Summer - Habitat for Humanity

VOL. 29 NO. 3
SUMMER 2011
Photo by Deborah Schwartz
Habitat-NYC TIMES
Homes with a Hart
Habitat-NYC Board Chair, Peter Knitzer, celebrates with Hart-Lafayette Family Partners as they dedicate their new homes. More on Page 4.
>>Inside
Seeking a Hand Up – Not a Handout
Off Broadway, Off
Stage and On Site
Family Partner Regina Baker
Actresses team up with
Habitat-NYC
egina Baker faces a classic “Catch-22:”
Her job as a scheduler with the New
York City Fire Department mandates
that she live within the five boroughs. Yet
the city’s unforgiving housing market makes
it hard for her to afford a decent home for
herself and her three daughters.
Luckily Regina has found a solution –
Habitat-NYC.
She was selected recently as a family partner/
homeowner and is looking forward to moving Regina Baker with daughters Emirror and Shirell
into a Habitat home in Bedford-Stuyvesant or
Ocean Hill-Brownsville.
Regina is a caretaker. She helps take care of New home, too.
Yorkers in her role with the Fire Department, which
Regina grew up in Jamaica, Queens, but later
includes ensuring that all shifts, at every single
moved to Virginia, where she raised her daughter,
station, are fully staffed and ready to handle any
Shirell, alone. Then news arrived that her sister was
emergency. She is always ready for emergencies at
Continued on page 6
Page 3
Dedicating Homes
with a Hart
Hart-Lafayette homes
are dedicated
Page 4
Music to Their Ears
Healthy South Bronx
homes celebrate
neighborhood’s musical
heritage
Page 4
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R
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From the Executive Director
Habitat-NYC
Board of Directors
Peter Knitzer, Chair
E*TRADE Bank
Karim Hutson, Vice Chair
Genesis Companies
Nia Rock, Vice Chair
Sovereign Bank
Neil Bader, Treasurer
Guaranteed Home Mortgage Company, Inc.
Christine A. McGuinness, Secretary
Schiff Hardin LLP
Jennifer Armstrong
CIT Inc.
Rodneyse Bichotte
American Express
Alatia Bradley
Evan Bauer
DealerTrack, Inc.
Robert L. Burch
A.W. Jones Company
Dr. Michael Dean
Charisse Ford
The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc.
Carmen Gellineau
JPMorgan
Aileen Gribbin
Forsyth Street Advisors, LLC
Chris Hoeffel
Investcorp International Inc.
Jeff Infusino
Oliver Wyman Financial Services
John Isaacs
CB Richard Ellis
Rabbi Bob Kaplan
CAUSE-NY / JCRC
Shauna Long
Peter Murray
C&C Affordable Management LLC
Martha Parrish
Doug Paul
Credit Suisse
Douglas Renfield-Miller
The Rev. Thomas Synan
Church of the Heavenly Rest
Judy Teeven
American Express Travel
David A. Terveen
DK Display Corp.
Zali Win
Credit Agricole
Rev. Johnny Ray Youngblood
Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church
Josh Lockwood
Executive Director
111 John Street, 23rd Floor
New York, NY 10038
Tel: (212) 991-4000
www.habitatnyc.org
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L
ast week, as temperatures soared into
the 90s, our intrepid volunteers worked
hard – side-by-side with our family
partners – building affordable homes.
Much of New York City slows down in
July and August, but at Habitat-NYC, our
volunteers, friends and families continue to
pour their sweat into building homes.
That’s because the desperate need for
affordable housing never takes a vacation!
For me, participating in the selection of
our family partner/homebuyers and hearing
the stories of hardworking families living
in overcrowded, dangerous and unaffordable conditions are powerful and motivating
reminders of why we all care so much about our work.
Every other Tuesday night, our board, staff and trained volunteers interview prospective
candidates for homeownership. We hear some astonishing and harrowing experiences from
parents and grandparents simply seeking a safe, decent place to live.
One candidate who has stood out for me is a woman named Mildred, an administrative
assistant at a hospital. The photographs and recollections she shared were particularly
alarming. Mildred shares her small basement apartment with her husband, daughter and
two young granddaughters. The pricey apartment, operated by a negligent landlord, is
overrun with dangerous black mold, a leaking roof, rodents and bed bugs. To safeguard her
grandchildren’s health, most nights Mildred sends them away to sleep on the couches and
floors of relatives’ apartments.
Habitat-NYC is currently working with Mildred to find temporary shelter, as she begins
the process of building her new home alongside her husband and adult daughter.
For Mildred, and for many families like hers, Habitat-NYC’s far-reaching “100 Homes in
Brooklyn” initiative will provide a life-changing opportunity.
This summer, many of us will be escaping the city to enjoy well-deserved beachfront
vacations and country retreats. But as we do, let’s also remember folks like Mildred and do
all we can, whether it is to volunteer, advocate or donate funds to Habitat-NYC, to ensure
that our hardworking neighbors no longer have to live in such intolerable conditions.
Ring Any Bells? On June 30, Habitat-NYC board members, staff, family partners and supporters came
together to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. From left to right: Jazmine Raveneau,
Erika Ineson, Nicki Amouri, Judy Teeven, Josh Lockwood, Neil Bader, Zali Win, David Terveen (who
rang the bell), Scott Cutler, Emily Bergl, John Isaacs, Deb Schwartz and Georgette Lee
Habitat for Humanity - New York City
transforms lives and our city by building quality homes for families in need
and by uniting all New Yorkers around the cause of affordable housing.
w w w. h a b i t a t n y c . o r g
Off Broadway, Off Stage and On Site
Stars of the Stage Wear Hard Hats and Tool Belts
Photos by Deborah Schwartz
A
ctresses Emily Bergl, Emme, Anna I Wore uses clothing and accessories
Chlumsky, Penny Fuller, Adriane and the memories they trigger to tell
Lenox and Ashley Austin Morris put funny and often poignant stories. The
down their scripts and picked up hammers show opened Off Broadway in October
to help renovate eight units at 475 Moroe 2009 to rave reviews at the Westside
Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn in Theatre, where it has broken all box
office records and is now in its second
late June.
The stars accessorized their construction smash year. Love, Loss, and What I
outfits with boots, hard hats and electric Wore is performed by a rotating cast of
five all-star actors who perform in fivedrills.
The volunteer day was initiated by Emily week cycles.
Bergl, who recently participated in a
Women Build with Habitat-NYC in
the South Bronx. She also serves as a
spokesperson for Habitat International
(Read her Q&A below).
Love, Loss, and What I Wore, written
by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron and
produced by Daryl Roth, is an intimate
collection of stories based on the
best-selling book by Ilene Beckerman,
as well as on the recollections of the
(clockwise) Anna Chlumsky, Emme, Ashley Austin
Ephrons’ friends.
Morris, Adriane Lenox, Emily Bergl and Penny Fuller
Like the book, Love, Loss, and What
Emily Bergl and Habitat-NYC ED Josh Lockwood
Anna Chlumsky and Emme: ready for drywall
Q & A with Emily Bergl: Her Latest Supporting Role
E
mily Bergl is what’s known in the
theater community as a triple threat:
she acts; she sings; she installs
drywall.
She may be best known for her television
roles on shows such as Desperate Housewives
and Southland, for her burgeoning film
career, or her performances on and off
Broadway. But she has been playing another
important role lately as a Habitat for
Humanity spokeswoman and an affordable
housing construction volunteer here in
New York City and around the world.
Bergl: There was a TV writer’s strike, so
I decided to put my unemployment time to
good use.
Habitat-NYC: How long have you been
active with Habitat for Humanity?
Habitat-NYC: You volunteered with
Habitat-NYC on a Women Build, working
on a seven-story, 50-unit building. How
would you describe that experience?
Bergl: I did my first build with Global
Village in 2007 on the island
of Borneo. Since then I’ve
volunteered in New York,
Mississippi,
Washington
D.C.,
Charlotte,
and
Thailand. In November I’ll
be traveling to Haiti for the
Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter
Work Project.
Habitat-NYC:
What
inspired you to become
involved with Habitat?
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Habitat-NYC: What is
memorable Habitat moment?
your
most
Bergl: When I was hand-cementing a
brick wall in 110 degree heat, and President
Carter told me I did a good job.
Bergl: I loved working on a New York
apartment because it gave me some
practical skills I could actually use. When
you’re building a wood house on stilts or a
cement outdoor kitchen, that’s not going to
help you much back in Manhattan.
Habitat-NYC: You have your own, wellequipped tool belt. What’s your favorite tool?
Bergl: It’s lame but I’m going to have to
go with my pink measuring tape. Because
it’s so true: measure twice, cut once!
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Dedicating Homes with a Hart
I
n early June, 16 families celebrated their mother of three had been living in her
new affordable Hart-Lafayette homes mother’s overcrowded home, sharing
in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, in a a bedroom with her two youngest
joyous dedication ceremony.
children. The new home means
Joining in the celebration were Congress “security for my family,” she said.
Member Ed Towns and Brooklyn Borough
On the day of the celebration,
President Marty Markowitz, who handed Shontaysiah Simon was ready to
out voter registration cards and urged move.
new homeowners to be active in their new
Like any six-year-old, she loves to
community.
jump and dance and run around, but
The Elboute family
More than 2,500 volunteers – from all the overcrowded apartment where she
sectors of New York City and all walks of lived with her mom and grandparents
life – joined families to help build these barely allowed her enough room to
dress sandals and put them where they
homes. Among them
stretch her legs.
belonged – inside her new bedroom closet.
were luminaries like
Seeing
her
Salma Elboute, 10, reported that she
former Mets stars
future home at the has great plans for her new room on Hart
Mookie Wilson and
dedication ceremony Street, which she looks forward to sharing
Darryl Strawberry,
gave
Shontaysiah with her sister, Hanae, 7.
filmmaker Spike Lee
a renewed burst of
Hanae is equally happy. “We’ll have space
and actress Susan
energy. She made to play and have sleepovers,” she says.
Sarandon.
several laps around the
Salma wants their bedroom to be light
Nicole
Barrett,
new, clean apartment blue – her favorite color.
a New York City
with its fresh coat of
The girls are planning to do the painting
bus driver and new
paint and shiny wood themselves, inspired by how hard their
homeowner, proudly
floors. After the home parents worked to help build their
led a tour of her new
blessing, she invited Habitat-NYC home
home, pointing out
people to tour her and by the generous
rooms she had tiled
room.
volunteers who
and walls she had
And then she took worked alongside
Shontaysiah Simon in her new room
painted. The single
off her sparkly gold them.
S. Bronx Homes Are Music to the Ears of Hardworking Families
Photos by Deborah Schwartz
H
abitat-NYC and Blue Sea Development have
cut the ribbon on The Melody, HabitatNYC’s second co-development project. The
building was named in honor of the neighborhood’s substantial musical legacy.
Habitat-NYC homeowners will occupy 14 of
the co-op’s 63 apartments, all of which meet
LEED Platinum standards. Designed to encourage
physical activity and healthy living, The Melody
features a fitness center, outdoor exercise path and
children’s climbing and active play area.
The Melody’s public spaces display works of
art by Beatrice Coron, which celebrate the area’s
music history, and music plays in the stairwells.
Speakers included: HPD Commissioner Mathew
M. Wambua; Housing Development Corporation
President Marc Jahr; Blue Sea Development
Company’s Les Bluestone; Marian Zucker of
the NYS Homes & Community Renewal; and
NYC Department of Design and Construction
Commissioner David J. Burney.
Les Bluestone cuts The Melody’s ribbon
Diana Reyes with sons Levi and Brandin
Elizabeth Alvarez with Alejandro and Eduardo
Marian Zucker and Josh Lockwood
Founded by Millard and Linda Fuller in 1976, Habitat for Humanity is a Christian organization that welcomes people of all beliefs to join in its mission.
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LGBT Community Breaks New Record in Fundraising
F
rollers to help New Yorkers in need. The
event raised more than $14,000 to help build
affordable housing and revive struggling
communities.
“It is important for everyone in this
community to come together,” said HabitatNYC board member David Terveen, who
helped organize this year’s event.
“I love this organization and what it offers,”
he said. “Habitat-NYC is out to make things
as easy as possible for us to help people in
our community and make safe, healthy
homes affordable – because, economically, it
can be hard.”
Photos by Anthony Collins
or the third time in as many years,
members and supporters of the
LGBT community joined together to
celebrate diversity while improving housing
conditions for low-income New Yorkers in
need.
Instead of the usual hammer or drill, 25
volunteers brandished paintbrushes during
this year’s Unity Build/Brush with Kindness
at the Seward Park Community Center on
the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
By the end of the day, a bold array of
vibrant colors covered the walls of the
center.
Volunteers raised funds as well as paint
Carly Knitzer
Stan Ponte
David Terveen
Macy’s volunteer Anthony Fusco, left, with
coworkers Orlyn Jones, Michael Rocks
Photo by Anthony Collins
Uniting to Transform Lives
Visualizing Community
Macy’s Employee Gives Back
A
s Director of Communications Visuals for Macy’s, Anthony Fusco is
no stranger to charitable works: A big
part of his job includes managing corporate
charity events with a wide spectrum of
organizations.
But he recently took time out of his alwaysdemanding schedule to do a little giving of
his own – volunteering with Habitat-NYC
for our third annual Unity Build event.
In his first experience at a Habitat project,
Anthony worked tirelessly applying colorful
coats of paint to revitalize the well-used
rooms of the Seward Park Community
Center. Throughout the day, Anthony’s
smile and ready sense of humor kept his
volunteer colleagues laughing.
“It was a good experience to help people
in need,” says Anthony, adding that he
appreciated the opportunity to give back,
meet and socialize with other volunteers
and make a difference in a New York City
community.
H
igh school senior Orianna Pavlik
loves drawing and painting and wants
to study art in college. She also loves
community service.
So she came well-prepared for HabitatNYC’s recent Unity Build/Brush with
Kindness at a Lower East Side youth center,
a fundraiser and paint-a-thon celebrating
diversity and New York City’s LGBT
community.
Initially, Orianna, 17, was daunted by the
build’s $500 fundraising challenge. “How am
I going to raise that money in one month?”
she asked. Her mother, Jackie, suggested
emailing family and friends.
“I emailed a lot of people and gave them
the link to my donation page,” says Orianna.
Then she distributed flyers in her Hudson
5
Valley neighborhood, asking people to “join
me in my efforts to support better lives for
New York City families.”
“People were really eager to donate.
They know Habitat for Humanity is a good
cause.” She began receiving donations of $10
and $20, and by the end of her first week,
Orianna had raised $500. By the day of the
event, she had raised more than $2,000 for
Habitat-NYC.
Community service started early for
Orianna. As a child, she volunteered with her
parents for Pete Seeger’s Beacon Sloop Club.
Last summer, she spent six weeks building
Habitat homes in Kansas City, Kansas. “I
worked hard – and learned the importance
of volunteering to help make a difference,”
she says. “Habitat helped me become more
Photos by Anthony Collins
Orianna Pavlik, 17, ‘Champion Volunteer’
Orianna Pavlik
connected with the community.”
“Orianna is a champion of volunteering;
she takes great pride in helping Habitat,”
says her mother. “It’s not just about the
amount of money raised; it’s about helping
and getting involved.”
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Volunteers Out in Full Force
Homes rise in Bed-Stuy and Ocean Hill-Brownsville
Regina Baker
Continued from page 1
killed in a car accident. Without hesitation,
Regina adopted her two nieces, Emirror and
Dearaya, raising them as her own.
Then Regina’s father’s health began to fail.
She left her life in Virginia and moved her
entire family back to Queens. Today, Regina,
her father, and her three adult daughters
(two of whom just graduated college) share
extremely tight quarters.
But now that her dad has recovered,
Regina says it’s time to have her own home.
This has been an especially brutal summer,
and Regina is fully experiencing the “sweat”
in “sweat equity” as she Sheetrocks walls in
90-plus temperatures. Exchanging stories
recently with other family partners, Regina
smiles: “Everybody is going through the
same thing; we feel each other’s pain and
joy.”
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Archana Panchal of Credit Suisse
Photos by Deborah Schwartz
cricket skills.
“We get a lot of pleasure out of
benefitting the community, since we’ve
benefitted so much from the community
too,” says club treasurer Keith Aaron.
His nephew, Kwesi, a high school
student and cricket player, joined club
members in air-sealing the 12 HabitatNYC homes. “I like the atmosphere here
— everyone coming together to build
some homes.”
Renovation also is underway at 203
Marion Street. Throughout July, nine
students from the School of
Cooperative Education installed
rigid insulation and foam.
The students, aged 16 to 20,
are supervised by instructors
provided by this Department of
Education program. A new class
will start at Marion in the fall.
City Tech student Hugh Craig
said. “Some people can’t afford
good homes and they need help.
It feels very good to be here
today.”
Keith Aaron, an Atlantis Cricket Club volunteer
For Regina, it has always been about helping working families find housing.
making the right decisions to take care of her But she emphasizes that “we don’t want a
family. After much research, she attended handout – we just need a hand up!”
a union-sponsored housing seminar and
was introduced to
Habitat-NYC.
“Habitat
for
Humanity has been
professional
from
the gate,” she says.
“The staff touches
on every aspect, from
considering buying a
home to closing. They
want you to succeed,
not fail. There is so
much to learn, but
Habitat breaks it
down, so that it seems
simple.”
Regina is passionate
Regina puts the “sweat” into “sweat equity” on Monroe St.
in
communicating
the importance of
Photo by Deborah Schwartz
V
olunteer teams are now building at
three of our 100 Homes in Brooklyn
sites – the Monroe and Marion Street
rehabs in Bed-Stuy and the St. John’s Place
condos in Ocean Hill-Brownsville.
On a recent morning, a crew from
Credit Suisse was installing insulation
and caulking the four-story building on
Monroe. Archana Panchal took a brief
break to share thoughts on her volunteer
experience. Then she continued to build
with great precision: “People are going to
live in this house,” Archana says. “If it were
me, I would want someone to work as hard
on my house.”
On another floor, Owen Downes was
cutting sheets of insulation. He works in
the Foreign Exchange division at Credit
Suisse, and “I’ve spent a lot of the last six
months sitting at a desk – so I was eager to
volunteer today.” Owen, who once lived in
Brooklyn, added, “It’s nice to come back
and do something for the community.”
Over on St. John’s Place, the first
volunteer team up at bat was the Atlantis
Cricket Club.
Members stress community services,
along with good sportsmanship and great
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