Our Deputy Executive Director, Brenda Tong, steps down
It is with mixed emotions that I announce the departure of Brenda Tong, our Deputy Executive Director. After more than six and a half years, Brenda will be leaving New Destiny for an exciting new opportunity at Vibrant Emotional Health next month.
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Brenda has been integral to New Destiny’s growth and success, especially in our programs and operations. Everyone who’s had the pleasure of working with her knows how committed she is to social services and working with survivors of domestic violence.
We are incredibly grateful to Brenda for her dedication, vision, and problem-solving abilities she has devoted to New Destiny and our mission. Her exceptional leadership and contributions have had and will continue to have, a profound and lasting effect on us all.
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On behalf of New Destiny’s Board of Directors and staff, I want to thank Brenda for all that she has done for our organization and domestic violence survivors and wish her the best in this new chapter of her professional life.
- Nicole Branca, Executive Director
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Staff Highlight
Every June, we honor Pride Month to mark the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall uprising and to remember LGBTQIA+ individuals affected by discrimination and violence. LGBTQIA+ community members, including survivors of domestic violence, frequently encounter systemic barriers that hinder their access to support and a life without fear. This month is a reminder that we must reaffirm the right of every person, regardless of gender or sexuality, to live safely and freely.
To commemorate Pride Month, we are delighted to feature Melissa Mejia-Dickerson, Data Operations Associate.
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“My entire family immigrated to the Unites State from the Dominican Republic. I was the 1st to be born and raised in The Bronx and I’m also the 1st to earn a master’s degree. I received my bachelors in sociology from the University at Albany and my master’s in criminal justice from John Jay College. I’ve been in the human services field for 8 years. I joined New Destiny in 2021 as an Emergency Housing Voucher Housing Navigation Supervisor, and earlier this year I pivoted to Data Operations Associate in the Data & Evaluations Department. | |
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Pride month has meant different things to me over the years. In high school, pride month was joyous and captivating. It was the first time I had real exposure to the LGBTQIA+ community. Later in college, I helped develop the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, which became a haven for many students. Then, Pride Month meant safety. Now as a godmother to a non-binary preteen, and mother to an almost one-year-old, pride month also means authenticity and visibility to love in all its forms. Being part of the LGBTQIA+ community is still frowned upon as new anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation continues to be introduced. As I help raise the next generation, I will continue to hold space for all love in hopes for a joyous, safe, and authentic future.
A fun fact about me: I played softball growing up and after graduating college I found CrossFit. Since then, I’ve competed in 3 neighborhood-level CrossFit competitions and won one with a partner. I’ve also completed over 15 Spartan Races and just ran the Brooklyn Half Marathon in May, 10 months postpartum.”
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Celebrating New Destiny’s Inaugural Voces de Cambio Graduates | |
New Destiny's inaugural Voces de Cambio cohort has successfully completed their one-year training program!
Voces de Cambio is New Destiny’s speakers bureau for Spanish-speaking domestic violence survivors. Seven members: Ana, Felicitas, Consuelo, Migdonia, Ivelisse, Rosanna, and Michelle, took part in a series of training sessions to improve their communication skills, learn how to engage with press members, and hone their public speaking abilities to share their personal stories.
We were honored to be joined by Jennifer L. DeCarli, Esq., LMSW, Deputy Commissioner for Family Justice Centers and Outreach at the NYC Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence.
Voces de Cambio is made possible thanks to the generous support of Trinity Church Wall Street, who also hosted the graduation ceremony.
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Assemblymember Dais meets New Destiny tenants | |
Earlier this month, Assemblymember Landon C. Dais visited The Anderson, one of New Destiny’s supportive housing buildings in Assembly District 77 in The Bronx. The representative spoke with the tenants about his role in the Assembly, the many services his office provides, and how to contact him. The meeting was organized by Thaiasia Johnson, Program Director for The Anderson and The Morris. | |
This month, New Destiny staff gathered for an all-staff retreat. Committed to our principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, staff spent the first half of the day in a training about providing equitable and affirming services to LGBTQ+ Communities, led by kk naimool of Collective Justice. After a delicious lunch, we closed the day out with a celebratory review of our many accomplishments from the last fiscal year | | |
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This month, Survivor Voices Project member, Daniris Espinal, spoke with New York Times journalist, Mihir Zaveri, about her housing journey as a rental assistance voucher recipient in New York City. Speaking on her experience, she stated, "This is what having this voucher has given me, a sense of peace.” Read the article here. | |
Additionally, our Senior Director of Housing Access & Stability Services, Gina Cappuccitti, spoke with Jim Dolan at ABC7 Eyewitness News about the NYCHA Section 8 waitlist opening for the first time in 15 years. Underscoring the significance of this opening, Gina stated, "this is an opportunity for someone to remain in NYC without being overburdened & potentially face eviction in the future." Watch her interview. | |
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Gabriela Sandoval Requena, New Destiny’s Director of Policy & Communications, was quoted in a Newsweek article discussing the devastating impact of homelessness among children in New York City. Learn more. | |
Supportive Housing Network of New York Conference | |
This month Nicole Branca, our Executive Director, moderated a panel titled "Shaping the Future of Housing and Support: Insights from NYC Commissioners" at the Supportive Housing Network of New York 2024 Conference. The panel featured Adolfo Carrión, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development; Molly Wasow Park, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Social Services; and Dr. H. Jean Wright, II, Executive Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Mental Hygiene. Together, they discussed strategies for supporting New York's newest arrivals, shelter exit plans, and addressed cash assistance challenges. | |
Vote for New Destiny
New Destiny has been nominated for the prestigious Ponce Bank Best of The Bronx 2024 Contest in the Best Not-for-Profit Category! This is our chance to win, but we need your vote.
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You can vote once a day until polls close on August 30th. Please support New Destiny.
Vote early, vote often!
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Welcome to...
As we continue to expand, we are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to Selina Simmons, Case Manager at The Jennings, Daniel Shepard, Case Manager at The Kira, Onyeka Obi, Case Manager at The Kira, and Allijah Olvarria, Office Manager.
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Join our team! Some of our current job openings are:
To see the complete list of job opportunities, click here.
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