|
|
|
Keeping New York's Communities Strong |
February 2008 |
|
Youth Rally to Support Summer Jobs Funding | |
|
On January 23rd, nearly 300 youth and youth workers from twenty-two organizations participated in the Campaign for Summer Jobs' 9th Annual Youth Action Day in Albany, organized by UNH and the Neighborhood Family Services Coalition. Arriving in the State Capitol, the participants were aware of the good news in Governor Elliot Spitzer’s 2008-09 Executive Budget – $35 million for summer jobs was already included! At the morning speak-out, youth leaders spoke passionately about the valuable experience of having a summer job.
Commissioner David Hansell, whose agency - NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Services - oversees the summer jobs program, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and several other State legislators also addressed the teens. Following the speak out, young people met with approximately 140 State Legislators to reinforce the importance of summer jobs, and to urge them to support Governor Spitzer's |
|
|
proposal.
Less positive, however, is the cut of 2,100 jobs reflected in Mayor Bloomberg’s preliminary budget released on January 22nd. UNH will continue our advocacy to assure that the program is fully funded this summer.
|
|
|
Photo: Youth Action Day supporters on the steps of the New York State Capitol |
|
|
2007 UNH Benefit - An Unprecedented Success |
|
Thanks to the efforts of our exceptional honorees - UNH Board member Paul F. Balser of Ironwood Partners LLC and Michael Hickey of Deutsche Bank - and generous friends, the 2007 UNH New Yorkers Who Make A Difference Benefit, held on November 8th, was the most successful event in UNH history, raising almost $700,000. These funds provide a significant part of the general operating support that is critical to UNH's work. Special thanks to the event's major sponsors: Paul F. Balser, Paula Del Nunzio, Deutsche Bank, The Mark Haas Foundation, Lew and Judy Kramer, Sidney and Ruth Lapidus, Stanley and Sydney Shuman, and Lois and Arthur Stainman.
Click here to view photos from the event held at the Time Warner Center. |
|
UNH and New York City College of Technology (CUNY) Hold Graduation Ceremony for New Facilities 101 Class |
|
On January 16th, 33 staff members from 18 UNH member agencies were awarded certificates of completion from CUNY's New York City College of Technology after finishing 50 hours of hands-on instruction and project work through a new professional development opportunity offered by UNH. The classes represented a staff development experience rarely offered to nonprofit facilities staff, who play a very important role in keeping agency buildings running smoothly and providing welcoming environments for program participants. |
|
|
Students expressed their enthusiasm for the class and the opportunity to interact with their peers from other nonprofits in a college learning environment. Students also acknowledged the support received from their supervisors and agency Executive Directors. Several students will advance to Facilities 102 in February, designed as a bridge to college. Based on the success of this session, it is anticipated that another course of Facilities 101 will be offered in the Spring to member agency staff. |
|
|
Photo: Facilities 101 Graduation at New York City College of Technology |
|
UNH Represents the United States at Immigration Conference in Lisbon, Portugal |
|
Anthony Ng, UNH's Deputy Director of Policy and Advocacy, was invited by the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, DC to speak about the work of UNH and its member agencies in serving immigrants at a December conference of the International Organization on Migration in Lisbon, Portugal. Anthony spoke about the immigrant services offered by UNH members - such as English classes and citizenship application assistance - and UNH's advocacy work to support funding for these services. |
|
UNH Welcomes New Board Member and New Staff |
|
UNH is pleased to announce the election of Nelson Hioe to UNH’s Board of Directors. Nelson is an Associate at The Blackstone Group, which he joined in 2006. Before joining Blackstone, Nelson worked at The Community Builders, a nonprofit residential development company. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, cum laude, from Williams College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. We thank Nelson for the commitment he has already shown to UNH through his work on the 2007 Benefit and on the Policy & Advocacy and the Development committees. |
|
|
Of his involvement with UNH, Nelson writes, "I am tremendously excited to join UNH's board, and very much in awe of the experience and expertise of the other individuals that I will be working with to advance the organization's impact and reach. UNH helps keep the city much stronger than the sum of its parts - and I am passionate about doing whatever I can to push forward with these initiatives."
UNH also welcomes new staff members Jessica Ziegler, Director of Development and Kristin Coomber, Development Associate. Crissy Liu has joined UNH's Policy and Advocacy Department as Policy Analyst for Aging Issues. |
|
|
Photo: Nelson Hioe (center), David Kubie, Board Member (left) and Lew Kramer, Board President (right) |
|
National Association of Social Workers Honors Two Social Workers in UNH Member Network |
|
Isabel Ching, Assistant Executive Director of Senior Services at Hamilton-Madison House, and Willing Chin-Ma, Assistant Executive Director of Grand Street Settlement, were honored recently for their leadership by the New York Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
“We are pleased to see these two outstanding leaders honored,” said Nancy Wackstein, UNH executive director. “It’s important for social workers to be recognized for their efforts to improve the lives of our city’s residents. They are part of dedicated teams of staff at our member agencies who are concerned about the issues of aging well in New York City and have worked diligently to provide services where they are most needed—in the neighborhoods,” she added.
To see the full article, please visit the UNH website. |
|
|
|
Nancy Wackstein Appointed to the Advisory Board of Governor Spitzer's Children's Cabinet |
|
UNH Executive Director Nancy Wackstein has been appointed by Governor Spitzer to the Governor's Children's Cabinet Advisory Board. The group of distinguished New Yorkers will advise the State's Children's Cabinet (State Commissioners and other senior appointees) on priority issues including implementing the Governor’s Universal Pre-kindergarten initiative and increasing access to Children’s Health Insurance. |
|
Grant News |
|
UNH is pleased to have received foundation grants to expand current projects and initiatives.
With major support from The Clark Foundation, UNH will expand its work with the Nonprofit Finance Fund to offer individual financial analysis to UNH members and draw lessons from this work about financial issues of importance to UNH members and other community based organizations.
The Altman Foundation, along with the Barker Welfare Foundation and The Clark Foundation, will make it possible for UNH to offer another session of professional development for middle managers at Columbia Institute for Not-For-Profit Management beginning in February and to develop a new session for UNH members’ senior staff in the Spring.
Grants from The New York Community Trust, the Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation, The Clark Foundation and United Way of New York City will support a new stage of the Strengthening Settlements Initiative focused on UNH's smaller members.
The EHA Foundation and The MetLife Foundation will also continue to support our members' work in parent engagement and improving literacy though the arts in after school programs. |
|
Get Involved |
|
or contact Jessica Ziegler, Director of Development to discuss other giving opportunities.
Giving to UNH helps to make improving the lives of New Yorkers in need a reality. With your donation, UNH will continue to provide a range of services to our members - 34 local settlement houses and community centers - including advocacy and policy analysis on a variety of social service issues and professional development opportunities to help them provide meals, afterschool activities, arts workshops, child care, mental health counseling and many other essential services to New Yorkers of all ages. |
|
Visit UNH on the web! For more information or to unsubscribe to UNH E-News, please contact Kristin Coomber, Development Associate |