Barclays Bankers Treat Shelter Families to a Night of Fun
Ten volunteers from Barclays bank treated children and parents at The Kensington Family Shelter to  an evening of games and treats.  Clients and volunteers had a blast playing board games and enjoying popcorn and delicious offerings from the "Ice Cream Cafe." 

Barclays Capital VP Steve  Markovinovic -- pictured above in a competitive game of Connect Four -- organized the volunteer event because "the New York City  homeless issue is growing, and a large percentage of this group is kids.  As  a   parent, I wanted to help make this period in a child's life a little more pleasant. CAMBA's Kensington location was the perfect place to make a difference."
 
Markovinovic added, "There were a lot of teens eager to play board games with the volunteers, and all the little kids enjoyed the ice cream sundaes. There were big smiles all around. It was a win-win for the residents and volunteers."    
 
CAMBA thanks Barclays for treating families to a night of fun as our clients search for permanent housing and rebuild their lives.
 
CAMBA Gardens Gets Cookin' with Chef Henry, Tenants and CAMBA's Junior Board
Chef Henry (right) at CAMBA Gardens with his partner, Chef Kimberly
CAMBA's Junior Board returned to CAMBA Gardens Phase I in August to celebrate the garden's harvest and to help tenants pick vegetables for a healthy cooking presentation with an all-star chef, Chef Henry Dudley. Sam Lewis from the Horticultural Society was on hand to help residents and volunteers pick colorful flowers and zucchini, cucumber, eggplants and tomatoes.

After the gardening wrapped up, Chef Henry led a healthy cooking demonstration, followed by a mouth-watering meal. Tenants and Junior Board members joined in to set a beautiful table, cook, dine and clean up. 

Recently named Excutive Chef at MGM National Harbor, a new casino complex opening soon in Washington, D.C., Chef Henry traveled from D.C. to host the demonstration. As the son of a struggling South Bronx mom who worked three jobs to feed her family, Chef Henry says he is committed to helping others by sharing his cooking skills and encouraging healthy, budget-friendly diets for low-income people.

Click here to watch a slideshow from the day.
People's United Bank Helps Collegiate Express Students Learn about New York City
College-bound teens in CAMBA's Collegiate Express program spent their summer learning about the rich history of New York City through Discover NYC, a program designed by Collegiate Express staff to help rising 10th graders  practice the literacy skills they will need to apply successfully to college -- while also exploring the City and having fun.

People's United Bank helped fund the summer enrichment program, covering the cost of travel for both Discover NYC and for students who had summer internships.

The Federal Reserve, above, was among their many stops, which included the African Burial Ground, Floyd Bennet Field, Socrates Park, the Bronx Zoo and more historical and notable spots. Participants wrote and presented reports on their experiences.

Collegiate Express is a college-readiness program for low- and moderate-income high school students. It works intensively with students and their parents or guardians over their four years of high school to help them enter and succeed in college.

In addition to the Discover NYC support from People's United Bank, Collegiate Express is funded by The Pinkerton Foundation, Santander Bank, PolicyLink and JRM Consulting Inc.


 CAMBA's iCARE Team Raises Awareness on Preventing Zika

On August 31, CAMBA's iCARE staff met with a group of mothers and pregnant women to alert them to the dangers of the Zika virus and to arm them with preventative techniques and products. T he virus, which can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus, can cause devastating birth defects. 

During the workshop, Venetta Vanhome, Assistant Program Director of iCARE, discussed strategies to protect homes from mosquitoes.

The team also distributed free Zika prevention kits, which contain mosquito repellent, dunks (a natural larvicide) to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in pooled water and condoms to prevent the transfer of the virus during sex.

The workshop was a collaboration with the New York City Health Department, CAMBA iCARE and Bright Point Health Center in Flatbush, Brooklyn.

The Health Department's website offers detailed information on Zika prevention, including an interactive map on mosquito counts and spraying efforts.

Calling All Volunteers! Help Homeless Adults Enjoy a Home-Cooked Meal and a Safe Place to Sleep
A Respite Bed volunteer serves dinner to guests
The summer gave us record hot temperatures, and winter is just around the corner. The problem of homelessness occurs regardless of the season.  Are you looking for a way to help homeless men and women in your community when cold weather arrives?

By volunteering with CAMBA's Respite Bed Program, you have the unique opportunity to help provide shelter, sustenance and social interaction to small groups of carefully screened homeless adults in a comfortable, secure and home-like setting.

The Respite Bed program links homeless men and women from our drop-in center with our partner churches and synagogues that provide overnight shelter beds. Volunteers provide home-cooked meals, have dinner with the guests and/or stay overnight. These efforts provide guests with relief from living on the street, as CAMBA also assists guests in reaching their goal of permanent housing.

Click this link to learn more about the program and to sign up.

Get Tickets Now for CAMBA Casino Night Out 2016!
Celebrate CAMBA's 2016 achievements at our gala fundraiser, where we'll enjoy cocktails, food, an auction and our ever-favorite casino. 

Our honorees include:
  • JPMorgan Chase and David Walsh, Senior VP of Community Development Real Estate. The bank partnered with CAMBA and CAMBA Housing Ventures on our Affordable & Supportive Family Housing at Van Dyke and has supported CAMBA's work in the community for more than 30 years. 
  • Dr. Barry Smith and The Rogosin Institute, one of the nation's leading centers for kidney disease, contributed new computer labs for homeless families at CAMBA's Kensington Family Shelter and Flagstone Family Center. 
WHEN: Thursday, November 3, 2016
TIME: 6 pm to 10 pm
WHERE: Tribeca Three-Sixty°, 10 Desbrosses Street, New York, NY 10013

Tickets and sponsorships are available online  here.
                                                                                                                                                 

What's So Great About CAMBA? 
2017 will mark CAMBA's 40th anniversary. In preparation for our celebration, we asked staff members to share their reflections on CAMBA's achievements. Here are some of their thoughts about what makes CAMBA so great:
 
I am a graduate of the Coalition for the Homeless/First Step Program. I completed my internship, and then CAMBA hired me. It was my goal to work for a nonprofit that offered services to program participants when they need a helping hand. This job gives me the opportunity to give back what CAMBA gave me, which is hope.    
 
Denise Bubb
Community Liason II, iCARE
 

The greatest thing that CAMBA has done has been hiring a very diverse staff that can provide services to clients from all corners of the world.  
 
Mirenge Abdulaziz
Case Manager, Refugee Resettlement
 
 
One of the greatest parts about working for CAMBA is our staff: We hire people who are passionate about what they do and I see CAMBA employees go above and beyond every day. The agency culture is to do more than just the minimum to help our clients; we truly do our absolute best for the people who come to us for assistance. I see staff that I supervise work overtime on a Friday evening because a client needs to go to the hospital. I see staff come in early to make a referral or spend the entire day with one client who is having a crisis. 
 
We don't do that simply for a paycheck; we do these things because we care. I think our staff's compassion for their clients is one of the things that defines CAMBA and makes us unique from other social service agencies, and it makes me proud to work for CAMBA.
 
Jessica Durbin
Program Manager
CAMBA Health Link
 

I am a proud employee of CAMBA, especially as it is de-stigmatizing myths about LGBTQ people within Caribbean families. I enjoy hearing positive conversations while I ride the bus, particularly in response to CAMBA's Project ALY advertisements. As a Caribbean-American female who knows the stigma of LGBTQ individuals within my culture, I am proud to say that I work for an agency that reminds individuals: "You accepted me then ... So you should accept me now!"
 
Lateefa Alleyne
Assistant Program Manager
Brooklyn Bridge Academy
 

CAMBA has provided support and guidance to thousands of homeless and underserved families throughout New York City during the agency's 40 years of successful operation. 
 
Mary Ellen Ross
Senior Program Director
Human Resources/Hiring
 
 
CAMBA helps people who have lived in Brooklyn for generations to remain in Brooklyn by stopping predatory landlords from evicting families, friends and neighbors.
 
Jessica Parra, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Housing Unit
CAMBA Legal Services
 

I first came in contact with the agency as an immigrant referred from an asylum judge in here in New York. After 12 years, I had the opportunity to grow professionally and personally as part of the CAMBA team. CAMBA has turned out to be my second home, a lovely family, and I will love to continue witnessing the growth and expansion of such a great organization. I am so proud to tell people what CAMBA does and what my role in the agency is. Happy 40th, CAMBA!
 
Carlos Guevara
Assistant Program Director




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