Henry Street Settlement opens doors of opportunity for Lower East Side residents and other New Yorkers through social service, arts, and health care programs.
Doris Bell was born on June 7, 1963—one of six children of Alicia and the late Robert Bell. Her family, including brothers Derek and Eric, sisters Erma, Carina, and Desiree, six nieces and nephews, and three grand-nieces, was exceptionally close. Ten years ago, Doris married the love of her life, Clive “Carl” Francis, and gained… Read More »
The moon landing. Woodstock. The first episode of Sesame Street. But the most important event of 1969, according to Henry Street President & CEO David Garza? Therapist Nilsa Pietri’s first day of work at Henry Street Settlement. Technically, it was 1967 when Pietri started volunteering at the Settlement while still an undergrad at Hunter College,… Read More »
Andres Biel shows his recent designs—the Miami Lights fashion collection. As a high school student on the Lower East Side, Andres Biel felt disengaged from school. Though he had been inspired by one art teacher, little intrigued him except when he found himself sketching clothes in his spare time. He left school before graduating. During… Read More »
“Being separated from employment is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a person, but helping connect someone with employment is one of the most helpful things you can do,” said Henry Street president and CEO David Garza in a keynote address at the recent From Hello to Hired! Job Hunting During… Read More »
For many Lower East Siders, Feb. 2, 1989 is fondly remembered for a singular break from the day-to-day: a visit from one of the world’s most visible and cherished celebrities, Diana, Princess of Wales. It was Henry Street Settlement’s Urban Family Center, which shelters 82 homeless families, that drew the “People’s Princess” to the neighborhood—one… Read More »
UPDATE: Our annual Joy Drive is over. Thank you so much to our generous gift givers! If you are still looking to help New Yorkers in need this holiday season, we hope you will consider making a donation or crowdfunding. Click here to check out Henry Street Settlement’s Joy Drive Amazon Registry. Be sure to… Read More »
“In times of need, act.” Henry Street Settlement’s visionary founder, Lillian Wald, created our organization 127 years ago, based on these five words. Fighting poverty and inequality at every opportunity, she left us a blueprint that pushes us every day to do more for our community. As the timeline inside shows graphically, the past year… Read More »
David Agosta lost his job as a waiter in early March 2020, after 12 years of working at a popular Brooklyn pizzeria. “The first day I didn’t go to work, I was panicking,” he says. David had read about the influenza pandemic of 1918 and knew this pandemic could be very serious. Wracked with anxiety,… Read More »
Big news: we’re taking our annual Town Hall online! Join us on Wednesday, October 21, 5:30-7:30 p.m., for an evening of safe, virtual community building. We’ll be joined by GOLES, Community Education Council-District 1, and West Side Campaign Against Hunger to discuss the issues facing our community, like: Feeding our Communities Getting Back to Work Fighting… Read More »
