May 2024 Happenings & News

CAMBA Interns from the Learning To Work (LTW) program at Independence High School in Manhattan were recently featured in a CBS New York segment about their experiences interning as docents at an art gallery at the South Street Seaport. You can watch the segment by clicking here.

The music therapy program for kids at CAMBA's Flagstone Family Center (part of our partnership with the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music) was recently featured in a New York Times piece. You can read the story by clicking here.

Many thanks to a group of volunteers from Neuberger Berman who recently helped plant the garden at our Kensington Family Shelter in Brooklyn. The group beautified the grounds in front of the shelter and also planted herbs for the residents to harvest through the summer.

CAMBA Housing Ventures (CHV) is honored to be featured amongst esteemed fellow developers in the prestigious Affordable Housing Finance magazine’s List of Top 50 Affordable Housing Developers of 2023. The nationwide list includes both for-profit and nonprofit developers by number of units started last year. CHV ranked 45th overall after starting construction on 385 units last year. We are one of only 12 nonprofit organizations and one of only three New York-based developers to be included on the list.

CHV is especially grateful to our team of partners, without whom this accomplishment would not have been possible. Affordable housing development is a true team effort, and we are thankful to have the best team in the business, including our wonderful Board of Directors and dedicated staff.

Rising development costs, along with operating in New York City — the foremost competitive real estate market in the country — means the challenges to bringing affordable housing to our communities only grew in 2023. However, CHV remains focused and committed to developing sustainable, supportive, and permanently affordable housing assets that transform underserved and vulnerable communities.

Take a look at the Top 50 List by clicking here.

Many thanks to Natalie Brickajlik from the New York Horticultural Society for recently guiding a group of volunteers from CAMBA’s Junior Board as they planted the vegetable garden at CAMBA Gardens II. The vegetable and herbs will be harvested throughout the summer by the residents at this CAMBA Housing Ventures supportive and affordable housing site. 

BIVO North celebrated the mothers of Brownsville and Oceanhill at their Mother's Day event on May 11th. Seventy-five moms attended this event and received Mother’s Day gifts from our dedicated team. This event was a reminder of how amazing they are and how much we appreciate them. It was a heartfelt celebration of their strength, love, and the invaluable role they play in our community.

CAMBA's Moving Mothers Health Forward (MMHF) program recently held a Baby Shower at its Flagstone Family Center in Brownsville, Brooklyn, for expectant moms and new moms of babies up to three months of age who are in need. Attendees were treated to refreshments, games, gifts, and more!

The baby shower was held in the morning, and then in the afternoon, the MMHF program held one of its clinic days. CAMBA regularly hosts these clinics in collaboration with Downstate Family Medicine, as part of CAMBA's MMHF program. The clinic serves moms who are expecting (or recently post-partum) with getting access to care by providing them with on-site access to mom and baby wellness visits with physicians. 

CAMBA’s MMHF program has been made possible through the support of the United Health Foundation. MMHF seeks to bridge the gap in access to care for underserved, high-risk women through on-site support services in our Brooklyn-based family shelters and NYCHA Developments served by CAMBA’s Cornerstone Community Centers. Services include the Satellite clinic of SUNY Downstate at Flagstone, case management, community health workers, and birth and postpartum doulas. This program aims to decrease the maternal morbidity rate and improve child health outcomes relative to the general population in the geographic areas we serve.

BIVO (Brownsville In, Violence Out) recently arranged for 60 of its program participants to have training in Adult and Pediatrics CPR and First Aid. The attendees learned a life-saving skill that they can add to their resumes and be able to use in their everyday lives! Attendees learned how to administer Narcan and EpiPens and also learned how to 'Stop the Bleed.' BIVO participants are now equipped with essential emergency response techniques, enhancing their readiness to handle critical situations and contribute positively to their communities.

CAMBA's Education & Youth Development program, in partnership with the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) and its community partners, recently held a championship night for its Saturday Night Lights (SNL) Basketball program at the Barclays Center. The middle school division played the first game of the night as Beacon 271 took on Howard Houses (Howard won). The high school division played the second game of the night as Beacon 271 took on Pink Houses (Pink won). It was an incredibly special night for all our youth as they played on a world-famous court!

Lastly, we wanted to share the below heartfelt message from Darylennys, who recently completed a social work internship at CAMBA's Evergreen Residence Family Shelter in the Bronx. 

Darylennys graduates this month from Lehman College with a Master's in Social Work, and she has just accepted our offer to work for CAMBA full-time as a Client Care Coordinator/Social Worker at CAMBA's Park Avenue Residence!

As I wrap up my time here at Evergreen, I want to take a moment to reflect on the journey we’ve shared together. My name is Darylennys German Aponte, and for the past nearly three years, I’ve had the privilege of serving as a Social Work Intern here.

During my time here, I've experienced tremendous growth, both professionally and personally. Evergreen has been more than just a workplace; it has been a canvas upon which I've painted my aspirations and honed my skills. It has been a classroom where the lessons learned were not confined to textbooks but were woven into the fabric of everyday interactions.



I've learned how to navigate the intricate web of services offered to our clients, how to advocate fiercely for those we serve, and most importantly, how to transform a strange space into a place called home. Each member of the Evergreen Team has brought something unique and invaluable to the table. 

As I prepare to embark on the next phase of my career, I carry with me the lessons learned, the memories cherished, and the bonds forged. Know that each one of you has played a significant role in my growth and development, and for that, I am truly grateful.

As I take my leave, I do so with a sense of pride, knowing that I am graduating from my master's program as a Social Worker, equipped with the knowledge and experiences gained here at Evergreen. Thank you all for your unwavering support, and guidance. Though my time here may be ending, the impact of our shared experiences will forever resonate within me.

As a token of my gratitude, I've included “Evergreen Family” in my cap decoration, symbolizing that as I walk across the stage, each of you will be walking alongside me in spirit.

Warm regards,

Darylennys German Aponte