charter school network’s high school, Chalkbeat reports. In response to that article and another one in The Wall Street Journal, Moskowitz wrote an email to staff claiming that the whole affair was nothing out of the ordinary, according to a copy of the email posted to Twitter by Chalkbeat reporter Alex Zimmerman, who wrote the original story.

In a letter to staff, Eva Moskowitz defended her son's employment as a (temporary) economics teacher at the high school, even though he doesn't yet have a college degree.https://t.co/aMjPhzVdx6 pic.twitter.com/LpokqVTrG9

— Alex Zimmerman (@AGZimmerman) August 28, 2018

ExpandED Schools has a new afterschool program for children interested in engineering. The program, called ExpandED Pathways: Engineering, which launched on Aug. 28, is not just for the benefit of children. Apprentice teachers who are primarily people of color will gain experience in teaching STEM subjects under the direction of a senior mentor, according to a press release. Students will receive two hours of STEM education each week, while apprentice teachers will participate in 42 hours of training throughout the year. Four schools will take part in the new program this year: the Lorraine Hansberry Academy, North Bronx School of Empowerment, Creston Academy and the New Millennium Business Academy Middle School.

Send your press releases, photos and thoughts on #NewYork #nonprofits to zwilliams@nynmedia.com.