To mark moments from 2021, we are sharing three letters from the Neighborhood House community over the next couple of weeks. We are grateful for your continued support of our work! Please find our Board President Cynthia Wang’s message below.
For many of us, the end-of-year holidays are a time for rest, reflection, and celebration.
As I reflect on 2021, our country and community is in a time like no other. However, despite all the challenges that 2021 brought us, I continue to have hope and be inspired by those around me, including essential workers such as medical professionals, teachers, and human services providers who have continued being here for our communities throughout this difficult year. I am proud to be a part of the Neighborhood House family, which played a key role in helping:
- 800+ children access virtual learning,
- distribute $1.5M in rental and utility assistance,
- 2,000+ people connect to COVID vaccines, and
- 1,400+ people with employment support.
We at Neighborhood House stand committed to the well-being of our immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC communities affected by COVID, job loss, and homelessness. And we are grateful to all who help make access to these programs possible.
As Board President of Neighborhood House, I see our 300 staff members making progress on our strategic plan focused on anti-racism, advocacy, and equitable recovery from the pandemic. The voices of our clients, staff, and community will continue to guide us through 2022. During our November Board Meeting, our Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access, Rochelle Hazard, shared with us her community survey results, which indicated a higher need to connect to mental health, housing, education, and employment opportunities across our region. Neighborhood House staff, speaking over 40 languages, have begun planning virtual resource fairs that will aid in connecting community members to programs at our agency and beyond, building trust through culturally and linguistically relevant presentations and Q&A.
These virtual sessions are adding to our continued ability to pivot and change how we educate and engage with our community. Your support helps us sustain our future.
Thank you,
Cynthia Wang
Board President