Author Archives: Sean Roker

June 7, 2024 – Press Release: Union Settlement to Host Community Interfaith Night of Prayer

East Harlem religious organizations and individuals across faiths are invited to participate in a Night of Corporate Prayer for the community.

This is the first of a year-long series of events to commemorate 130 years of service.

East Harlem, NY – Union Settlement (www.unionsettlement.org), East Harlem’s oldest and largest social services provider, will host a Community Interfaith Night of Prayer on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Residents of any faith are welcome, and Union Settlement has invited local faith organizations across denominations to participate. The event will take place in Union Settlement’s El Sitio Feliz Community Garden located at 237 East 104th St., New York, New York. Doors open at 5:30 PM and the service starts promptly at 6:00 PM.

“This is an opportunity for residents to come together and strengthen connections with neighbors across faiths to honor our diverse but united community,” said Rev. Dr. Darlene Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer of Union Settlement. “It’s the first in our series of ‘Journey to 130’ events leading up to our 130th anniversary in April 2025. Over the next year, we aim to raise awareness of Union Settlement, increase our impact, and celebrate the individuals and families who’ve come through our programs and helped make this such a vibrant place to live.”

“This will be a truly inclusive event. So far, we have a Christian Evangelical pastor, a Catholic priest, and a renowned Islamic member of the community who will lead us in prayer for East Harlem – and we welcome additional participants from local religious leaders,” said Dr. Patience Oti, Early Childhood Education Liaison.

The Interfaith Night of Prayer is grounded in Union Settlement’s history of faith, social justice, and community service. Founded in 1895 by members of Union Theological Seminary to respond to the desperate conditions of Irish, Eastern European, and Italian immigrants struggling to make a new life in America, Union Settlement has since served generations of immigrants from every continent, continuously evolving to provide the vital education, wellness and community-building programs and services they need to thrive.

April 2, 2024 – Mayor Adams Announces New York City’s First-Ever Nonprofit Advisory Council

Today, Mayor Adams announced New York City’s first Nonprofit Advisory Council. The Nonprofit Advisory Council features leaders and experts from the non-profit leaders, and we are honored that Union Settlement’s President and CEO Dr. Darlene Williams will serve as co-chair.

“I am truly honored to serve as an inaugural co-chair for the Nonprofit Advisory Council with the Mayor’s Office for Nonprofit Services,” said Dr. Darlene Williams, president and chief executive officer, Union Settlement. “As leaders dedicated to serving our community, the advisory council provides an invaluable opportunity to foster innovation, address the diverse needs of our city’s residents, and the integral role of nonprofit organizations. It is a privilege to stand alongside such dedicated community partners and organizations, united in our shared mission to enhance the well-being of all New Yorkers.”

Click here to read the full press realease.

March 14, 2024 – Mayor Adams Announces 3 Year COLA for Human Services

In an effort to prioritize the well-being of the city’s human services workforce, NYC Mayor Eric Adams has announced a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) that will provide a 3% annual increase, totaling $741 million, in pay for human services workers over the next three years beginning July 1, 2024.

This move comes as a response to advocacy efforts by organizations such the Human Services Council (HSC), a coalition comprising 170 entities within New York’s non-profit services sector, including Union Settlement.

Dr. Darlene Williams, President & CEO at Union Settlement, was in attendance during the announcement. Dr. Williams is a member of the HSC’s Priority and Strategy Council, which spearheaded the “#justpay” campaign. This campaign shed light on the low wages that New York City’s 80,000 human services workers have endured due to underfunded contracts, with statistics revealing a troubling 30% pay gap compared to their counterparts in the public sector. In 2019, two-thirds of all full-time human services workers were earning below the city’s near-poverty threshold. This has a significant impact on women and minorities — 66% of human services workers are female (66%), 68% are full-time workers of color, and nearly half (46%) are women of color.

Dr. Williams emphasized the importance of this COLA, stating, “Our dedicated staff, alongside countless other human service workers throughout New York City, devote themselves to caring for our communities, yet they have not received the care they deserve. While this marks just one step forward, it is a crucial stride toward establishing fair compensation for our tireless workforce.”

This announcement highlights New York City’s commitment to creating a supportive and equitable environment for its human services workers, ensuring that they can continue to provide high-quality care and support to those who need it most. Including today’s announcement, the administration has invested over $1.4 billion towards wage enhancements for the human services sector.

March 5, 2024 – NBC News Feature on East Harlem Target

Dr. Darlene Williams, Union Settlement President & Chief Executive Officer, joins other East Harlem Stakeholders to discuss the impact closing Target has on the East Harlem Community.

Closed for crime? Why this local Target shutting down matters (youtube.com)

Target’s first-ever Manhattan store was a staple in the East Harlem community — until it closed last year. The company blamed theft and safety, but nearby stores with more reported crimes remain open. Did a surge in shoplifting really shut this Target down, or did something else cause the closure? We’ll uncover in this week’s Stay Tuned and look at why retail theft impacts all our wallets.

February 8, 2024 – Black History Month Walking Tour

Union Settlement had the privilege of collaborating with East Harlem local and historian, Christopher Bell, to host a walking tour of East Harlem in honor of Black History Month. Bell led participants on a historic journey through the neighborhood, making stops at iconic landmarks like Langston Hughes’ home, the National Black Theatre, and historic African burial grounds.

View more from the tour on our Instagram.