St. Nicks Alliance Turns Golden!

BedStuy Bangers and Cooper Park Houses Drumline, perform at the gala.

St. Nicks Alliance celebrated 50 years of community building at The Domino Refinery on November 20. This brought a reunion of leadership from the area’s past and the organization’s founding staff to gather together and remember what was and the steps that created what is.

Michael Rochford (exec. dir. for St. Nicks Alliance) expresses appreciation for the support provided by: former and current staff, board members, elected officials, and vendors that have empowered St. Nicks Alliance’s transformational work in the community over the years.

Artist and author Dr. Lorenzo Pace, added his creative energy to the event.

The first recognition of the evening went to Nancy Zapata and Joseph Robles. They were presented with the Monsignor Walter Vetro awards, named in honor of the founder and chairman of St. Nicks Alliance.

Nancy Zapata served as president of the St. Nicks Alliance’s board of directors starting in 1999 and oversaw the organization’s expansion into providing youth services and workforce development, among other things. She continues to serve the organization as president emeritus.

Nancy Zapata (center), president emeritus of St. Nicks Alliance Board of Directors and Joseph Robles (right), chair both of St. Nicks Alliance Board of Directors received awards named after Monsignor Walter Vetro, a founder of St. Nicks Alliance. Also pictured is Michael Rochford (left), exec. dir. for St. Nicks Alliance.

Joseph Robles is the current chair of the St. Nicks Alliance’s board, and took on that role in 2010. St. Nicks Alliance attributes his clear vision, effective governance, and ability to bring together key community leaders and representatives from business, the arts, education, law, and production to the organization’s significant growth and a deeper client impact.

Members of St. Nicks Alliance Board of Directors: (l to r) Laura James, vice chair; Felicia Pecoraro; and Lisa Summa.

: Stars of St. Nicks Alliance and star supporter Flushing Bank. (l to r) Joanna Koszalka (vice president, branch manager at Flushing Bank), Jonathan Gadson (workplace success training facilitator at St. Nicks Alliance Workforce Development), Kinga Betkowska (Flushing Bank), Beatrice Brown (dep. dir. of employment services at St. Nicks Alliance Workforce Development)

NYC Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez and Felicia Kirby

Founding staff and leaders were also honored with the Founders of Opportunity Award. Jan Peterson, Brian Sullivan, Cathy Herman, and Ron Shiffman received the award for being founding advisors. Founding and early staff also receiving this award were: Richard Macellaro, Marie Lenza, Gary Hattem, Hector Batista, Jim Mendel, Ray Carrero, Steven Flax, Sandy Abramson, Gerry Esposito, Katie Hanner, Nancy Lasher, and Alison Cordero

It was a powerful reunion when the Founders of Opportunity Award was presented to founding advisees and staff. (l to r) Brian Sullivan, Gary Hattem (former exec. dir.), Michael Rochford (current exec. dir.), Jim Mendell (early staff member), Richard Macellaro (former dir. of home care), Cathy Herman (former exec. dir.), Hector Batista (early staff member), Katie Hanner (early staff member), Gerry Esposito (advisor, former Brooklyn Community Board 1 district manager), Marie Leanza (early and current staff member), Steve Flax (early staff member), Jan Peterson (advisor, founder of National Congress of Neighborhood Women), and Sandy Abramson.

Marie Leanza, Cathy Herman, and Brian Sullivan

Elected officials celebrated the organization and were celebrated by the organization. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, NYS Senators Julia Salazar and Kristen Gonzalez, NYS Assembly Members Maritza Davila and Emily Gallagher, and NYC Council Members Jennifer Gutierrez, Sandy Nurse, and Lincoln Restler received the Public Service Partner Award.

The Public Service Partner awards were presented to elected officials whose support to St. Nicks Alliance has contributed to building hundreds of units of housing, saving day care and senior centers, building a new Workforce Center, providing critical support to children in after school, childcare, supporting the Swinging Sixties senior bus, and services for struggling tenants. Pictured are: (l to r) NYC Council Member Lincoln Restler, NYS Assembly Member Maritza Davila, NYC Council Member Sandy Nurse, NYS Senators Julia Salazar and Kristen Gonzalez, NYS Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. Not pictured is NYC Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez.

NYS Senator Julia Salazar, NYC Council Member Sandy Nurse, NYS Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, and NYS Senator Kristen Gonzalez

The North Brooklyn area has changed a lot in fifty years. St. Nicks Alliance has changed and grown along with it all the while focusing on how best to serve this community. St. Nicks Alliance was created to help neighbors who had lost their homes to a fire. This sense of duty and service continues to be its solid foundation.