Spring 2019 Newsletter

Dear Partners,

It is with a heavy heart that I write this introduction to LISC NYC's Spring 2019 Newsletter, the last one going out under my tenure as Executive Director of LISC NYC.

As I prepare to move on, I have been reflecting on all the incredible work carried out by LISC NYC staff and our partners since I started here in 2014. New York City continues to be a dizzying and dynamic market, and it has taken all of our creativity and commitment to respond to the challenges of a 21st century city facing enormous gentrification and displacement pressures. In face of these pressures, we have supported our partners to build and preserve affordable spaces that enable low- and moderate-income people to continue to live and work in New York City. Through funding and technical assistance, we have helped our community partners to provide critical services and infrastructure -- both social and physical -- to make their neighborhoods vibrant and resilient places to live and work.

I am inspired and humbled by the staff I have had the privilege to work with here at LISC. They have expressed their passion and commitment through the day-to-day work, as well as in the “deeper dive” strategic conversations we’ve had over the past couple of years to refine LISC NYC’s mission, vision, and values. At LISC, we in turn have been inspired by our partners and the local champions we work with, who combine the values around community, affordability, and equity with the skills and technical abilities to execute and make a difference.

I pledge to carry forward the values and passion of LISC into my next role as the CEO of a foundation that serves as a platform for donor advised funds, fiscal sponsorships, and other services to nonprofits. Although I am leaving LISC, I look forward to working together with you all as partners and fellow travelers.

In the meantime, please join me in welcoming Deputy Director Eva Alligood into her new role as Interim Executive Director, as LISC performs a formal search process. I look forward to seeing how the LISC NYC team continues to move the work forward…!

Best,            

--Sam.

Affordable Housing

FAC Breaks Ground on Sunset Park Library Project with Affordable Housing

Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC), Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) and their partners broke ground earlier this year on an innovative new development at the Sunset Park Library.

With a $25,000 predevelopment loan from LISC NYC, the project will not only rebuild and expand one of Brooklyn's most busy libraries, but will also provide 49 new units of affordable housing.

economic development & Community Spaces

Creating Spaces of Opportunity

As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), LISC NYC has been filling critical financing needs of projects that provide spaces for creative entrepreneurs and economic development enterprises that foster equitable development across New York City.

For example, this spring LISC NYC supported ArtBuilt Brooklyn to open its doors in the Brooklyn Army Terminal where over 100 artists have gained affordable, long term studio space.

LISC NYC also supported Make The Road New York’s new community center in Corona, Queens which broke ground in February. 

LISC NYC supported a recent loan to La MaMa Experimental Theater Club, the storied theater that is committed to maintaining affordable space for cutting edge creative artists to show their work to diverse audiences.

Healthy Neighborhoods

LISC NYC Community Health Partnership Program Awarded GHHI Technical Assistance

The Community Health Partnership Project is a multi-sector collaborative led by LISC NYC of community based organizations and health care institutions whose goal is to develop methods to improve health outcomes for residents of a set of low-income NYC neighborhoods. We are proud to announce that LISC NYC is one of three organizations to receive a technical assistance award from the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI), which will work closely with our team to identify and secure Medicaid funding streams to sustain this work into the future.

in case you missed it...

Latest News About LISC NYC Staff

Newest members of our team:

  • Lizzie Hodges, Community Development Intern
  • Sharon Lewis, Community Development Officer fro Housing
  • Leah Martins-Krasner, Assistant Communtiy Development Officer
  • Thomas Mitchell, Community Development Officer for Economic Development
  • Brock Williams, Community Development Officer for Housing

Recent updates:

  • Deputy Director Eva Neubauer Alligood has been appointed LISC NYC's Interim Executive Director
  • Grace Chung has been promoted to Senior Community Development Officer
  • Policy Director Edward Ubiera is leaving LISC NYC to take on the role of Assistant Commissioner at the NYC Dept. of Small Business Services

Kudos to everyone! Read bios of LISC NYC Staff here.