As we enjoy spring — and cautiously ease into a new normal after two long years — it is critical that we continue working diligently to help those most in need.
This year has started off with many challenges in our communities, but CAMBA remains committed to helping our neighbors across the five boroughs — and you're an essential part of our work.
It is our hope that we can continue counting on you as we bring struggling New Yorkers the services and support they need. With your help, we can ease their fears about their health and well-being, food insecurity, and homelessness.
Thank you for your continued support of our mission.
Warmly,
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Joanne M. Oplustil
CAMBA President & CEO
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CAMBA Holds Black Maternal Health Week Event |
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On April 14th, CAMBA was joined by New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett and UnitedHealth Group Chief Medical Officer Dr. Margaret-Mary Wilson with support from the Amazin’ Mets Foundation at King’s Theatre in a community conversation to address the nation’s ongoing Black maternal health crisis. CAMBA convened the event as part of Black Maternal Health Week.
The event, Changing Outcomes: Moving Black Maternal Health Forward, featured a screening of the powerful documentary film, Bearing the Burden: Black Mothers in America, created by Retro Report and released in collaboration with The New Yorker that showcases the crisis faced by Black mothers and parents.
Following the screening, CAMBA’s Chief Administrative Officer Valerie Barton-Richardson moderated an in-depth conversation with Dr. Bassett and Dr. Wilson. Dr. Bassett outlined how the State was working to address issues faced by Black mothers. Dr. Wilson outlined some of the issues she has observed from her role with UnitedHealth Group facing Black mothers and noted ways that the United Health Foundation is working to address and support new approaches to enable better outcomes at birth and beyond.
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In May 2021, the United Health Foundation – the philanthropic foundation of UnitedHealth Group – began a multi-year partnership with CAMBA to improve access to high-quality prenatal care for underserved women. The partnership is expected to reduce maternal morbidity and improve child health outcomes through the services of community health workers, doulas, tele-health, and future mobile van care; and increase the number of women and families moving into safe and permanent housing.
Another discussion, moderated by Damalia Jackson, CAMBA’s Director of Maternal & Infant Health Services, included: Dr. Christina Pardo, OB-GYN at SUNY Downstate and Deputy Director of Life of Hope; Tia Dowling, Doula for the Brooklyn Perinatal Network; and activist, advocate, and educator Bruce McIntyre III, Founder of saveArose Foundation. The panelists focused on work underway to bring awareness to Black maternal health in the public’s mind and find innovative and sustainable solutions.
So far the event has been covered by both Ebony.com and The Brooklyn Reader. This is just the beginning of what we hope will be on-going programs, funding, and partnerships to address this critical issue.
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CAMBA's Night at the Ballpark June 22, 2022 |
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CAMBA Participates in
MLK Jr. Day of Service
Benefitting Local Residents
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CAMBA representatives (including CAMBA President & CEO Joanne M. Oplustil (pictured above, bottom left & right) were invited by Senator Roxanne Persaud to participate in a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.
Joined by NYC Department of Social Services Commissioner Gary Jenkins, and the Canarsie Lions Club, they distributed care packages, snacks and information about resources available to local residents. Items in the packages included soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, wash cloth, face masks, socks, and more.
EmblemHealth donated the bags, Met Council donated the snacks, and the Canarsie Lions donated some of the supplies for the care packages – truly a community effort.
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Senator Jessica Ramos
Shares Warmth With CAMBA Residents One Coat at a Time
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Many thanks to New York State Senator Jessica Ramos who visited two CAMBA family shelter locations in Queens — The Landing and Kings Inn — in early January, meeting with families and helping them pick out the perfect winter coats from a huge winter coat donation drive organized by her office. |
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CAMBA's Pink Houses Cornerstone Program Holds Supply Drive
for Bronx Fire Victims
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CAMBA's Pink Houses Cornerstone Community Center held a supply drive earlier this year for the victims of the devastating fires in the Bronx – and members of CAMBA's Junior Board spent a recent Saturday volunteering to sort and pack up all of the donations so that they could be delivered to the Bronx. |
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CAMBA Staff Attends #JustPay Rally to Support Essential
Human Services Workers
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Several CAMBA staff members attended the Human Services Council rally at City Hall Park in Lower Manhattan on March 10th to call for #JustPay for essential human services workers in NYC. More than 1,500 human services workers, elected officials, and supporters turned out to raise their voices for equitable pay for the essential workforce. The rally was covered by both the PIX 11 News and Spectrum NY1 News.
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CAMBA Participates in Virtual Resume Building & Career Opportunities Workshop |
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Dzemal Hamzic, CAMBA's Director of Workforce Development, recently participated in a Virtual Resume Building & Career Opportunities Workshop hosted by Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez in partnership with Congresswoman Yvette Clark.
CAMBA's Workforce Development program provides struggling New Yorkers with the tools they need to get hired and stay successfully employed. Program participants receive guidance and support in finding not just any job, but the right job. CAMBA has partnerships across several business sectors, with an additional focus on programs leading to licenses, certifications, and career path placements in the growing NYC sectors of construction, utilities, customer service and security.
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CAMBA offers excellent career opportunities to candidates who are interested in growing with one of New York City's largest multi-service nonprofit providers.
If you, or someone you know is looking to work for a caring, community-minded organization, please share our jobs link or visit CAMBA.org/careers to learn more about our programs and achievements.
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