Last night, the NY fellows,
mentors, and key people in the PP55 program gathered at the home of Judy and
Sam Suratt to celebrate the end of our fellowship year. It gave me a chance to
stop and reflect on my experience as a Program Associate at the Association to
Benefit Children (ABC).
My responsibilities at ABC have
been many and varied. I have managed all reporting, communications, and
analysis for ABC’s small permanent supportive housing program, which operates
through a contract with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. I have taken the lead on managing all
contractual, regulatory, and compliance related tasks for ABC’s Youth Alliance
program, Family Resource Center, and Emotional Wellness Screening Project.
Additionally, I have had the great privilege of attending various coalition
meetings as ABC’s main representative. My favorite meetings to attend were
those of the NYC Coalition on the Continuum of Care, a coalition of homeless
housing and shelter providers, consumers, advocates, and government
representatives working together to shape citywide planning and decision-making
around the issue of homelessness. Furthermore, I have worked with my colleagues,
including PP55ers Julie Leary and Taylor Leyden, on submitting major
applications in order to secure funds that allow ABC to continue to operate its
programs and provide services. These were some of my responsibilities, among
others, and I learned a lot.
When I think about how much we
accomplished at ABC this year and how valuable the PP55 fellows have been to
ABC, I know that the other fellows have made equally important contributions to
their organizations. I’m so proud to have been a part of the 2012-2013 PP55
fellowship program. May the wind be at our backs as we start new journeys or
continue on the ones we are on now!
