Dear Friends,

I am excited to share with you some of the more exciting projects Acacia Network and our affiliates have been working on in the past few months. There is so much to celebrate and be proud of.

Firstly, I congratulate Giamara M. Rosado, Esq. on her appointment as the Chief Strategy Officer and Special Counsel of Acacia Network. Giamara’s journey here began in 2012 as a law intern in the legal department. In her new position, Giamara will serve as my primary strategic partner and internal-facing leader, helping ensure the organization meets its mission and strategic goals and legal responsibilities.

Additionally, congratulations to Kevin Heslop who has been promoted to the position of Executive Deputy Chief Financial Officer. In his new capacity, will serve as the primary partner to the CFO, leading fiscal management, accounting, and strategic planning operations to safeguard Acacia Network's assets and support its ongoing growth.

I also congratulate Talanda Franklin, our new Senior Vice President of Transitional Housing. Talanda previously served as our Vice President of Social Services, where she oversaw an extensive portfolio spanning across four boroughs. In her new capacity, Talanda will direct our transitional housing portfolio and build upon our ongoing community impact.



Lastly, this Father's Day, I send you warmest wishes to all the fathers, grandfathers, and father figures who dedicate their lives to lifting up the next generation. As we celebrate today, I ask that we all reflect on the power of family, guidance, and community mentorship.

Press play to hear me share a personal story about the key figures who shaped my life, and learn how Acacia Network continues to uplift parents and families throughout our communities.

We also join our communities in celebrating Juneteenth, honoring the profound spirit of freedom, resilience, and progress that inspires our ongoing mission to build equity and support our neighbors.

Below you will find updates on some of our bigger projects, including the successfully closing of the Urban Renaissance Year 15 project on April 8th. I am grateful to the Special Projects team for this milestone. The team is now fully focused on construction management for this rehabilitation project. Looking ahead, our next priority is successfully closing the EBOF rehabilitation project, with a goal of providing quality living conditions to tenants.

We recently celebrated our Julio Martinez Memorial Breakfast Fundraiser and will soon host the Hispanos Unidos de Buffalo Brunch Fundraiser. Your continued support makes our work possible. If you have not made a donation, please consider giving here.

As we head into the summer months, I wish you warmth and happiness and joy. So much of what is happening in the world is unsettling and unsetting, but together with you we are doing our part to make sure our neighbors can live their best life.

Sincerely,

Raul Russi

President

Behavioral Health & Substance Use

New Challenges, New Solutions

While overdose deaths in the Bronx have fallen by roughly 25% from their peak several years ago, substance use continues to devastate families and communities across the borough. Many people still struggle to access care, and new substances like 7-OH are creating new challenges for outreach workers, healthcare providers, and community organizations. That's why Acacia Network's Bronx Opioid Collective (BOC) convened its annual Summit this spring.

The Summit brought together healthcare leaders, community organizations, researchers, and frontline providers to share the latest information on overdose trends, emerging substances, and effective interventions. Participants explored new approaches to outreach, treatment, and harm reduction while strengthening the partnerships that make coordinated community responses possible.

As the Bronx Opioid Collective approaches its ninth year, the Summit demonstrated the power of collaboration in addressing one of the borough's most pressing public health challenges.

Action on the Ground

Translating these high-level strategies into direct, on-the-ground support, the Collective hosted its annual Community Health Fair on Friday, June 12.

Held on 147th Street between Third Avenue and Willis Avenue, the event directly connected Bronx residents with vital healthcare resources, services, and community health conversations. To provide immediate, dignified care to individuals experiencing housing instability, the fair featured mobile shower access and distributed essential hygiene care kits complete with disposable bath towels.

By bringing together resource booths from the collective's diverse partner organizations, the event served as a critical frontline touchpoint, delivering life-saving harm reduction tools and healthcare access straight to the heart of the community.

Supportive Housing

A Milestone Worth Celebrating

At Sendero Verde in East Harlem, Acacia Network provides supportive housing services that help residents build stability, pursue personal goals, and thrive. This spring, resident Tashara Dean celebrated a major achievement: graduating from a peer training program that allows her to put her lived experience to work.

After experiencing more than a year of homelessness, Ms. Dean entered supportive housing determined to work toward sobriety and a brighter future. Her graduation reflects not only her perseverance but also the impact of the supportive services, guidance, and community that help residents move forward.



Stories like Tashara's remind us that supportive housing is about creating opportunities for people to rebuild their lives.

Affordable Housing

Preserving Homes, Strengthening Communities

Across New York City, an aging housing stock is putting affordable apartments at risk at a time when housing is already in short supply. Too often, badly deteriorated buildings become difficult—or impossible—to maintain as safe, quality homes. Through our partnership with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), Acacia Network is helping preserve critical affordable housing and ensure residents can remain in their communities.



One example is the Urban Renaissance project, a major rehabilitation effort spanning six Bronx properties and 105 apartments. The project officially closed on financing this spring and construction is now underway. When complete, residents will benefit from significant building and apartment upgrades, helping ensure these homes remain comfortable and affordable for years to come.

This is just one of the many ways Acacia Network ensures tens of thousands of people can continue to live in the homes and communities they love.

Workforce Development

Building Pathways to Economic Opportunity

With affordability top of mind for families across New York, access to good jobs has never been more important. Through workforce development programs operated by Acacia affiliates, thousands of adults and young people are gaining the skills, training, and employment opportunities needed to achieve economic stability.



This year alone, workforce programs connected approximately 3,500 adults and 3,700 youth with the training and employment opportunities they need to build stable, successful futures.

Of the 963 students enrolled in Home Health Aide training, 647 have been placed into jobs — a testament to the program's effectiveness in turning training into real employment outcomes. Among youth participants, 3,702 were enrolled, with an impressive 3,100 placed into job sites and an additional 29 into training programs.

One standout example is Ms. Destiny Especa, who is now employed full-time at VNS, a proud member of 1199 SEIU, and has secured a housing voucher — a powerful example of what comprehensive workforce support can make possible.

From healthcare careers to youth employment programs, Acacia's workforce initiatives are helping people increase their earnings, strengthen their families, and build brighter futures.

Older Adult Services

Combating Isolation, Building Connection

Social isolation has become a growing public health challenge for older adults, contributing to poorer health outcomes, increased hospitalizations, and reduced life expectancy. Through the Institute for Puerto Rican and Hispanic Elderly (IPRHE), Acacia Network helps thousands of older adults build meaningful social connections while celebrating culture, community, and tradition.

This year, IPRHE welcomed hundreds of older adults to its annual Three Kings and Lunar New Year Celebration and Mother's Day Cruise, creating opportunities for participants to gather, socialize, and enjoy shared cultural experiences.



These events help strengthen community bonds, promote wellbeing, and ensure older adults remain connected to the people and traditions that enrich their lives.

Help Fund a New Van for IPRHE Today!

Your gift will help purchase a dedicated vehicle to bring older adults directly to our centers for daily meals, wellness activities, and life-changing social connection.

Growing Food & Community

Hispanos Unidos de Buffalo is expanding its commitment to healthy aging through the creation of a new community garden serving older adults.



Located behind HUB's Virginia Street campus, the garden will provide participants from the Older Adults Art Program and residents of Plaza de Virginia supportive housing with opportunities to grow fruits and vegetables, spend time outdoors, and build meaningful social connections.

The project addresses two important challenges facing many older adults—social isolation and food insecurity—while creating a welcoming space for community engagement and wellness.

Join HUB for their Annual Fundraising Brunch!

Cultural Preservation

Celebrating Culture, Community, and Creativity

Despite rainy weather, the 39th Annual Loisaida Festival once again brought thousands of New Yorkers together on the Lower East Side together to celebrate Latino culture, community, and creativity.



Hosted by Acacia affiliate Loisaida Inc., the festival featured live music, local artists, community organizations, cultural performances, and family-friendly activities throughout Avenue C. Earlier in the month, the Viva Loisaida! Awards recognized community leaders whose work continues to strengthen the neighborhood.

Together, these events showcased the vibrant spirit, artistic expression, and community pride that have defined Loisaida for generations. And it’s all part of Acacia Network’s greater commitment to preserving the cultures that make the melting pot of New York City so great.

Honoring Tradition, Embracing Community

Capital District LATINOS (CDL) started the year by welcoming more than 550 community members to its annual Three Kings Day celebration in Albany, creating joyful experiences for families while honoring an important cultural tradition.

This summer, CDL will continue fostering community connection through its annual Pride Month celebration on June 20, featuring educational programming, community conversations, and entertainment that celebrates diversity, inclusion, and belonging.



By creating spaces where people can come together, CDL continues to strengthen community ties across the Capital Region.

Youth Programs

Opening for the Next Generation

As summer begins, Acacia affiliate ACDP is preparing to provide thousands of young people with opportunities to learn, earn, and grow.



This year, ACDP's Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) will connect approximately 1,100 youth across the Bronx and Manhattan with paid work experiences that help build job skills and prepare them for future careers. Through Work, Learn & Grow and other youth employment initiatives, participants gain hands-on experience while developing critical workplace and academic success skills.

ACDP's summer camp programs will also serve nearly 2,000 students through academics, athletics, enrichment activities, and field trips, helping young people stay engaged, active, and connected throughout the summer months.

Join us for our Annual Gala on October 8th!

We are committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO). Acacia Network and our affiliates do not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, ethnicity, creed, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity and/or expression, transgender status, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability, marital status, citizenship status, public assistance status, protected veteran status, or any other protected category.

PLEASE CLICK HERE to browse job openings!