annual report 2015

Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A MESSAGE FROM OUR CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Every day Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A (Brooklyn A) helps improve the lives of people who live in pov- erty. We are dedicated to the principle that lawyers can help open doors and level the playing field for people facing enormous life challenges. Over the past year, hundreds of people like you - our friends and supporters - have supported our Mission to advance social and economic justice and community empowerment through innovative, collaborative, neighborhood-based legal representation and advocacy. Thanks to your support, Brooklyn A has been able to help more people in need than ever before. Our staff has tirelessly assisted thousands of people throughout Brooklyn, and New York City wide, in their fight for social justice. Through our Preserving Affordable Housing Program we closed 614 individual cases, affecting 1,666 individuals and families. We represented 86 tenant associations, in rent-stabilized housing, through which we have kept in and/or restored tenants to their homes. The Community and Economic Advocacy Program provided services to 160 homeowners facing foreclosure of which 49 cases were closed, impacting the lives of 355 adults (including 52 seniors) and 129 children. The Community and Economic Development Program represented 50 not-for-profit community-based organizations (CBOs) and community development corporations (CDCs) on 70 development and operational projects, which impacted the lives of 103,101 individuals and families. Our Community Legal Education work, including presentations, brochures, and website information, reached 46,038 people, enabling them to learn about their rights and protect themselves against landlord harassment. As we continue to grow and expand in the next year, our work will become that much more important to the communities that we serve, those that have been our core communities for decades and the new ones that we are able to assist as a result of our growth. We are thankful to our clients, partners, and supporters for their support. Without you we would not be here today. We are looking forward to serving even more clients in the year to come and continuing to defend and protect those in need; as well as providing critical legal support for the great CBOs that serve them and the neighborhoods in which we live.

Sincerely,

Martin S. Needelman, Esq. Paul J. Acinapura, Esq. Co-Executive Director & Chief Counsel Co-Executive Director & General Counsel

Building Community. Ensuring Opportunity. Achieving Justice. ABOUT BROOKLYN A

WHO WE ARE WHAT WE DO Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A (Brooklyn A) advances social • Prevent and stop evictions and improve and economic justice and community empowerment through innovative, the living conditions of hundreds of collaborative, neighborhood-based legal representation and advocacy. We low-moderate income tenants and their assist individuals, families, not-for-profit community-based organizations families each year. (CBOs), community development corporations (CDCs), and coalitions • Preserve and expand affordable housing. in sustaining and developing vibrant, healthy communities. Litigate against predatory mortgage Since our establishment in 1968, we have addressed the systemic • schemes, discriminatory lending prac- problems facing our communities by providing a combination of full legal tices and other forms of consumer fraud representation, brief advice, advocacy and education to low-moderate perpetrated against low-moderate income income individuals and CBOs/CDCs throughout NYC. people. • Support community and economic devel- opment efforts undertaken by CBOs and OUR CORE PROGRAMS CDCs. • Assist income-eligible taxpayers with consumer and economic advocacy (cea). Internal Revenue Service issues. The primary focus of the program is representing consumers victimized by fraudulent, abusive, and predatory business practices and promoting justice for consumers. We represent low-income and other vulnerable homeowners in foreclosure as well as in state and federal court litiga- Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) helps to ensure tion challenging predatory lending, abusive mortgage servicing, and fair the fairness and integrity of the U.S tax system. Free housing and lending violations. We represent homeowners in settlement legal representation and services for taxpayers with conferences and help clients negotiate loan modifications. We conduct federal and New York State income tax controversies education, counseling, and outreach to educate the community about fair including assisting clients with audits and examina- housing/lending laws, providing updates on developments and changes tions, innocent spouse relief requests, appeals, and in the law. collection issues. community and economic development (ced). preserving affordable housing program. We provide in-house and special project legal counsel, which encom- Brooklyn A’s aggressive housing practice fights to pre- passes a full range of transactional legal services, to CBOs/CDCs. We vent evictions, preserve affordable housing, and ensure provide our clients with ongoing, comprehensive legal counsel in their that apartments are safe. We provide legal services, daily operation and functioning and at all stages of project and program including advice, advocacy, and aggressive litigation, development. We also provide a broad range of legal services to start-up to prevent evictions, in court and in administrative CBOs and NYCHA Tenant Associations (TAs) by helping them to proceedings; obtain needed repairs in apartments and incorporate, obtain federal and state tax exemptions, register with the buildings; obtain benefits to pay rent arrears and future NYS Office of the Attorney General Charities Bureau, and establish rent, and fight to reduce illegally high rents. Through functional corporate structures and governance and operational policies. our model of affirmative group representation, we preserve the affordability of entire buildings. We sup- low-income taxpayer clinic (litc). port tenant associations and tenant organizations and Through education and representation of low-income taxpayers, primarily represent them in litigation; and provide training and in Brooklyn, but services are available to residents city-wide, Brooklyn A’s education on tenants’ rights and fair housing. 2015 YEAR IN REVIEW

A YEAR OF IMPACT

CONSUMER & ECONOMIC ADVOCACY PROGRAM (CEA) The CEA Program represented 160 homeowners facing foreclosure, of which 49 cases were closed; impacting the lives of 355 adults (including 52 seniors) and 129 children. collaborating with partners to multiply our effectiveness: We collaborated with Neighborhood Housing Services of East Flatbush, Inc. and their resident certified Reverse Mortgage Counselor on the case of Wells Fargo v. Sybil and Jason Weekes. Ms. Weekes, an elderly woman, had fallen victim to an obviously predatory loan with payments vastly exceeding her ability to pay. After years of refusing to modify the loan, we were able to accept the case and prosecute the claim of predatory lending based upon racial discrimination. Judge Carolyn development for CHLDC; the first affordable senior hous- Demarest agreed with our claim, and we were able to reach ing in Cypress Hills/East New York and CHLDC’s first an agreement with Wells Fargo that reduced their claim project to see LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green from over $800K to $310K that could be satisfied with a Building Council. reverse mortgage. NHS’s housing counselor was able to Cypress Hills Senior Housing, located at 137 Jamaica model this solution for other clients, which kept Ms. Weekes Avenue in Brooklyn, will contain 53 one-bedroom dwell- in her home and allowed her son to refinance the home after ing units. The apartments will be rented to very low-income the crisis of foreclosure passed. senior citizens earning up to 50% of the Area Median Income as defined by HUD. COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC Brooklyn A represented CHLDC in various pre-devel- opment aspects of the project including: the negotiation DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (CED) and drafting of a demolition and remediation contract; The CED Program represented 50 not-for-profit clients on license agreements with the City of New York; the draft- 70 development and operational projects which impacted ing and ongoing administration of their architect contract; the lives of 103,101 individuals and families. the drafting of the construction contract; the preparation of supporting community development: In the property management agreement; the formation of the October of 2015, the CED Program and its long-time client various subsidiaries needed for the project, including the title and partner, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, holding Housing Development Fund Corporation; and the Inc. (CHLDC), closed on the “Cypress Hills Senior Limited Partnership for bringing low-income housing tax Housing Project.” The project is the first senior housing credits into the financing. 2015 YEAR IN REVIEW

A YEAR OF IMPACT continued

PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM • Closed 614 individual housing cases, affecting 1,666 people. • Represented 86 tenant associations in rent- stabilized housing through which we have restored tenants to their homes. • Expanded our Community Legal Education work, including presentations, brochures, and website infor- mation, to reach 46,038 people, enabling them to learn about their rights and protect themselves against landlord harassment. preventing homelessness: In late 2015, Brooklyn A advocates met with a tenant who had been evicted from her East New York Apartment, with her five month old infant. In May 2015, the tenant, who at the time was still pregnant, appearing without legal representation, signed an agreement to vacate her apartment by July 31, 2015. While pregnant, and due any day, she began searching for an afford- able apartment. She could not find one so she stayed in the apartment to keep a roof over her new baby’s head. She was evicted in October and was unable to get access to her baby formula or diapers. Soon after, she was referred to Brooklyn RUTLEDGE MATTHEW A by one of our community partners. Our Preserving FLICKR/ Affordable Housing Program - Individual Representation Unit accepted the case and quickly drafted an emergency Brooklyn Borough President’s constituent services depart- motion stating that the tenant had unknowingly waived her ment, we came into contact with a tenant who was being rights when she signed the agreement. We then requested denied services and repairs, severely harassed, intimidated, that the court vacate the judgment because there was a and discriminated against because of her race. We launched defect in the initial termination. The notion of termination a building-wide investigation into the issue of disparate never specified a termination date. In early November, the conditions within the apartments of white tenants and black court dismissed the case and restored the tenant to posses- tenants and have discovered serious and illegal discrepan- sion of her home, preventing her from having to take her cies. Through multiple rounds of door knocking, individual infant child into the shelter system. interviews and visits with tenants, and meetings with groups combating tenant harassment: The Preserving of tenants, we have been able to provide this building with Affordable Housing Program – Group Representation Unit other legal-related services as part of our fair housing inves- initiates building-wide investigations into systemic fair hous- tigations, including know-your-rights education, fair hous- ing violations. One such investigation has been commenced ing testing, and in the near future, administrative action on at 104 Empire Boulevard. Through a referral from the their behalf under fair housing laws. 2015 YEAR IN REVIEW

A YEAR OF RECOGNITION

JESSICA ROSE, ESQ., Program Director of Brooklyn A’s Community & Economic Development Program, received the Fordham University School of Law Stein Alumni Award. The Stein Alumni Awards recognize outstanding alumni of the Stein Scholars Program, which provides tailored guidance and mentorship to students inter- ested in pro bono law, government, and public interest work. NDUKWE AGWU, ESQ., Senior Staff Attorney of Brooklyn A’s Consumer & Economic Advocacy Program, was awarded with a Blackshear Fellowship. The Fellowship honors five up-and-coming minority bankruptcy lawyers for their professional accomplishments and who show potential to distinguish themselves in future years as highly respected

Jessica Rose, Esq. Ndukwe Agwu, Esq. members of the bankruptcy bar.

PRO BONO RECOGNITION At the 2015 Annual Partnership Awards Benefit, Brooklyn A recognized the law Tiffanye Threadcraft firms and attorneys who performed outstanding pro bono service during the year. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP The breadth and depth of their commitment, as well as work on cases, is critical Zachary Saltzman, JoAnna Tsoumpas to Brooklyn A providing access to legal representation that helps improve the lives Debevoise & Plimpton LLP of those living in a state of poverty. Jason Zoldessy Jackson Lewis LLP Kimberley Piro Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP Courtney Finerty, Frederick Warder III Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP David Mader Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan Maryam Jazini, Norman Siegel Siegel Teitelbaum & Evans LLP Wenli Cai, Sarah Elliott, Gustavo Silva Cano Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP Miriam Buhl, Seth Goodchild, Stacey Harkey Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP Jeffrey Bank, Whitney Costin, Vincent Zhou Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati PHOTO: TODD PLITTTODD PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO: 2015 YEAR IN REVIEW

A YEAR OF CELEBRATION & HONOR 2015 ANNUAL PARTNERSHIP AWARDS BENEFIT HELD OCTOBER 29, 2015

JUDGE HAROLD R. TYLER AWARD

WILLIAM SCHWARTZ Brooklyn A Co-Executive Directors Paul Acinapura and Martin Recipient of the Judge Harold R. Tyler Award, William Needelman with Honorable Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam, recipient Of Counsel, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP Schwartz, with Viacom C.E.O Philippe Dauman. of the Denis Berger Award. SARGENT SHRIVER AWARD LUZ YOLANDA COCA Community Organizer, Bushwick Housing Independence Project, Catholic Migration Services

DENIS BERGER AWARD HONORABLE JUDGE SHEILA ABDUS-SALAAM Associate Judge of the New York Court of 2015 APAB Master of Ceremonies, Deborah Norville. 2015 APAB Special Guest, Geraldo Rivera. Appeals

GUEST SPEAKER ERIC L. ADAMS Brooklyn Borough President

MASTER OF CEREMONIES DEBORAH NORVILLE Anchor, Inside Edition

SPECIAL GUEST 2015 APAB Honorees Yolanda Coca and William Schwartz alongside Brooklyn A Co-Executive Directors, Paul Brooklyn A Co-Executive Director, Martin Needelman GERALDO RIVERA along-side Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. Senior Correspondent, Fox News Acinapura and Martin Needel-man.

2015 RUCKUS FOR JUSTICE HELD MAY 7, 2015 Young Professionals for Justice (YPJ) is a membership based group of profes- YPJ members, left to right, Brian Shupack, YPJ members ,left to right, Gustavo Silva sionals dedicated to supporting the work of Brooklyn A and raising awareness Tiffany Femiano, Romy Ganschow and Lynn Cano with friend, Vincent Duran, and Tiffanye Horowitz. Threadcraft. of the need for accessible legal services for low-moderate income individuals and communities in Brooklyn, and NYC wide. YPJ supports communities by pro- moting Brooklyn A’s efforts to sustain and develop vibrant, healthy communities and advocate for social justice. Ruckus for Justice celebrates the young attorneys and social justice advocates that have been integral to Brooklyn A’s work. On May 7, 2015, YPJers gathered together to raise awareness about the need for high-quality YPJ member Domenico Siravo (center) YPJ member Stephan Petryczka with friends. (center) with friends legal representation for everyone.

PHOTOS: TODD PLITT PHOTOGRAPHY 2015 COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND CLIENTS

CONSUMER AND ECONOMIC Community Services Housing PRESERVING AFFORDABLE ADVOCACY PROGRAM Development Corporation HOUSING PROGRAM Bridge Street Development Corporation Cooper Park Resident Council, Inc. Coalition for Debtor Education Cypress Hills Child Care Corporation GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATION UNITS Cypress Hills Local Development Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, Inc. Corporation, Inc. Allied Communities Against Buy Outs (ACABO) Coalition IMPACCT Brooklyn (formerly Pratt Cypress Hills Tenant Association, Inc. Area Community Council) Foundation for Urban Health & Well Broadway Triangle Community Coalition Kings County Foreclosure Defense Bar Being, Inc. Bushwick Housing Independence Project (BHIP) Neighborhood Housing Services of East Gowanus Resident Council, Inc. Flatbush, Inc. Harvest Life Center, Inc. Churches United for Fair Housing (CUFFH) New Yorkers for Responsible Lending Hester Street Collaborative (NYRL) Cypress Hills Local Development Ingersoll Resident Association, Inc. Corporation, Inc. Right to Counsel NYC Coalition Jamaica Drum Jam, Inc. El Puente John F. Hylan Houses Tenants Mobilization Against Displacement COMMUNITY AND Association, Inc. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (MAD) Lafayette Gardens Residents Neighbors Allied for Good Growth PROGRAM Association, Inc. African American Planning (NAG) Living Through Movement, Inc. Commission, Inc. North Brooklyn Development Make the Road New York Alliance for Healthy Communities NCB Corporation LLC Museum of Contemporary African Nuestros Niños Day Care Center Diasporan Arts (MOCADA) Arts East New York, Inc. Organization United for Trash National Congress of Neighborhood Beat the Betes, Inc. Reduction and Garbage Equity Women (OUTRAGE) The Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Northeast Brooklyn Housing Center, Inc. Save Our Southside (SOS) Development Corporation Berry Street Tenants Association Shareholders for the Betterment of NYC Yoga Project, Inc. Lindsay Park Brevoort Resident Association, Inc. Peoples First Baptist Church Sisters Friends Galleria Supporting Low Borough Development Group Progressive People Movement, Inc. Income Women and their Children Boulevard Houses Tenant Association Sister Friends Galleria, Supporting Low Small World Day Care Center Brooklyn Clergy Action Network 2 Save Income Women and Their Children, Inc. Southside Community Schools Coalition Our Communities Sisters Building Sisters In Brooklyn, Inc. (SCSC) Brooklyn-West District Council of Somos El Futuro Southside United Housing Development Presidents, Inc. Southside United Housing Development Fund Corporation (Los Sures) Brownsville Community Development Fund Corporation (Los Sures) St. Nicks Alliance Corporation (Brownsville Multi-Service Family Health Center) St. Stephen Outreach Community Swinging Sixties Senior Center Development Corporation Bushwick Houses Resident United Neighbors Organization (UNO) Association, Inc. St. Stephen Outreach, Inc. Churches United For Fair Housing The Tenants Association of Marcy (CUFFH) Houses, Inc. Community Driven Solutions Tompkins Houses Resident Association, Inc. Trey Whitfield School Universal Baptist Church Urban Health Plan, Inc. 2015 PRO-BONO PARTNERS, EXTERNS, INTERNS & VOLUNTEERS

PRO BONO PARTNERS LAW SCHOOL INTERNS COLLEGE INTERNS Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law New York City College of Technology, Tiffanye S.M. Threadcraft Alodie Efamba CUNY Michael Luke Silvia Meija Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP Alice Wade Sandra Huerta Ramirez Kamaria Romeo Debevoise & Plimpton LLP Brooklyn Law School Zachary H. Saltzman Jed Russell VOLUNTEERS JoAnna C. Tsoumpas John Willumsen John Shand

Jackson Lewis P.C. City University of New York School of Law Mina M. Wood Ryan MacDonald Jason A. Zoldessy Columbia Law School Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP Brianna Cummings Kimberley Piro Tiffany Pan

Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP Cornell Law School Courtney E. Finerty Taylor Keating Frederick B. Warder III Fordham University School of Law Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP Michael Cuqua David S. Mader George Rhein

Siegel Teitelbaum & Evans, LLP Georgetown University Law Center Maryam Jazini Jessica Lim Norman Siegel Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP Hofstra University Miriam A. Buhl Nicholas Pagano Seth Goodchild Stacey Harkey New York University School of Law Matthew Olsen Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati Jeffrey C. Bank St. John’s University School of Law Whitney M. Costin Hiram Angel Vidal Jr. Vincent Zhou University of Michigan Law School Emmanuela Jean-Etienne EXTERNS Yiyun Fu Joanna Howard Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP Lilliana Lin Wenli Cai Beiming Liu Gustavo Silva Cano Gregory Margolis Sarah Elliott Lucia Qian Jessica Savoie 2015 FINANCIALS

REVENUE BY SOURCE All figures are based on the 2015 Audited Financial Statements:

Earned Income Government Grants and Contracts $ 1,900,596 51% 16% Foundation Grants and Contracts* 262,029 7% Individual/Corporate Contributions 324,268 9% In-kind/ Donated 16% Earned Income** 603,775 16% Pro Bono 51% Services In-kind/Donated Pro Bono Services 600,000 16% 9% Individual/ 7% TOTAL $ 3,690,668 100% Corporate Contributions Government *Includes Interest on New York State Interest on Lawyer Account Fund Grants and and law school fellowships. Foundation Contracts Grants and **Includes Rental Income and Community & Economic Development Fees. Contracts

EXPENSE BY FUNCTIONAL ALLOCATION All figures are based on the 2015 Audited Financial Statements:

Administrative/ Fundraising Management 6% Program* $ 2,797,562 80% 14% Administrative/Management 499,085 14% Fundraising 208,197 6% TOTAL $3,504,844 100% 80% *Includes donated pro bono services valued at $600,000.

Program 2015 GRATITUDE

Brooklyn A is deeply grateful to those individuals, corporations, foundations, law firms and government supporters that have sustained us over this past year. You provide the critical financial support we need to accomplish our work and achieve impact and lasting change in our communities. We thank you for your continued support.

100,000+ The Charatan/Holm Family Foundation Luz Yolanda Coca Martin S. Needelman New York City Department of Housing Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP Gary Connor Michelle Neugebauer Preservation & Development Esquire Bank Maria Contreras Collier New York State Employees Federated New York City Human Resources The Haber Foundation Linda Cooper Appeal Administration Infor Cypress Hills Child Care Corporation, Inc. Thomas Noone New York State Division of Criminal Justice Plato Malozemoff Foundation Abdulla Darrat Robert S. Novig Services Moritz Gold Corp. Marites del Carmen James OShea New York State Office of the Attorney Ira Leon and Ingeborg Rennert Tamara del Carmen Robin Ottaway General Saul Shapiro and Kerith Aronow Charles Deull Stephan Petryczka New York State Office of Court Thomas McC. and Catherine Curran Claire B. Dienstag Anne Pilsbury Administration Souther David and Patricia Ann Dobosz Roy Pingel U.S. Department of Housing and Urban TCF Law Group Eli Elias Leonard Plaine Development The Widgeon Point Charitable Foundation Tania Espinoza Austen Refuerzo Viacom Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Hillary Exter Carl and Sharon Refuerzo Foundation Ellen Fawr & Michael Tannenberg Rochelle and David A. Hirsch Foundation $50,000 – $99,999 John D. and Emalie Feerick Dara Rose DIME Savings Bank of Williamsburgh $1,000 – $2,499 Fifth Avenue Synagogue Narcisa Ruiz New York State Interest on Lawyer Account Anonymous Sam Fineman Lorelei Salas Fund Michael Benzi Steven Flax Saul & Janice Linzer Foundation Brooklyn Bar Association Foundation, Inc. Rose Flectcher Holly Sawyer $25,000 – $49,999 Center for NYC Neighborhoods, Inc. Malcom and Shelia Foster H. Richard Schumacher Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom Henry Goldfeier Arlen Sue Fox Frederick A.O. Schwarz, Jr. LLP Valarie Hing Yossi Gestetner Sara Sherman Henry & Elaine Kaufman Foundation, Inc. David P. Glasel Franklin Siegel $15,000 – $24,999 Joseph Lipofsky Brian Glick Andrew Smith Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP Alexis P. and Wiera Malozemoff John Greiner Porfirio Sotomayor Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP Morris Kirschner Perpetual Charitable Allan L. Gropper Wayne Stanton Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP Trust Daniel Guetta Stephanie R. Steinberg and Daniel Debevoise & Plimpton LLP Pitta, Bishop, Del Giorno & Giblin LLC Michael Haber Schachter Kelley, Drye & Warren LLP Pitta & Giblin LLP Louis M. Hancock Tiffanye Threadcraft M&T Charitable Foundation Paul Rausnitz and Frances Kay Remeny Lynn P. Harrison III and Tonya P. Harrison Jerome M. and Ruth Turk Tiger Baron Foundation Vera Rausnitz Jack Joseph Or Rose Vanderpool-Fletcher The Ridgefield Foundation Jonathan S. and Alana Reed Katz Joyce Vargas $10,000 – $14,999 Ridgewood Savings Bank Harold and Renee Kelvin Luz Virella The Gretchen Beinecke Charitable Trust Signature Bank Mitchell and Anne Kirschner Lawrence and Charlene Weiss Santander Bank Foundation Brian Sullivan Andrew Knepley The William L. Richter Family Foundation Urban Health Plan, Inc. Lawrence Knoll Mina and Alexander Wood Pacifico Velastegui Julia Kohen $5,000 – $9,999 The Wallace Foundation Astoria Bank Luis and Lee Lainer note: We have made every attempt to list all Michael Young conEdison Henry and Catherine Lanier of our donors and supporters appropriately. If Arnold Zaltas Jyotin Hamid Robert C. Lawrence III you find any errors in this list please contact the Development Department at 718-487- Kramer, Dillof, Livingston & Moore Tricia Lendore 2328. New York City Department for the Aging $100 – $999 David Lopez Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP 314 Troutman Street Tenants Association Frances Lucerna Kenneth and Battina Plevan AmazonSmile Foundation Andrew Malozemoff James H.R. Windels Bamontes Restaurant Corporation Cindy Mann Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center, Shannon Manning Inc. Martin Romerovski Foundation $2,500 – $4,999 Robert Begleiter Maureen McCarthy Bank Leumi Alice Berger Max Melmed Brownsville Community Development Christina Bernardo Corporation Jaclyn Moynahan David Bryan BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERS MEMBERS Thomas McC. Souther, Chair Marcel L. Anderson Partner Deputy General Counsel Pepper Hamilton LLP Resorts World New York City

Valarie A. Hing, Vice-Chair Robert L. Begleiter Partner Partner Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP Constantine Cannon LLP

Kenneth J. Mahon, Treasurer Sam Beck Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Senior Lecturer DIME Savings Bank Director of the New York City Urban Semester Program Cornell University Anne Pilsbury, Secretary Executive Director Robert E. Crotty Central American Legal Assistance Partner Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

Harold Green President Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, Inc.

Jyotin Hamid Partner Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Harvey Lawrence President Brownsville Multi-Service Family Health Center

Joseph Lipofsky Of Counsel Zwerling Schachter & Zwerling

David Lopez Board Chair Southside United Housing Development Fund Corporation (Los Sures)

Frances Lucerna Executive Director El Puente

Saul B. Shapiro Partner Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP

James H.R. Windels Partner Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP STAFF

Martin S. Needelman, Esq. Paul J. Acinapura, Esq. Co-Executive Director, Chief Counsel Co-Executive Director & General Counsel

CONSUMER & ECONOMIC Maria-Julia Echart Kristie Ortiz, Esq. ADVOCACY PROGRAM Community Outreach and Intake Senior Staff Attorney David J. Bryan, Esq. Specialist Austen D. Refuerzo, Esq. Program Director Ana Granados Staff Attorney Ndukwe Agwu, Esq. Legal Advocate Charnyl Revere Senior Staff Attorney Caroline Iosso Staff Attorney Tamara del Carmen, Esq. Fair Housing Advocate Kennedy Rivera Senior Staff Attorney Lina Lee, Esq. Paralegal Andrew Malozemoff, Esq. Senior Staff Attorney Myrna Sanabria Senior Staff Attorney Carmen J. Manzano Senior Paralegal Joyce Vargas Legal Assistant and Intake Specialist Christopher Sina Paralegal Adam Meyers, Esq. Staff Attorney Staff Attorney Reva Zenruffinen, Esq. COMMUNITY & Rachel Nager, Esq. Staff Attorney ECONOMIC Staff Attorney DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Raphael Ruttenberg, Esq. FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Jessica Rose, Esq. Senior Staff Attorney Joshua D. Hoffman, Esq. Program Director Chief Financial & Operations Officer Margaret Saalfield, Esq. Meah Clay, Esq. Senior Staff Attorney Rosemarie Peralta Senior Staff Attorney Intake/Reception Milagros Sandoval Caroline Gross, Esq. Community Outreach and Intake Maria Posner Staff Attorney Specialist Office Manager Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP Extern Jean Stevens, Esq. Shimon Sieskel Jennifer Kubicki, Esq. Staff Attorney Reception Senior Staff Attorney Ezinwanyi Ukegbu, Esq. Kiahnah Torres PRESERVING AFFORDABLE Staff Attorney Reception HOUSING PROGRAM Jack Underwood DEVELOPMENT & GROUP REPRESENTATION UNIT Staff Attorney COMMUNICATIONS Shekar Krishnan, Esq. Justina Walker Gloria Ramón, M.P.P. Program Director Legal Advocate Director of Development & Travis Arrindell, Esq. Sara Wolkensdorfer, Esq. Communications Deputy Program Director Staff Attorney Mateja Lucic Poverty Justice Solutions Fellow Gregory E. Louis, Esq. Development & Communications Coordinator; AmeriCorps* VISTA Deputy Program Director INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATION UNIT Yin Sok Samuel Hamilton Chiera, Esq. Leander (Lee) McRae, Esq. Development & Communications Staff Attorney Program Director Coordinator; AmeriCorps* VISTA Jerry Dickens, Jr. Sebastian Brady Serena Stewart Community Outreach and Intake Legal Services Coordinator, AmeriCorps* Development & Communications Specialist VISTA Coordinator; AmeriCorps* VISTA Alexandra Drimal, Esq. Janna Levin, Esq. Staff Attorney Senior Staff Attorney