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Newsletter
March 2011
In This Issue
Budget Cuts!
Honoring Dan Squadron
UNH Staff Around Town
Member Agencies Going Green
Budget Cuts!
                      

As a result of State Budget proposals, a list of 105 Senior Centers slated for closure was released by the City last week, 14 of them UNH Member Senior Centers.  

 

This news comes on the heels of a startling announcement by the Mayor's Office regarding a cut of over 16,000 children from affordable city-subsidized child care, effective September 2011. Both of these cuts would decimate critical services to New Yorkers who rely on this assistance from their communities.  

 

UNH has been at the forefront of mobilizing opposition to these devastating cuts and in the last week has been featured on NY1, CBS News and in the Daily News and the New York Times.  

 

Look for a social media campaign through UNH's facebook page 

and find out how you can help.

Youth Action Day
                      

As part of The Campaign for Summer Jobs, 300 young people traveled to Albany to advocate for the Summer Youth Employment Program in February. This is the 12th year UNH has held a Youth Action Day in Albany.

 

Senator Squadron and 2011 youth advocates from CPC
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver & youth advocates from UNH member agency Chinese-American Planning Council
In the picture, a group of young people meet with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Their presence in Albany called attention to the complete elimination of funding for the program in the State Budget. As always, this group of young people educated the legislators who attended their rally about the importance of SYEP through their own motivational speeches and this year also raised the roof with a song about summer jobs.
Honoring Senator Dan Squadron
                      

UNH held an event last month honoring NY State Senator Dan Squadron for his outstanding support of the settlement house system. This event was attended by many Board Presidents and Board Members as well as Executive Directors of UNH member agencies.

senator squadron, marc dieli and nancy wackstein
Senator Squadron (left) seen here with UNH Board Member Marc Dieli (our host at Ernst & Young) and UNH Executive Director Nancy Wackstein view event photos here

 

Albany Lobby Trip

UNH Executive Director Nancy Wackstein and Policy & Advocacy Director, Anthony Ng led a delegation of 34 leaders from UNH member agencies to Albany in February. The goal was to convince the Governor and the Legislature that programs such as afterschool, senior centers, summer youth employment and other human service programs are investments that benefit all New Yorkers.  

 

UNH members met with elected and appointed officials and their staff about these important programs. This year's face-to-face discussions were even more important due to the difficult decisions ahead for Albany lawmakers given the state's very large defecit.


Junior Board Career Panel

UNH's Junior Board took part in a career panel for young people at UNH Member Henry Street Settlement (HSS) on March 2nd. UNH Board member Nelson Hioe expressed the purpose of the panel best when he said, "Life is a lot harder when you walk alone."  

 

The goal was to connect young people enrolled in HSS programs with successful young adults who might be able to offer advice or constructive assistance along their paths to adulthood. "College is your silver bullet," Ramik Williams told the group as he shared his own experience of being the first person from his family to graduate from college.

 

jb panel   

 

The Junior Board will be holding similar career panels for young people at other UNH Member agencies. If you are interested in joining a panel or learning more about the Junior Board, please reach out to Jesel Roosevelt at [email protected] 

 

See photos from the career panel at  www.facebook.com/unhny 

                   
UNH Staff Around Town

Three UNH Staff presented at recent events.  

 

On March 11th, Anthony Ng, UNH Director of Policy and Advocacy spoke about "The State of Youth Services in NYC", at an event sponsored by The New York Community Trust and the Tiger Foundation and organized by The New York City Youth Funders Network.   

 

 UNH's Senior Project Manager Monica Serrano was a panelist at What Must New York Do Now to Prevent Obesity? A Symposium of Good Ideas from the Field. She discussed "Cooking for Healthy Communities," a UNH initiative that is training cooks from senior centers and early childhood centers in nutrition and healthy cooking. The meeting was hosted by DASH-NY (Designing a Strong and Healthy New York) at The New York Academy of Medicine in February.

 

UNH Executive Director, Nancy Wackstein and Goddard Riverside Community Center Executive Director, Stephan Russo presented at a symposium sponsored by the Women's City Club in February on the "Contemporary Settlement House". 

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United Neighborhood Houses
Board of Directors
Honorary Chair
Sidney Lapidus

President 
Lewis Kramer

Vice Presidents 
Patricia M. Carey
Roger Juan Maldonado

Treasurer 
James W. Barge
 
Secretary & Counsel
Thomas M. Cerabino

Board Members
Eric C. Andrus
Paul F. Balser
Darel M. Benaim
Julie Copeland
Marc S. Dieli
Sue Fox*
Mark Handelman*
Mark Hershey
Nelson Hioe
Alain Kodsi
Jack Krauskopf
David W. Kubie
Anne C. Kubisch
Ann L. Marcus
Ilene Margolin
Carolyn McLaughlin*
Eugene P. Nesbeda
Kristin Nygreen
J. Donald Rice, Jr.
Stephan Russo*
Thomas C. Skrobe
M. Bryna Sanger
Arthur J. Stainman
Beth Taylor
Patrick Vatel
Wanda Wooten*
Michael Zisser*

*Member agency representatives

Emeriti
Richard Abrons
Barbara B. Blum
Anthony D. Knerr
Emily Menlo Marks

Executive Director
Nancy Wackstein



 
 Newest UNH Board Member:

Tom Skrobe 

UNH would like to welcome our newest Board Member, Thomas C. Skrobe.  

 

Tom is a Managing Director within BlackRock's US Defined Contribution Group.  

 

After a recent visit to UNH Member Jacob Riis Settlement, Tom wrote:

"Impressed by the array of services in one building - for seniors, youth and immigrants. Proud to be part of it."  

 

We're proud Tom has joined our team. 



BaruchLogo


Congratulations 

to the

2011 UNH Baruch Middle Management Professional Development Program Participants


 "Did you paint?"
 No, we replaced our lights!" 

That's what Jose Aguirre, Office Manager at UNH Member Queens Community House (QCH) says he gets asked all the time since they replaced all their lighting through the Con Edison Energy Efficiency program, which they and a number of other UNH Member agencies were connected to by UNH.

 

Con Edison paid 70% of the total cost of the recommended upgrades.  That amounted to about $3,200 to replace nearly 100 lights and install sensors at the QCH Jackson Heights facility.

 

Jose adds, "The physical changes to our facility are incredible, it looks like all brand new rooms."  While Jose talks enthusiastically about the lighting sensors in the classrooms (meaning he doesn't have to remind people to turn off the lights), Jason Treleaven, QCH Director of Operations is enthusiastic about the savings. "We saw a 24% reduction in our December 2010 bill compared to our December 2009 bill. We expect to recoup our investment in the first year. That means more money for our youth, families and older adult services."  

 

For more information contact Lauren Antelo at [email protected] 


United Neighborhood Houses Newsletter
Newsletter
Month Year
March 2011