Making a Difference for 48 Years and Counting

St. Nicks Alliance Celebrates 48

The superfriends of the community who joined together with St. Nicks Alliance to develop affordable housing at the Broadway Triangle. (l to r) Evelyn Cruz (district director for U.S. Representative Nydia Velázquez), NYS Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, NYC Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, NYS Senator Julia Salazar, NYS Assembly Member Maritza Davila, Michael Rochford (exec. dir. of St. Nicks Alliance), George Poulon (Mega Construction), Stanley Celius (JOE NYC), Scott Short (RiseBoro), Hercules Argyriou (Mega Construction), Juan Ramos (exec. dir. of Southside United HDFC–Los Sures), Joseph Robles (chair of the St. Nicks Alliance Board of Directors), Rabbi David Niederman (exec. dir. of the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg) and NYC Council Member Lincoln Restler. Photo by Stefano Giovannini

On November 2, St. Nicks Alliance celebrated 48 years of transforming the community through health care, education, workforce development, and elder care. We were joined by over 200 guests at the St. Nicks Alliance 48th Annual Anniversary Benefit and raised $260,000 towards continuing to improve lives in the community.

Guests were greeted by a warm welcome from Joseph Robles, chair of the St. Nicks Alliance Board of Directors, followed by a singing and dancing performance of “When I Grow Up”, from the musical Matilda, by students from M.S. 577. The roasted pig, riesling, and apple caramel macarons were delightful, but the student’s harmonies made them the stars of the evening.

*Students from M.S. 577 perform at the benefit. Photo by Stefano Giovannini*

St. Nicks Alliance has had a year full of accomplishments from making huge strides for affordable housing on the Broadway Triangle to helping workforce development clients. The benefit was the chance to reflect on success and thank all those who supported it.

We presented awards to Adolfo Carrion Jr., commissioner of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, United Neighbors Organization (LuzUNO), Southside United HDFC–Los Sures, RiseBoro, Mega Contracting, United Jewish Organizations, and JOE NYC for their support in developing affordable housing in the Broadway Triangle.

“Without the unified support of the public sector, we could never have succeeded,” Michael Rochford, the executive director of St. Nicks Alliance, said.

(l to r) Joseph Robles (chair of the St. Nicks Alliance Board of Directors), Adolfo Carrion Jr. (commissioner of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development), and Laura James (vice chair of chair of the St. Nicks Alliance Board of Directors) photo credit: Photo by Stefano Giovannini

We recognized the accomplishments of a senior from Swinging Sixties Older Adult Center, Luz Salizar, who won second place in the citywide final for Talent is Timeless, and North Brooklyn YouthBuild construction trainee, Joshua Morgan, who was hired by Two Trees for the Domino Park development.

“My future is looking brighter and brighter every day,” Morgan said in a video presented at the benefit.

*(left to right) Tracey Archer and Williamsburg artist Lorenzo Pace give a thumbs up to the festivities! Photo by Stefano Giovannini*

In addition to making strides towards affordable housing, workforce development, and youth and education, St. Nicks Alliance has bolstered an array of community events. In October, St. Nicks Alliance supported the 24th annual Triumph the Human Spirit Day which celebrates the Triumph of the Human Spirit sculpture created by Williamsburg artist, Lorenzo Pace. The sculpture honors African slaves interred in the mid-eighteenth century African Burial Ground beneath the sculpture in Foley Square.

St. Nicks Alliance could not have accomplished this without your help. To continue to support their work, donate at givetosna.org.