Korey Smith Sees a Path to a Happier Life
By Henry Street Settlement
Korey Smith has felt meaningful and lasting effects to his mental health since joining the CONNECT program.
In January 2022, Korey Smith, 44, lost his mother—whom he considered his closest friend. They had lived together for most of his life, provided each other with emotional support and plenty of laughter, and were each other’s caretakers. Besides, the two were financially interdependent. After her death, “I was low on options,” he says. Walking down Montgomery Street and trying to figure out his next steps, Korey, a lifelong Lower East Sider, looked up and saw a sign for the Settlement. He had attended preschool at Henry Street some four decades earlier and had a good feeling about the organization.
Korey was immediately introduced to CONNECT, a new program for people with mental health challenges that meets them where they are—both emotionally and geographically. CONNECT social workers can provide therapy in a home, office, hospital, or even walking down the street. The program offers a food pantry and activities from ceramics classes to anger-management groups to address multiple facets of wellbeing. For Korey, CONNECT has provided a foundation to rebuild his life, mentally, physically, and socially. “This has been my first experience with a therapist who speaks to me from a place of humanity,” he says, and adds with a laugh: “The food pantry services are very kind and generous. As you can see, I’m not starving!”
“This has been my first experience with a therapist who speaks to me from a place of humanity.”
At the end of 2022, Korey and his therapist, Katerine Ribadeneira, put together an action plan for the coming year. The plan includes education, going back to work, and taking care of medical needs. “This is a one-stop shop,” he says. “A goal is to get back into the workforce in a meaningful, lasting way.” In the past, Korey had worked for moving companies, as a courier, and as a security guard. “As an older person,” he says, “being a bouncer is probably not the way to go.”
Being part of CONNECT has given him the space to consider what he wants to do next. He attends three of CONNECT’s weekly support groups, including anger management, healthy relationships, and meditation. “They are very sweet, loving, and open. I feel like I have friends again,” he says. Says Whitney Coulson, CONNECT program director, “I think the success we’ve had with our participants comes down to our diversity. Our multidisciplinary team—four clinicians, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, a nurse, a community liaison, art consultant, and employment consultant, even our receptionists and security guard—offers a variety of services that really support our clients in a whole-person manner.”
Sensitive and inquisitive, Korey had long struggled with isolation and depression. “This experience is all new,” he says. “Time and simple acts of humanity have altered my way of thinking in such a positive way. I feel there’s a possibility of a happy life…. When you do get what you need, it’s leaps and bounds.” As of March 2023, Korey is actualizing his action plan and working toward several HVAC and lighting certifications through the Building Automation Systems training program that Henry Street offers with Stacks+Joules.
Click here to learn more about CONNECT’s current program offerings.
