Acacia Network and our Rochester-based affiliate, Out of the Darkness (OOTD), held an Open House on Tuesday, March 26th to commemorate Women's History Month, while celebrating the organization’s longstanding trajectory helping women achieve and sustain recovery.

Out of the Darkness (OOTD) provides transitional housing and support to women who are recovering from addiction by providing a safe and stable living environment, combined with supportive services, in which program participants can get back on their feet and achieve their life goals. 

The special event was well-attended, with community partners, local CBOs, government agencies, and elected officials gathering to honor Out of the Darkness and the women they serve. Attendees enjoyed hearing from organization leaders and partners, as well as testimonials from some of the women whose lives have been transformed thanks to OOTD. Thank you to everyone who joined us, with a special shout out to our Board of Directors, the City of Rochester Office of the Mayor, the Monroe County Office of Mental Health (MCOMH) and its Director Dr. April Aycock, the Office of NYS Senator Brouk, Monroe County Legislator Virginia McIntyre, Office of NYS Assemblyman Meeks, and the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). Plus, our deepest thanks to our event sponsor, HSM Personal Care / La’Dorch Homecare.

CLICK HERE to get the scoop from ABC Channel 13!

We hosted a press conference to launch our new WIC Program at the Ramon Velez Health Center, which is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) run by Acacia Network’s primary care arm, La Casa de Salud. With the addition of WIC –which is a federal supplemental nutrition program for low-income Women, Infants, and Children up to age 5– we are thrilled to continue reducing the economic and nutritional challenges faced by low-income families in our communities. 

There is no cost for eligible participants of the program, who may enroll in WIC at Ramon Velez to access nutrition education, breastfeeding support, health screenings and referrals, and benefits for purchasing healthy foods.

Check out the coverage on:

• NY1 Noticias: CLICK HERE!
• Bronx News 12: CLICK HERE!

Thank you to City & State for including our CEO Lymaris Albors in their prestigious “2024 Above & Beyond: Women” list, which featured distinguished female honorees who are transforming New York. 

It was inspiring to celebrate the work and accomplishments of this incredible group of women during the “Above & Beyond: Women” Awards Ceremony hosted by City & State on Wednesday, March 27th at Sony Hall in NYC. Congrats to all of honorees!

As we near the end of Women’s History Month, a commemorative time to celebrate women’s achievements and contributions to society but also a time to reflect on the issues and concerns affecting women of today, let us not overlook the impact of HIV/AIDS on women from all sectors of our city.

While we have made great progress in the fight against HIV over more than 40 years, we remain in a constant battle against its disproportionate impact - on various population groups in our community.

Join us for an inspirational morning of networking and storytelling, as we celebrate the work of Acacia Network and our affiliates.

Funds raised through the Julio Martinez Memorial Fund support a wide array of programs and initiatives in the areas of social services, youth development, and addiction treatment & prevention, including services for underserved youth and families experiencing homelessness.

About Acacia Network

For over 50 years, Acacia Network and our affiliates, such as Out of the Darkness Inc., have been committed to improving the quality-of-life and wellbeing of underserved communities in New York City and beyond. We are one of the largest Latino-led nonprofits in the nation, serving more than 150,000 individuals annually through integrated, trauma-informed programs in the areas of health, housing, economic development, social services, and cultural revitalization. For more information, visit: www.acacianetwork.org