Summer Solstice Success Celebration Recognizes Achievements of People Experiencing Homelessness


CFH Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Regina Olasin (left) awards Jordan Longet (right)
On this year’s summer solstice, June 21, Care for the Homeless (CFH) and Broadway Community partnered to celebrate achievements of people overcoming the incredible obstacles of homelessness to find, obtain and maintain stable housing, and their achievements in overcoming major healthcare concerns in the midst of this most difficult circumstance. This was CFH’s fifth annual Success Celebration, an event invented by Care for the Homeless and observed this year in dozens of cities across North America.

Over 225 people participated in the Success Celebration, which included live music and entertainment, a full meal open to everyone, an interactive “Wall of Success” activity, a program featuring story telling by people who had successfully overcome major obstacles while homeless in New York City and the presentation of “Achievement Awards” to 22 participants. The event also included the announcement of the CFH “Short Story of Success” essay contest winner for 2018, Ms. G. Ms. G read her award-winning essay, which you can read here.

CFH Executive Director, George Nashak and CM Levine
CFH Executive Director George Nashak said the Summer Solstice Success Celebration’s goal was both to recognize outstanding achievements and an attempt to “destigmatize” people experiencing homelessness. “People going through the incredibly difficult and traumatic experience of homelessness, often for causes far beyond their control, are unfairly stigmatized. People are homeless for all kinds of reasons. If there are 58,000 people in city homeless shelters tonight, there are 58,000 individual stories of how and why they came to suffer this cruel experience,” Nashak said.

New York City Councilman Mark Levine lauded CFH for the success celebration, saying “it’s time every New Yorker recognized the battles so many of us face every day just to get by…just to maintain stable housing; and recognized our community responsibility to provide good healthcare and decent housing to everyone.” At the conclusion of his remarks, Levine participated in awarding several achievement awards to former shelter residents who had successfully acquired and maintained stable housing of their own.

In introducing him, Nashak noted Levine was the author and chief champion of New York City’s new program that will provide legal representation to all tenants facing eviction in housing court, advocated for by CFH. “Mark Levine’s right to a lawyer in housing court is one of the greatest steps toward preventing homelessness in our generation,” Nashak said.
Department of Homeless Services Deputy Commissioner for Family Services, Karen Ford, also spoke about how stigma impacts homelessness and public policy, and said, “programs like this are critical in recognizing the achievements of homeless people in New York City, in changing public perceptions and in realizing the dignity of people experiencing homelessness.”

CM Levine with housing awards recipients
Those receiving housing achievement awards included Sylvia Garcia, Darlene House and Sharon Watson. CFH’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Regina Olasin, also helped to present health care achievement awards to Debra Kelly, Longet Jordan, Kevin Smith, Naria Anthony, Nakia Boone, the Norman family, Sharon McIntosh, Wanda Stewart Lowe, Stephanie Lynn Harrison, Paul Meglio, Myers Evenolis, Sheila Skinner, Julia Rojas-Graves, Cintia Nunn, Robert Medina, Wilson Paulino and Lisa Bryant. She also presented special awards to CFH healthcare providers who nominated healthcare achievement winners, including Judlyne Brun-Alfaro, Susan Moscou, Cristina Pin, Sophie Mallet, Dr. Laura Kaplan-Weisman, and Heather Garber.

CFH Policy Committee Chair Barbara Knecht gave a special Advocacy Award to CFH client leader Garrett McMahan for his work in advocating for policies to fight, prevent and end homelessness. McMahan, a musician and musical director, also served as a member and bandleader for the Success Celebration Band, Three is Word.

  


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