In The News
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 12, 2024 – PIX11 features Union Settlement’s Comedy for a Cause Gala
Dr. Darlene Williams, President and CEO of Union Settlement, joined PIX11’s Monica Morales as she highlighted our Older Adults and our Comedy for a Cause Benefit. You can watch the video below, or head over to PIX11’s Facebook for the full episode.
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.”
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 28, 2024 – The Manhattan Power List Features Union Settlement CEO
Dr. Darlene Williams, Union Settlement President & Chief Executive Officer, was among the honorees on The Manhattan Power List presented by Schneps Media recognizing the most influential individuals in Manhattan. Honorees are being recognized for their commitment, impact, and influence on Manhattan. Click here to view the whole list.
February 26, 2024 – Union Settlement on PIX11’s Monica Makes it Happen
Union Settlement President and CEO Dr. Darlene Williams was featured on Housing Heroes.
Click here to see the show: Monica Makes it Happen Show: Housing and heroes | PIX11
Click here to see the extended feature in Union Settlement’s Corsi Older Adult Center: Monica Morales (@monicamoralestv)| Instagram
February 16, 2024 – Lunar New Year Celebration with Older Adults
In celebration of the Chinese New Year, Union Settlement’s Older Adult Centers hosted an event for program members and local residents. The Lunar New Year was celebrated with traditional songs and dances, performed by program participants, as well as a traditional Lion Dance!
To view more of the festivities, click here.
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.
January 26, 2024 – ECE Enrollment Week!
Union Settlement’s dedicated Early Childhood and Education (ECE) team cares for our youngest residents ages 0-5. In an effort to promote our ECE classes, we hosted a week-long enrollment fair! Parents and guardians were invited to each ECE location to ask questions, view classrooms, and start their enrollment applications on-site!
For more information about our Early Childhood programs, click here.
To see more pictures from the week, visit our Instagram.
December 8, 2023 – Toy Store Comes to East Harlem
Union Settlement returned this holiday season to host our annual Book and Toy Drive with a twist. We turned our community room into a toy store, complete with a photo booth a wrapping station, and our very own Santa Claus! More than 700 children were invited to come pick out gifts for the holidays. It was through the hard work of our team, and the support of the community, volunteers, and sponsors that this tradition continues to live on. We were overjoyed to be able to celebrate another year with East Harlem and to give back to the community’s youngest members!
December 6, 2023 – Nonprofit Power Players Announced
Dr. Darlene Williams, Union Settlement President & Chief Executive Officer was recognized as a Nonprofit Power Player by amNY Metro and Politics NY. Nonprofit organizations are the heartbeat of positive social change in New York. Across the city and state, nonprofit leaders work tirelessly to create a more inclusive, equitable, and compassionate home for all New Yorkers. The PoliticsNY and amNY Metro Nonprofit Power Players list looks to highlight these dedicated leaders championing causes from accessible education to affordable housing and everywhere in between. These leaders and their organizations work at the intersection of public policy, finance, administration, and progress to build a more equitable and engaged New York. Today, we shine a spotlight on the nonprofit movers and shakers and their organizations that demand the city evolve with the people.
View the complete list here: Nonprofit Power Players (politicsny.com)
November 20, 2023 – City & State Recognizes Dr. Darlene Williams
Dr. Darlene Williams, Union Settlement President & Chief Executive Officer was recognized as Gen Xers making their mark on New York.
But while this generation – made up of individuals born between 1965 and 1980 – may not be as outspoken as baby boomers or as social media savvy as younger generations, don’t mistake this silence for compliance. Gen Xers are just doing it their way. Gen Xers lived through the end of the Vietnam War and the Cold War, the 9/11 attacks, three more wars, the Great Recession, an increasingly divided country, and a global pandemic – and they’ve adjusted quite well to leading in an ever-changing world. Don’t call them cynics or coffee shop slackers, because Gen X is getting stuff done.
View the full list here: Above & Beyond: Gen X – City & State New York (cityandstateny.com)
November 17, 2023 – Thanksgiving Food Drive Hosted by Union Settlement
Each year Union Settlement works with the community to help provide families in need with turkeys and canned goods for Thanksgiving dinner. This year, thanks to our staff, a team of volunteers, and generous contributions from partners like Ponce Bank, Ace Endico, Rose Community Management, Kandel and Son, Laymen Global, Sendero Verde, The Bernard Bernstein Family, NYPD Foundation, Foodtown, Ideal Food Basket, and Fine Fare Markets – we were able to hand out over 300 turkeys alongside canned goods in honor of the giving season!
To view more pictures from the day, check out our Instagram: @unionsettlement
November 8, 2023 – Brooklyn Nets Non-Profit of the Game
The East Harlem to Brooklyn connection! Union Settlement was incredibly grateful to be recognized as Non-Profit of the Game by The Brooklyn Nets, Barclays Center, and WFAN Sports Radio. It was exciting to attend not only as guests of honor but also as East Harlem representatives! Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our cause by purchasing a ticket!
Click here to check out a few more photos from the evening.
November 3, 2023 – Union Settlement Celebrates 50 Years of Hip Hop
Union Settlement’s Economic Development team celebrated 50 Years of Hip Hop for the last East Harlem Nights event of the year. Featuring local businesses and DJ Ted Smooth, this event brought together hundreds of people in East Harlem for dancing, food, and fun!
You can see the PIX!11 feature here: Celebrating 50 years of Hip-Hop in East Harlem (pix11.com)
October 19, 2023 – Ginger Festival hosted by Older Adult Services
In partnership with the New York Restoration Project (NYRP), Union Settlement’s Older Adult Services Garden Club celebrated the end of a fruitful growing season with a Ginger Festival at the El Sitio Feliz Community Garden. The community came together for a cooking competition and live recipe demonstrations where the focus for each meal was all things ginger!
View more photos and videos from the event on our Instagram; @unionsettlement
October 15, 2023 – Breast Cancer Walk
Union Settlement was proud to partake in the American Cancer Society’s Walk for a Cure in Central Park. Participants gathered around to make strides against breast cancer – completing a total of 4 miles to show their support and to help raise awareness for cancer research and treatment.
July 1, 2023
New Family Enrichment Center in El Barrio
Nuevo Centro de Enriquecimiento Familiar en El Barrio
NY1
June 30, 2023
Ahead of Fourth Of July weekend, New York City and Macy’s closely monitor air quality
PIX11
April 14, 2023
Hooray, Union Settlement To Celebrate Nearly 130 Year Of Service To East Harlem
Harlem World Magazine
April 14, 2023
UNION SETTLEMENT TO CELEBRATE NEARLY 130 YEARS OF SERVICE TO EAST HARLEM AT ANNUAL SPRING BENEFIT
June 21, 2022
Union Settlement Invests in Current and Future Workforce with Wage Increase Press Release
September 24, 2021
Comunidad en East Harlem disfruta noche de comida, música y ventas -East Harlem Nights
Spectrum Noticias NY1
September 14, 2021
Mayor de Blasio, Union Settlement And Others Re-Open Newly Renovated Community Center In Harlem
Harlem World Magazine
August 26, 2021
NYC nonprofit Employees to De Blasio: Boost Minimum Wage for City-Contracted Workers
NYN Media
August 25, 2021
Nonprofit Employees Join Letter Calling On Mayor To Create A $17.50 Minimum Wage
Harlem World Magazine
August 25, 2021
NONPROFIT EMPLOYEES CALL ON MAYOR TO CREATE A $17.50 MINIMUM WAGE FOR CITY-FUNDED NONPROFIT WORKERS
April 15, 2020
East Harlem Electeds, Developers, Restaurants And Others Provide Meals To NYC Health + Hospitals
Harlem World Magazine
April 15, 2020
Community Leaders team up to provide meals to Metropolitan Hospital employees responding to COVID-19 pandemic
(more…)
January 30, 2020
Buy Local East Harlem works to make sure neighborhood firms have a seat at the table
Crain’s New York
July 23, 2019
Union Settlement Poll Shows Biden is Top Democratic Choice for East Harlem Residents
Harlem World
July 23, 2019
Union Settlement Poll Shows Joe Biden is Top Democratic Choice for East Harlem Residents
(more…)
March 11, 2019
Union Settlement Community Sentiment Survey Reveals Top Goals and Concerns of Local Residents
(more…)
February 21, 2019
As New York City’s public housing crumbles, pre-K centers go without crucial repairs
Chalkbeat
November 8, 2018
Union Settlement Announces First “Shop and Dine East Harlem for the Holidays”
(more…)
May 11, 2018
Union Settlement Celebrates Service to East Harlem at Annual Spring Benefit
Empower East Harlem Benefit to Honor Arthur A. Klein, MD; Ranjini Pillay; Corporate Partner CORE; and Law Firm Partner Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.
WNBC-TV weather anchor Dave Price will emcee the event on May 16, 2018
(more…)
September 13, 2017
Union Settlement Announces New Senior Staff Appointments
Rich Bengloff as the new Chief Financial Officer, Chanda Hill as the new Director of Early Childhood Education, and Bonnie Miller-Ladds as the new Director of Mental Health
(more…)
August 28, 2017
Union Settlement Announces Launching of East Harlem 360°
Commercial District Revitalization Program
(more…)
August 1, 2017
City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito visits Union Settlement senior turning 101 years old
Facebook
May 24, 2017
Union Settlement Association 25th Annual Ethnic Festival 2017 In Harlem (Photographs)
Harlem World Magazine
May 22, 2017
Union Settlement Establishes Associate Board
Names eight young professionals, including two co-chairs, as founding members
(more…)
May 10, 2017
Is ‘3-K for All’ Good for All? De Blasio’s Preschool Plan Troubles Some
The New York Times
April 26, 2017
Union Settlement Celebrates 122 Years of Service to East Harlem at Annual Spring Benefit
Empower East Harlem Benefit to Honor Tonio Burgos; Julián Castro; Ramanathan Raju, M.D.; Corporate Partner Deutsche Bank; and Law Firm Partner Proskauer.
Emmy Award-winning actor John Turturro will return to emcee the event on April 26, 2017
(more…)
February 27, 2017
East Harlem’s Union Settlement Wins Multi-Million Dollar Grant
Harlem World Magazine
February 27, 2017
Manhattan DA Invests $58 Million In Youth And Families To Prevent Crime
Manhattan District Attorney’s Office
January 16, 2017
Funding Disparities Abound in New York’s Senior Centers, Report Finds
The New York Times
16 January, 2017
Union Settlement Report Identifies Glaring Inequities In Funding For New York City Senior Centers
Some centers receive many times more funding per senior than other centers; statistical analyses demonstrate that differences are not sufficiently explained by attendance, occupancy costs or other possible factors. (more…)
December 20, 2016
Union Settlement Survey Reveals Major Concerns and Goals of Locals
Need to improve schools again ranks as top issue of survey participants;
Reducing crime, building affordable housing and creating new jobs are also major objectives. (more…)
July 12, 2016
The New York Community Trust Supports the Work of Union Settlement with Two Grants
Funds will Support Two Promising Initiatives in East Harlem. (more…)
July 7, 2016
Two New Directors Join Union Settlement
Union Settlement appoints Susan Puder as Director of Development and Communication, and Joy Pittman as Director of Human Resources (more…)
June 6, 2016
Trust Gives $11 Million to 80 Nonprofits In Years Biggest Round of Grants
New York Community Trust
April 26, 2016
Carver Bancorp President and CEO Michael T. Pugh Honored by Union Settlement Association
Globe Newswire
April 19, 2016
Union Settlement Celebrates Over 120 Years Of Service To East Harlem At Annual Solutions Benefit Fundraiser
John Turturro will emcee event on April 19, 2016 (more…)
December 23, 2015
VIDEO: LeRoy Neiman Art Studio at Union Settlement East Harlem built by Good Tidings
Manhattan Neighborhood Network
December 15, 2015
Bill de Blasio urged to boost pay for pre-K and preschool staff
New York Daily News
November 19, 2015
Giving Tuesday? More Like Gimmick Tuesday, Some Small Nonprofits Say
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
November 16, 2015
Robin Hood Provides Increased Grant of $250,000 to Support Youth Employment Services at Union Settlement
East Harlem Young Adults Who Are Out-of-School And Unemployed Will Benefit (more…)
November 6, 2015
Donors, Consider Whether The Charity You’re Supporting Is Already Rich
Chronicle of Philanthropy
This article is also available to read on our website here.
September 21, 2015
Mayor’s Pre-K Push Takes Qualified Teachers From Needy Students: Critics
DNA Info (more…)
September 14, 2015
The LeRoy Neiman and Good Tidings Foundations Gift NYC Students with an Art Studio Classroom at Union Settlement in East Harlem
A joyous dedication ceremony, ribbon-cutting and the inaugural art class for a beautiful LeRoy Neiman Art Studio School located at the Union Settlement Washington Community Center. (more…)
September 14, 2015
The LeRoy Neiman and Good Tidings Foundations Gift NYC Students with an Art Studio Classroom at Union Settlement in East Harlem
PRWeb (more…)
August 19, 2015
East Harlem Businesses, Non-Profits, Religious Groups and Government Agencies Hold First Expo
There will be workshops on a wide variety of topics of interest to jobseekers, entrepreneurs and local residents, including Marketing 101, Interviewing Skills, Crowd Funding, MWBE Certifications, Social Media Marketing, Resume Writing, Mental Health issues and more. (more…)
August 13, 2015
On Board: Union Settlement Appoints New Director of Adult Education
New York Nonprofit Media (more…)
July 20, 2015
The New York Community Trust Awards Grant of $441,000 to Union Settlement Association
The Trust’s Brooke Astor Fund for New York City Education Grant will Expand Literacy Program for East Harlem elementary school students who speak Spanish in the Home (more…)
June 23, 2015
Union Settlement releases a statement on the New York City 2016 Budget Agreement
David Nocenti: “It is time for the City to come to the bargaining table and provide the funding necessary to end this unequal treatment, which has persisted for far too long.” (more…)
June 16, 2015
Union Settlement Association Board of Directors Elects Ruth Pachman New Chair
Union Settlement, East Harlem’s oldest and largest social services provider, today announced that Ruth E. Pachman was unanimously elected Chair of the Board of Directors at the organization’s annual meeting on June 9th. (more…)
May 11, 2015
New York Junior League Selects Union Settlement Association as 2015 Community Impact Partner
Awards $50,000 grant for community center renovations. Ribbon-cutting held at Washington Community Center to celebrate completion of project. (more…)
May 13, 2015
City Comptroller Scott Stringer and AARP launch ID theft prevention tour
Amsterdam News (more…)
May 8, 2015
Evening Hours highlights Union Settlement’s 2015 Solutions Benefit
The New York Times (more…)
May 5, 2015
Get Your Power On at a Block Party for the World
Union Settlement Celebrates its 23rd Annual Ethnic Festival: Empowering East Harlem (more…)
May 5, 2015
Union Settlement Association Celebrates 120 Years of Service to East Harlem
East Harlem’s Oldest and Largest Social Services Provider Holds “Solutions Benefit” Honors Theresa Bischoff, Lisa Caputo, and Amy Sherman. (more…)
April 28, 2015
First Lady Aims to Renew Focus on Youth Mental Health in City Schools (includes video)
Time Warner Cable News NY1 (more…)
March 9, 2015
Starving those who help the poor: How the state and city systematically underfund social-service nonprofit groups
New York Daily News
February 11, 2015
Union Settlement Survey Demonstrates Concerns and Needs of East Harlem Residents
Need to improve schools ranks as top issue of survey participants, followed by need for jobs, reducing crime, and building more affordable housing (more…)
December 18, 2014
In an After-School Program, Juggling and Plate-Spinning Are Serious Business
The New York Times
December 17, 2014
Union Settlement Association Appoints Charles Foster as Chief Financial Officer
In addition to overseeing finance office, Mr. Foster will be part of Union Settlement’s senior leadership team.
December 2, 2014
‘Giving Tuesday’ provides Northern Ohio groups at their own Wish Lists
Cleveland.com
November 20, 2014
Union Settlement Association Receives Grant from Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone
Union Settlement will offer technical assistance and loan packaging support to local businesses and entrepreneurs
June 6, 2014
Union Settlement Association Celebrates 50th Anniversary of its College Readiness Program
Mayor Bill De Blasio Proclaims June 7 “Union Settlement College Readiness Day”
May 6, 2014
Children’s Museum of Manhattan Receives Morgan Stanley Foundation Grant of $75,000 to Expand Pre-K Initiative
CMOM’s New Pre-K Community Initiative Brings Permanent Museum Quality Installations and Programs to Union Settlement’s Early Childhood Facilities
April 30, 2014
Union Settlement Honors Shaun Osher and Robert F. Quaintance
Annual “Solutions Benefit” Fundraiser Celebrates 50 Years of College Readiness Programs From East Harlem’s Oldest and Largest Social Services Provider
April 15, 2014
Deutsche Bank Awards Grant of $125,000
Resources Will Benefit Children, Youth and Families of Mexican Descent in East Harlem
April 9, 2014
Announcing New Initiatives to Enhance Economic Growth and Vitality of East Harlem
East Harlem Community Alliance is focusing on enhancing local business activity, employment and access to human services
May 8, 2014
Joe Bataan & The Barrio Boys and a “Maker Fair” at the Union Settlement’s 2014 Ethnic Festival
Harlem World
May 6, 2014
Children’s Museum of Manhattan Snags $75,000 Grant to Expand its Pre-K Program
Daily News
April 1, 2014
Union Settlement Federal Credit Union merging with Lower East Side People’s Federal Credit Union
LES Federal Credit Union
March 17, 2014
Mayor Announces Fund for Victims Displaced by Harlem Explosion
DNAinfo New York (more…)
March 17, 2014
Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City Announces Fundraising Drive for Those Affected by East Harlem Explosion and Building Collapse
NYC.gov (more…)
July 24, 2013
Robin Hood Awards $175,000 Grant to Union Settlement to Enhance Programs for Youth Employment
Resources Will Benefit Young People Who Are Out-of-School And Unemployed (more…)