OUR MISSION
We drive scalable solutions to transform the lives of people with disabilities, people in poverty and people facing homelessness: solutions that contribute to righting societal imbalances.
OUR VISION
We envision a city where everyone has a roof over their head, is healthy, productive and can enjoy the social connections that create a life of purpose. We’re a nonprofit with a staff of 2,000 that provides more than $250 million in services. Our efforts are supported by various local, state and federal government entities as well as foundations, corporations and individual donors. Most importantly, our vision allows us to deliver the same quality of services to one individual or to thousands. No challenge is beyond our scope.
OUR UNIQUENESS
Our uniqueness lies in our ability to take what we learn on the ground and use it to change systems and impact policy. By delivering high-quality services that address the complex circumstances of each person, we help transform lives, improve neighborhoods and boost future generations.
WHY WE’RE HERE
“We don’t empower people, we give people the tools to empower themselves.” –Donna Colonna, CEO, Services for the UnderServed At S:US, we don’t prescribe paths that define people but offer solutions that support each person’s definition of a life of purpose. When you look closely, the injustices facing our society are really a universe of highly individual obstacles. When an individual’s life is put on hold for circumstances unique to them, establishing a relationship with them is step one. It’s our guide to the services we provide. The results: Individuals and families are no longer limited by their obstacles but propelled by opportunities for a richer experience with the world. A ripple effect that extends from individuals out into their communities. This is how we beat back stigma. This is how we build communities. This is how we create Opportunity for All. 2 l WHAT’S EATING NEW YORK?
A Message from Leadership
Welcome and thank you for joining us for What’s Eating
New York?, our three-part series of virtual events featuring thoughtprovoking conversations addressing the issues of hunger, homelessness, and addiction. These topics are especially important and timely as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disproportionately impact the people we serve – including people living in poverty, people who have lost their home, people with developmental disabilities, people with mental health challenges, chronic health conditions, and histories of trauma. For more than 43 years, Services for the UnderServed (S:US) has been a leader in providing services and supports to New York City’s most vulnerable residents. Our innovative, adaptable, and inclusive approach enables us to serve more than 37,000 people each year. We recognize that everyone comes with their own set of challenges, often compounded by a chronic lack of opportunity and by systemic societal injustices. Our service model is innovative, person-centered, and rooted in choice and self-direction, allowing us to treat the whole person, providing opportunities that would not exist without these supports. We pride ourselves on being leaders, on helping to build strong communities, and on our ability to help the people we serve lead a life of purpose. We embrace diversity, and work to advance social justice and racial equity. In this way we create “Opportunity for All.” Through your support of What’s Eating New York?, you join us in creating opportunities that generate permanent, positive change for thousands of our city’s most underserved individuals and families. Thank you again for helping S:US advance its vital mission.
Jen Press Marden
Donna Colonna
Chair, Board of Directors, S:US
President and CEO, S:US
SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED l 3
MARCH 30, 2021 EVENT TOPIC #2: HOMELESSNESS PROGRAM WELCOME JEN PRESS MARDEN, Chair, Board of Directors, S:US
DISCUSSION WITH PANEL ANDREW ZIMMERN, HOST TV Personality & Chef, Member, Board of Directors, S:US
RON MOELIS CEO + Founding Partner, L+M Development Partners
ARLO MONELL CHASE Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Property Development, S:US
JEAN TAITT Director of Social Services C&C Apartment Management, LLC
RENEE JOSEPH
Marine Corps Veteran Intake Coordinator, S:US
ANDREW ZIMMERN AWARD Presented by
DONNA COLONNA President and CEO, S:US Presented to
CHRISTINE PEOPLES
ENTERTAINMENT JORDAN DAVIS iHeartRadio’s Best New Country Artist 2019 Platinum-Certified Singer/Songwriter
VIRTUAL EVENT HOST
Andrew Zimmern
Chef, TV Personality, and Member, S:US Board of Directors Andrew Zimmern is an Emmy and four-time James Beard Awardwinning TV personality, chef, writer, teacher and social justice advocate. In February 2020, Andrew returned to television with What’s Eating America, which premiered on MSNBC, and in 2021, he will premiere Family Dinner on Chip & Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network. Both shows were created by Intuitive Content, the full-service television and digital production company that Andrew heads as both founder and CEO. As the creator, Executive Producer and Host of Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods franchise, Andrew Zimmern’s Driven by Food and Emmy Awardwinning The Zimmern List, he has devoted his life to exploring and promoting cultural acceptance, tolerance and understanding through food. Andrew is also the founder and CEO of Passport Hospitality, a restaurant and food service development company. He is passionate about his philanthropic endeavors and sits on the board of directors of Services for the UnderServed (S:US), Project Explorer/EXPLR, and Soigne Hospitality. He serves on City Harvest’s Food Council and is the International Rescue Committee’s Voice for Nutrition. Andrew is a founding member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition, fighting to save restaurants affected by Covid-19. He resides in Minneapolis.
SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED l 5
PANELIST
Ron Moelis
CEO + Founding Partner, L+M Development Partners As CEO and Chairman of L+M Development Partners Inc., Ron Moelis has cofounded a company that is a leader in developing affordable, mixed-income and market rate housing. Under Ron’s leadership, L+M has been responsible for more than $9 billion in development and investment, and has acquired, built or preserved nearly 30,000 residential units in New York’s tristate area, the West Coast and Gulf Coast regions. Community leaders, government officials and institutional investors turn to L+M because of its consistent track record of excellence. Ron founded L+M as a double bottom line company, where its success is measured not only in financial returns but also by positive impacts. One of the key priorities embraced by L+M, in addition to creating quality affordable housing, is impacting the resident’s quality of life and ensuring they are able to stay in their homes -- the pandemic and its impact on job loss and health created an urgency around finding solutions to eviction and thereby preventing homelessness. In response, Ron led an effort to coalesce the real estate community and ultimately helped create Project Parachute -- an effort involving social service providers (including S:US), philanthropies and property owners to cooperate in providing outreach and financial assistance to alleviate tenant hardship, in particular among lower income families. In addition, as part of the Project Parachute mandate, L+M, along with a nonprofit service provider, created a pilot program with a commitment of funding, cooperation, and resources for joint outreach to tenants in financial distress with the goal of keeping those families safe in their homes for the long term. Ron also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Tenement Museum and Board of Trustees for Montefiore Health Systems. He is on the National Advisory Board at the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania and on the Advisory Board of Project Parachute. 6 l WHAT’S EATING NEW YORK?
PANELIST
Arlo Monell Chase
Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Property Development, S:US Since 2014, Mr. Chase has directed the real estate, facilities, and property development teams at S:US, comprising of more than 65 employees, and oversees a real estate portfolio of 140 buildings containing more than 1.5 million square feet under management. He is leading the dramatic expansion of S:US’s role as a developer of affordable and supportive housing, with more than 1800 units in development or under construction and almost 1,000 units under ownership. Mr. Chase is a member of the twelve-person executive leadership team which collectively manages an organization with 2,500 employees and a $250 million annual operating budget. Formerly, Mr. Chase was principal at Alembic Community Development where he directed the firm’s real estate development work in New York City. Prior to working at Alembic, Mr. Chase was the Senior Vice President for Policy Initiatives at New York State Homes and Community Renewal. Mr. Chase began his career in the legal space , having worked as an attorney at Nixon Peabody and at Manatt Phelps & Phillips, where he represented developers of affordable housing and syndicators of low-income housing tax credits. He is a graduate of Duke University (B.A. History, cum laude) and NYU School of Law (magna cum laude, Order of the Coif). As a lifelong New York City resident, Mr. Chase has dedicated his professional life to addressing poverty in New York City. He has published several articles in law journals and has taught a class housing policy at Brooklyn Law School. Mr. Chase lectures frequently on affordable housing issues at conferences and industry-related events. He lives with this family in Brooklyn.
SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED l 7
PANELIST
Jean Taitt
Director of Social Services, C&C Apartment Management LLC Jean Taitt is Director of Social Services with the Social Services Department team at C&C Apartment Management, LLC. Jean is responsible for collaborating with staff in Marketing/ Leasing, Legal, Compliance, and Accounting departments to provide the best customer service to applicants and tenants. Her responsibilities are providing advocacy, counseling, crisis intervention and eviction prevention with a focus on individuals and families with special needs, such as, homelessness, mental health issues, medical issues, etc. Jean joined C&C Apartment Management in October 2008 as a Consultant through the Doe Fund as a contracted employee. In April 2014, Jean was hired directly by C&C. She has over 20 years of experience in the field of Social Work including 10 years at Urban Pathways, Inc. as its Director of Outreach. Jean is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She has a joint bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Anthropology from Middlebury College. She has a master’s degree in Social Work from Hunter School of Social Work with a Concentration in Administration. She also earned a Certification in Seminar In Field Instruction (SIFI) from New York University.
8 l WHAT’S EATING NEW YORK?
PANELIST
Renee Joseph
Marine Corps Veteran Intake Coordinator, S:US Renee joined S:US in June, 2018 as a Veteran Peer Specialist before assuming her current position as an Intake Coordinator. Prior to joining S:US, Renee had her own personal experience of homelessness between 2015 and 2017. She considers it one of the lowest and darkest periods of her life. With determination, help from her friends and the HUD-VASH program (Housing and Urban Development -VA Supportive Housing Program), she successfully acquired permanent housing in February 2018. Renee proudly served in the Marine Corps for 11 years. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Hamilton College, a Masters of Business Administration from University of Phoenix and an Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts from Le Cordon Bleu (Austin, Texas). Renee is originally from Trinidad and Tobago. She and her mother relocated to Bronx, NY when she was 14 years old. Renee currently resides on Long Island, NY.
SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED l 9
MUSICAL GUEST
Jordan Davis
iHeartRadio’s 2019 Best New Country Artist Platinum-Certified Singer/Songwriter MCA Nashville’s Jordan Davis has been named an “Artist to Watch” by Billboard, Rolling Stone, CMT, Pandora, Shazam, Amazon Music, Sounds Like Nashville, The Tennessean, SiriusXM, Whiskey Riff, and more. A Native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Davis graduated from LSU and briefly pursued the path of his degree working as an environmental consultant; however, his passion for music and songwriting eventually compelled him to move to Nashville in the summer of 2012. The 2020 ACM New Male Artist of the Year nominee’s debut album Home State has accumulated over 1.5 billion streams worldwide and features his three consecutive No. 1 hits: Platinum-Certified “Slow Dance In A Parking Lot,” the Double Platinum-Certified “Singles You Up” and Platinum-Certified “Take It From Me.” In 2019 Davis won Best New Country Artist at the iHeart Radio Music Awards and was a nominee for ACM New Male Artist of the Year. He was also named Billboard’s Top New Country Artist of 2018 as well as Country Aircheck/Mediabase’s Most Heard New Artist of 2018. The hitmaker recently released a six-song, self-titled EP featuring current Top 20 single “Almost Maybes” as well as a collaboration with pop superstar Julia Michaels, “Cool Anymore.” The singer/songwriter has previously toured with the likes of Rascal Flatts, Jake Owen, Kip Moore, Brett Young and Old Dominion and last year headlined his Trouble Town Tour hitting over 20 cities. For additional information, visit www.jordandavisofficial.com.
10 l WHAT’S EATING NEW YORK?
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS VISIONARY
Erin & Peter Friedland The Waterview Foundation
P R I N C I PA L
William & Erin Bond Ed & Fernanda Hubbard Jen & James Marden Marie Isabelle Palacios-Hardy Janine Tramontana & Gareth Old
List as of March 29, 2021 SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED l 11
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS UNDERWRITER
Larry & Teresa Hamdan
List as of March 29, 2021 12 l WHAT’S EATING NEW YORK?
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS CHAMPION
Donna Colonna Neil Falcone PAT R O N
Josh Bider Oscar & Jane Chase John A. McKesson Carolyn Powell Linda Singer Thomas Juul-Hansen, LLC Stacey Weston & Jean-Patrick Guilbert List as of March 29, 2021 SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED l 13
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS SUPPORTER
Ty & Amelia Brewer Earl Brown Art Edwards Richard and Fran Hofstetter A D V O C AT E
Nina Bond Charles Catalano, C&S Pharmacy Consultants Chase J&Y Electric and Intercom Co. Inc. Erin Leider-Pariser STAT Courtney Morgan Monica Santos Phillip Saperia Tracy Tang Limpe List as of March 29, 2021 14 l WHAT’S EATING NEW YORK?
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS Bradley Alperin
Sherrie Dulworth
Jason Amarante
Michelle Emmons-Belnavis
Susan Barron - Artist
Empire Office
Beys Liston & Mobargha LLP
ESKW/Architects
Audrey Bilbraut
F. WORDS Gear
Bill Guarinello, HeartShare Human Services
Jessica Feldman
Nakia Blenman Bombas John and Elizabeth Bond John and Nina Bond Jason and Tifani Bradley The Bridge, Inc. Cal Hedigan, Community Access, Inc. Megan Campbell Cynthia Casasola Julio Castaing Stephanie Chang
Maria Feliciano Ann Felker Jeannie Fenceroy Jeannie Forrest Halcyon Galentine Molly Geary Kerry & Daniel Golden Mary Hargrove Marjorie Harvey Amanda & Bill Healy Lucile Herbert I. Javette Hines
Charles Catalano, C&S Pharmacy Consultants
Vi Houang
Arlo Chase
The Iva Agency
Jayne Chase
Jon Harper, Henry Street Settlement
Alena Clavijo
Judith Jones
Shelia Colon
Lynda Jones-Johnson
Felicia Crabtree Haywood
Dr. Robert Joseph, S:US
Don Crocker
Korngold Consulting LLC
Deborah Cumberbatch
James & Marjorie Kuhn
Lorna DeLaCruz
Jason Kupperman
Sharon Dorr
Peter R. Lattanzio
List as of March 29, 2021 SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED l 15
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS Marcello Liguori
Jozette Prescott
Chris Lipari
Annette Priester
Lois Krasilovsky Inc.
Shanak Rahman
Karla Lowry
JoAnn Y. Sacks, Ph.D.
Regina Lucas
Sharolyn Samaroo
Yuning Ma
Selva Schenkman
Jody Mansbach Maria Duchin, S:US Long Island Trish Marsik
Brandon Scott Jane Son Sandra Stark
Nancy McGraw Merritt Engineering Consulting, D.P.C
Andrew Steginsky Betty Stephens
Jennifer Merritt-Yulfo
Anna Swann
Michael Fontaine, GKV Architects
Don Tagala
Marie Miranda
Mary L. Ulrich
Montefiore Medicine
Irene Vale
Maureen Murray
Alexa Van de Walle
Linda Nguyen
Denise Wade
Brianna Nordlander
Enid Waite
Amy Norman
Lara Weatherholtz
Palm Beach Meats
Dr. Audrey Welch, S:US
Minjung Park
Kristen Winther
Amanda Parker Lejnieks
Deborah Wolfe
Perry Perlmutter
Linda Wright
Nathan Pham
Soph Xue
Anjoli Podder
Sarah Yu Daniel Zanella
List as of March 29, 2021
SPECIAL THANKS TO The Waterview Foundation Jimmy Ferguson | JWJ Films LLC Sponsor Gifts Donated by Jen & James Marden 16 l WHAT’S EATING NEW YORK?
S:US LEADERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jen Press Marden Chair Amelia Wright Brewer Vice Chair Jacquie Holmes Secretary Edward Hubbard Treasurer
BOARD MEMBERS
Josh Bider Erin Felker Bond, Esq. Earl D. Brown Chris Cheney Sherrie Dulworth Art Edwards Peter Friedland Larry Hamdan Joshua D. Liston, Esq. John A. McKesson Linda P. Nguyen Gareth Old, Esq. Marie Isabelle Palacios-Hardy Carolyn P. Powell JoAnn Y. Sacks, Ph.D. Deborah Wolfe, Esq. Andrew Zimmern
AFFILIATE MEMBERS
Michelle Ballan, Ph.D. Peter Lattanzio Gail K. McCallion, Esq. Phillip A. Saperia
COUNCIL OF ADVISORS
George C. Biddle Robert B. Catell Andrew Hurwitz, Esq. Alice Korngold Saundra Thomas
EVENT CO-CHAIRS
Josh Bider* Erin Felker Bond, Esq.* Jen Press Marden* Marie Isabelle Palacios-Hardy* Deborah Wolfe*
EVENT TASK FORCE
Jen Press Marden, Chair* Josh Bider* Erin Felker Bond, Esq.* Earl D. Brown* Lois Krasilovsky Peter Lattanzio* Linda P. Nguyen* Marie Isabelle Palacios-Hardy* Carolyn P. Powell* JoAnn Y. Sacks, Ph.D.* Drew Train Barbara Warren Deborah Wolfe, Esq.* Andrew Zimmern*
SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED l 17
S:US LEADERSHIP CONTINUED
C A M PA I G N C A B I N E T
Jen Press Marden, Chair* Chris Cheney* Sherrie Dulworth* Peter Friedland* Larry Hamdan* Jacquie Holmes* Edward Hubbard* Joshua D. Liston, Esq.* John A. McKesson* Gareth Old, Esq.* Marie Isabelle Palacios-Hardy*
R E A L E S TAT E PA R T N E R S
Apex Builders B+B Urban Bronx Pro CB Emmanuel Dunn Development Corp. L+M Development Partners Riseboro Community Partners
* S:US BOARD MEMBER
18 l WHAT’S EATING NEW YORK?
WE SALUTE
FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES OF PROVIDING SERVICES AND SUPPORTS THAT ADVANCE SOCIAL JUSTICE, BEAT BACK STIGMA, BUILD COMMUNITIES, AND CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL
MARIE ISABELLE PALACIOS-HARDY and JIMMY FERGUSON
A very special
“Thank You!”
to Andrew Zimmern, Panelists Ron Moelis, Arlo Monell Chase, Jean Taitt, and Renee Joseph, and Singer/Songwriter Jordan Davis, for an incredible and inspiring evening. All for
Erin F. and William O. Bond
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SERVING THE TRI-STATE AREA FOR OVER FORTY YEARS Indoor Air Quality specialist UV Light and Ionizers for Covid-19 installed HEPA high efficient air filters MERV-13 available
SALES, SERVICE & INSTALLATIONS
631-588-5877 CORPORATECLIMATECONTROL.COM
We are proud to support S:US and Marcus Samuelsson PANELIST FROM EVENT #1, TOPIC: HUNGER JANUARY 26, 2021
Richard & Fran Hofstetter
NO NEW YORKER SHOULD SLEEP HERE We have a cure for homelessness. It’s called housing. S:US addresses the challenges that prevent individuals and families from leading independent lives in safe, secure homes of their own. We offer emergency, transitional, and permanent housing for people who have lost their homes and may be facing a variety of challenges—from mental illness to histories of incarceration, unemployment or poverty, from substance use disorders to HIV/ AIDS. The stability of a home, in our experience, makes recovery, employment, and health possible. Homelessness is an injustice. Housing is a right.
“I feel very lucky where I live! I can open my window at night and hear people laughing. The fact that I live somewhere where people actually talk to each other and laugh makes me feel good.” - Samuel
38 l WHAT’S EATING NEW YORK?
On any given night: S:US provides housing and shelter to 4,500 people. On average: S:US engages in 2,500 prevention interventions, including providing anti-eviction resources, and helps 150 individuals and families from entering the shelter system. SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED l 39
In 2019, individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities served by S:US volunteered over 160,000 hours to their communities. Individuals spent over 8,300 hours in giving back to their communities in early 2020. Volunteer opportunities were canceled in March due to COVID-19 pandemic.
40 l WHAT’S EATING NEW YORK?
NO NEW YORKER SHOULD BE DEFINED BY LIMITATIONS We help people see their strengths. And build on them. The services we tailor for individuals with autism and other intellectual/developmental disabilities focus on helping each person live to their fullest potential: building social connections while participating in the community and deepening relationships with friends and family while living and receiving services in the community of their choice. Our community residences and day habilitation programs offer opportunities for volunteering, obtaining competitive employment, and gaining skills for independent living.
“I would like to thank S:US individuals for helping to clean our theater for every performance. Your work means that I have one less thing to worry about.” - Regina Opera House
SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED l 41
NO NEW YORKER SHOULD FACE CHALLENGES ALONE People can overcome the biggest obstacles, with the right supports. At S:US, we offer services to people whose mental health and substance use challenges or other life circumstances have led to homelessness or have prevented them from maintaining a stable and productive life. Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women and their children. For families that have survived abuse, S:US operates shelters offering safety, security, and the opportunity to heal and rebuild lives. In addition to providing housing, we offer help with public assistance, planning and achieving long-term goals, and referrals to therapy and childcare. Our comprehensive treatment and recovery supports work with people at any stage of their life. S:US’ mobile teams, community clinics, and residential treatment and crisis centers offer compassionate support in even the most difficult circumstances.
“Everyone I met at S:US was there for me every step of the way, helping to guide me as I reinvented myself.” - Marina 42 l WHAT’S EATING NEW YORK?
Last year:
600 individuals moved from our shelters, residential treatment, and transitional housing into permanent homes of their own.
SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED l 43
Each year: S:US serves over 3,000 veterans and their families.
43 l WHAT’S EATING NEW YORK?
NO NYC VETERAN SHOULD BE IN A BATTLE WITHOUT BACKUP We serve vets in what can be a tough fight – coming home. As one of New York City’s largest veteran services providers, S:US serves vets as they struggle to reintegrate to civilian life, coping with post-traumatic stress, depression, unemployment and homelessness. We help vets find and maintain permanent housing, connect to mental health services and offer job training, placement, and on-the-job support. We also provide direct outreach to homeless individuals along the rail lines on Long Island, connecting them with housing, support, and necessities like blankets and food.
“They are here to make a better future for you… this is a new beginning. Some suffering other people just can’t hear or want to take on. But S:US did.” - Karen
SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED l 44
NO NEW YORKER SHOULD LIVE IN A FOOD DESERT We find fertile ground in the city where new possibilities flourish. S:US has created and maintains more than 50 urban farms and gardens throughout New York City, most in neighborhoods where produce is scarce and the number of people with diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure is disproportionately high. Farms and gardens are located in the backyards and on the rooftops of our residences, shelters, and other programs. Our urban farms make it possible for individuals with disabilities to find steady employment. The farmers receive ongoing training and job coaching that build employable skills in urban agriculture, landscape maintenance, and basic carpentry. Participants also receive the healing benefits of therapeutic horticulture and can enjoy the healthy products of their labor: fresh, organic vegetables, fruits, and herbs.
“Every time I come here, I feel good.” - Marc
45 l WHAT’S EATING NEW YORK?
Each year: Urban Farms engages over 500 people served by S:US and yields over 7,000 lbs. of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and products such as honey and pickles.
SERVICES FOR THE UNDERSERVED l 46
Looking for a meaningful way to engage with S:US? Volunteer as an individual or with your corporate/civic network. For more information Email volunteer@sus.org Call 917-408-1622
THANK YOU FOR JOINING
sus.org
To make a donation:
donate@sus.org 212-633-6900
Visit sus.org/donatenow OR Mail check payable to: Services for the UnderServed Attn: Resource Development 463 7th Avenue, 17th Floor New York, NY 10018 (Memo line: What’s Eating New York?) Thank you!
@servicesfortheunderserved @sus_org
@sus_org
@Services-for-the-UnderServed