Nielsen, an adorable therapy dog, visits regularly with our CARE group to provide comfort and companionship to older adults living with dementia.

We were so excited to visit with our dear friend Assembly Member Rebecca A. Seawright in Albany. Our teams are always hard at work on our legislative and budget priorities.⁠

Visual Arts Teacher Musah Swallah presented his stunning collection of artwork in a solo exhibition, "Tribute & Complexion," at an East Village art gallery.

After years of partnering with our Early Childhood Center, musician and educator Hayes Greenfield published Creative Sound Play for Young Learners–a play-based curriculum that supports the development of executive function abilities and inhibitory control through sound and silence.

Our Early Childhood Center families had so much fun gathering for a special breakfast with our Teaching Kitchen chefs to hear about–and enjoy!–the delicious and healthy meals we prepare for our students.

“Volunteering has been one of the greatest joys of my life. It’s not about you helping someone–it’s all about sharing. It’s a collaborative process, totally transformative. You are making this incredible difference in their life, and they are making this incredible difference in yours” shares Michelle, who volunteers with our ESOL, CARE and Older Adult Center programs.⁠

Sara Woodson (Director, Older Adult Centers), Zureai Goodwin-Sanders (Director, CARE Program), Yameiri Delmonte (Program Manager, Older Adult Centers), Jessica Leylavergne (Deputy Chief Program Officer) and Patricia Tu (Director of Data, Evaluation and Performance Management) were thrilled to connect with peers on how to drive innovative solutions to improve the lives of older adults at the American Society on Aging’s conference in California.

Our inaugural Intro to Coding class with Technology Education Coordinator Johnny Inoue was a smashing success! Our free tech classes and assistance for older adults continue to evolve with the interests and needs of our members–and we love encouraging and supporting lifelong learning!

Members and colleagues from our Older Adult Centers joined more than 1,000 New Yorkers of all ages for an Intergenerational Groove Celebration, hosted by NYC Aging and Groove NYC, in recognition of Older Adults Health and Fitness Day.

Chef Jermaine has always had a deep passion for food, and has worn many hats within our Food Services Department since joining us in 1999. Jermaine relishes his role in the kitchen, adding that “working with people from different cultures and backgrounds feels more at home. Here, it’s very family-oriented. Kitchens have all sorts of personalities–which always keeps a smile on my face.”

Our life-changing elevator at Casa Mutua has increased accessibility and transformed the lives of our 54 tenants. A proud new chapter in our East Harlem permanent supportive housing residence!

“It’s not just money,” Clara explains, “accounting helps people.” Clara has served as our Chief Accounting Officer for decades, combining her accounting experience and passion for law with her drive to help others. “Every day, you see the little kids, you see the older adult clients, and you think, ‘What can I do?’ And what I can do is help to achieve the best outcomes for our clients.”

Neighborhood House colleagues Jake Newman and Johnny Inoue presented at the State Society on Aging of New York Conference in Saratoga Springs on how we structure our Adult Education programs to improve digital equity among older adults.

"As a family, we felt heard and seen and we had the opportunity to learn about parenting, teaching, health, as well as nutrition."

We were honored to collaborate with women's fashion icon Diane von Furstenberg and the Detroit-based nonprofit Empowerment Plan for a special coat donation event for clients at our Women's Mental Health Shelter.

Jasmine's inspiration for working with older adults stemmed from her grandmother’s service in the supportive housing field. "Older adults have lived and experienced far more than I, and though I may know about how government agencies and benefits work, they have plenty to teach me."

Guided by Artist-in-Residence Karrolyn, clients from our Women's Mental Health Shelter and members of our Older Adult Centers created dozens of individual pieces as well as a "Unity Collage" communal piece. "I love how collage inspires people to see things they haven’t seen before and try things they haven’t tried before."

Our members showcased their comedic and improvisation talents during a staged reading of two original comedy plays. Developed as part of our Improv to Script class with Acting Teacher Kerri Evans, the performance left the audience in stitches!

Terry joined a cohort from New York City settlement houses for a week-long study exchange program in Berlin, Germany. Terry connected with peers working in child development and social services and also shared her experiences on how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted Head Start preschoolers and their families.

During their end-of-year celebrations, our young scholars showcased their learnings from the school year for their families, teachers and Neighborhood House colleagues. We are so proud of all that they accomplished and look forward to the next chapter in their learning adventures!⁠⁠

"This was such an uplifting concert. It made me forget my pain," shares Older Adult Center member Marlene, reflecting on our heartwarming concert with Peace of Heart Choir as a part of our Sunday Series.

We presented our esteemed Elizabeth Rohatyn Award for Community Service to the New York Health Foundation for their incredible partnership and support in helping us to increase equitable access to nutritious, locally sourced meals.

"The daily exercise programs keep me up and going, and condition every part of my body and well-being. I feel stronger each day."

Our older adult members enjoyed a unique discussion series with educators from The Frick Collection, where the group examined artwork from the museum's permanent collection and learned about the history and background of the brilliant pieces.

We kicked off the summer season with our Annual First Avenue Festival, where our spirited colleagues and clients led exciting interactive performances and activities, including Chinese folk dancing, boxing, tap dance and story time. We are the proud longstanding sponsor of this family-friendly festival and are so grateful to our neighbors for helping us to build community connections between New Yorkers of all ages!

We are so proud every year that a group of our colleagues participate in the Columbia Business School Developing Leaders Program for Nonprofit Professionals as we continue to provide professional development opportunities for our teams.⁠

“I just wanted to say thank you for caring for me when I didn’t sometimes know how to care for myself.”

Our production of The Music Man SR. allowed Julie to "step outside of myself," she says. "Acting allows you to take on different emotions and characteristics that you wouldn't necessarily give yourself permission to do otherwise–it's a broadening of your perspective."

"Working with Lenox Hill Neighborhood House gives my work meaning. It fills me with joy, and it really reaffirms my commitment to my community. Our collaborations allow me to be present, to deeply feel the love from the people around me and to better articulate my commitment to shaping a better future." - Natasha Pickowicz, Chef and Author

It’s always such a treat to exhibit the gorgeous artwork created by our clients! This wonderful Art Exhibition was the culmination of weekly workshops with our Summer Artist-in-Residence, Lydia Viscardi, who also debuted her own pieces alongside our clients’ magnificent work. The mixed-media narrative pieces were inspired by childhood memories and elicited spirited conversations among the artists and our clients and colleagues.

Paula had always been extremely fearful of the water, but when she saw the opportunity to take swimming lessons, she thought, ‘I'll give it a shot.’ Now, she is making strides learning how to float, blow bubbles and, most importantly, feel safe in the water. "The atmosphere in the classes is very encouraging. I never in a million years thought I'd have my face underwater and blowing bubbles."

In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we were delighted to host an afternoon of dancing and music for our Older Adult Center members. Participants from our Belly Dancing class wowed the audience with a special performance, while talented musicians from our friends at EnoB dazzled with a selection of Korean, Chinese and classical music pieces.

In anticipation of the danger that rising summer temperatures present to older adults, we purchased, delivered and installed air conditioning units in the homes of older adult clients.

Older Adult Center member and volunteer instructor Judy Belle taught a weekly clay sculpture class, sharing her decades of artistic experience to curate a warm and welcoming art class for her peers.

Local student and Neighborhood House volunteer Lila Gimbel created an online tie-dye clothing shop and raised $6,000 to support our older adult neighbors!

Our Early Childhood Center families and teachers had a blast at the Lovin' Lit & Languaging event with our friends from the NYU Communicative Sciences and Disorders team! Participants read bilingual books, engaged in interactive storytelling and crafted maracas at nearby John Jay Park.

Jinae, one of our very first Book Cart volunteers, helped to launch this special program designed to share free books and chat with Older Adult Center members.

Early Childhood Center students had a blast playing with bubbles, water tables and sprinklers on our Environmental Playscape!

Lydia retired after 42 years of incredible service to the children and families in our Early Childhood Center. Lydia’s exemplary service influenced the lives of countless preschool students, families and colleagues for more than four decades. Her passion and warmth have extended to all of us at the Neighborhood House.

"Thank you for continuing to look after those who cannot look after themselves."

Chef Yanet was selected for the Leadership Fellows New York Spring Cohort, which proved to be an "exciting opportunity to learn critical leadership skills. I wanted to learn more so I could teach more–bringing new insights to the Neighborhood House to improve how we work with our community. It was inspiring to connect with other nonprofit leaders who share my values and passion.”

Our friends Eric Lysdahl and Philip Norkeliunas hosted a group of our Spring Gala designers for a lively "Mad Hatter’s Tea Party" luncheon–in collaboration with Homeworthy–to kick off our Gala countdown. It was no surprise that this talented group was able to create such fun and festive headwear!

We were thrilled to celebrate our amazing colleague Annie Concepción and toast her incredible service to our Neighborhood House Community. Annie first joined us as a volunteer, when her three children were students in our Early Childhood Center, and then became a cook with our Food Services team–where she brought unparalleled energy and positivity and tremendous talent for more than 25 years!

Our annual Thanksgiving Dinner Dance welcomes hundreds of older adult neighbors to celebrate the spirit of gratitude with a fabulous farm-to-table feast–prepared by our chefs–followed by live music and dancing.

Our longstanding partners at the NYU College of Dentistry visited our Early Childhood Center to provide dental screenings to our preschoolers–just one element of our annual free health check-ups. The children were delighted to receive colorful toothbrushes and special stickers for being brave patients and learning about healthy dental habits. ⁠

Behind-the-scenes look into our Teaching Kitchen training with chefs from Acacia Network. During these hands-on sessions, our fabulous chefs work with nonprofits and schools to convert their food services to a farm-to-institution model by serving more fresh, healthy and local food–without raising costs.

A walking group at our Women's Mental Health Shelter provided an opportunity to connect on a more personal level–not as client and staff member, but person-to-person.

We loved hosting Belongó for a musical journey on "Songs Across America." For a special month-long residency, the talented Afro-Latin jazz ensemble performed regularly at our two Older Adult Centers and encouraged members to sing along, clap and dance.

Young performers put on a wonderful show in front of their families and our colleagues, showcasing their dance moves and singing along to seasonal favorites such as the Snowflake Song and Penguin Cha-Cha!⁠

Our Fitness & Aquatics team launched a new TRX Blast class in our beautiful Fitness Center. This dynamic class helps participants to gain strength, improve mobility and enhance alignment in various exercises. ⁠

"[My son] was saying only 10 words clearly when he started. Now he’s a chatterbox, a performer, a swimmer and full of so much knowledge that he can actually share! Lenox Hill Neighborhood House has truly found a special place in my heart!"

“Access to healthy, affordable and fresh food and meals is something every New Yorker should have as a human right.” Teaching Kitchen Executive Chef Evelyn García testified at a New York City Council Hearing for the Committee on General Welfare, sharing her unique perspective as an accomplished chef leading our award-winning farm-to-institution training program.

Marigolds, mint, thyme, pansies and fresh fruit! Members of our Older Adult Centers created delicious and beautiful Fruit Tarts in an engaging workshop led by renowned pastry chef and author Natasha Pickowicz.

Artist-in-Residence Syma integrated 'play' into jewelry-making classes for older adults using Play-Doh as a medium. "In my classes, the idea is to experience joy through art and experience play and learn how to see the way an artist sees."

"It was a no brainer to support an organization such as yours. Keep up the great work in continuing to support women."

Young performers showcased their autumn spirit at our annual Early Childhood Center Harvest Festival with handcrafted harvest crowns, seasonal tunes and a festive pumpkin patch!

Fashion designer Didit Hediprasetyo donated handmade breathable masks to our colleagues and clients at our Women's Mental Health Shelter, which prompted a client fashion show and a special feature in Vogue!

Students in our English for Speakers of Other Languages classes enjoy a special Summer Reading Club with texts from a variety of women authors. The class helps students to enhance reading comprehension and develop strategies for reading in English.⁠

"Your mission to help vulnerable women facing mental health challenges resonated with me. Thank you for doing what you do to make the world a better place."

"I've loved theater since I was a kid. I've never been far from theater. At the age of 78, to be playing a 19-year-old is a thrill."

Our Early Childhood Center students and teachers always love meeting new friends–and had a blast learning about Japanese culture and customs with graduate students from Tokyo University of Social Welfare and Fordham University.

Deputy Chief Program Officer Jessica Leylavergne connected with Manhattan Borough President Mark D. Levine following his inspiring State of the Borough Address. Together, we’re committed to shaping a brighter future for all of our clients and our community.

Our clients celebrated mobility diversity by creating an abstract communal painting mural using their feet and hands as well as assistance devices such as canes, wheelchairs and walkers.

Our friend (and previous Artist-in-Residence) Syma led a three-month jewelry-making class, Baubles and Beads, for Older Adult Center members, where participants created earrings, necklaces, bracelets and more. We were WOWED by the Play-Doh and porcelain clay jewelry showcased at the class’s fabulous art reception.

"There are people in the cast that have never been in any shows, and seeing the delight, seeing the joy that people are finding, maybe for the first time having this opportunity–I mean, people get giddy–that's been very touching to see."