A community coalition arises from a mass shooting in Brooklyn

Exterior shots of buildings in Bushwick, Brooklyn

Exterior shots of buildings in Bushwick, Brooklyn Shutterstock

By Zach Williams

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Samaritan Daytop Village has two new board members. Michelle Goldstein is the executive director of government relations at Morgan Stanley and is the former executive director of the New York City Mayor’s Office. Sher Sparano serves as the vice president of OneGroup Benefits Advisory Service. The nonprofit announced three staff appointments as well: Gerald Mascuch is the new vice president of real estate; Jill Poklemba is vice president of development; and Lisa Marie Feliciano is vice president of human resources.

 

The Robin Hood Foundation CEO Wes Moore does not like what President Trump has to say about his hometown. The Baltimore native joined a wave of critics responding to the president’s comments, which denigrated the city as “dangerous” and “corrupt.” Moore responded by saying that racism and neglect should not be used the subjects of “a punchline or clickbait.”

 

Breakthrough New York earned a 2019 GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency. The distinction is the highest level of recognition from the nonprofit-judging website. “The organization is helping donors move beyond simplistic ways of nonprofit evaluation towards a deeper understanding of BTNY’s impact,” reads a press release. Breakthrough provides educational support to low-income students from middle school through college. Take a look at its GuideStar profile here.

 

New York City’s Department of Homeless Services gave out a bevy of contracts in recent days. Homes for the Homeless has received two contracts from the department for its shelters in Queens and the Bronx. The first – a $14.3 million deal – will fund a shelter for homeless families at the Saratoga Family Inn located at 175-15 Rockaway Boulevard in Jamaica, Queens, according to the City Record. A $5.6 million deal meanwhile will fund emergency housing located at 730 Kelly Street in the Bronx.

The department also awarded a $3.4 million contract to the Institute for Community Living to fund a homeless shelter at 21-10 Borden Ave. in Long Island City. A $437,278 contract with Project Hospitality will fund respite bed services at 25 Central Avenue in Staten Island. DHS also plans to enter into a negotiated acquisition extension with its current vendor, Ambassador Foods, to continue to provide pre-plated low-sodium diabetic meals for its Adult Services and Family Services division, per a $323,264.50 contract. 

The city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is getting $3 million worth of advertising help from the agency Sherry Matthew Group. Community Mediation Services and the Fund for the City of New York are getting respective contracts of $1.8 million and $1.2 million to fund mentorship programming. There is also a public hearing planned for Aug. 9 that will consider a $825,000 contract with the Carnegie Hall Corporation to provide a music and performing arts program to youths in detention.

 

A mass shooting in Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood has inspired the formation of a new coalition community organizations and of elected officials. The Brownsville Rapid Response Coalition organized a march Monday night in response to a shooting that occurred over the weekend during the community’s annual Old Timers Day. “A mass shooting requires a massive response, and subsequently resources to address the issue,” the coalition announced. “The Brownsville Rapid Response Coalition will move to be present and support all community events with presence, services, and more.”

The coalition includes organizations such as Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, Brownsville Community Justice Center, Brownsville Think Tank Matters, Brownville In Violence Out, Build 696 Queensbridge, Elite Learners, God Squad, Life Camp, Man Up and Save Our Streets. Many Brooklyn officials have joined as well, including Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Borough President Eric Adams.

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