[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17462]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     ST. NICKS ALLIANCE ANNUAL AWARDS BENEFIT AND 40TH ANNIVERSARY 
                              CELEBRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 4, 2015

  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize St. Nicks 
Alliance, a community based non-profit organization created in North 
Brooklyn during the fiscal crisis of New York City in the 1970s. This 
year it celebrates its 40th Anniversary on November 9, 2015.
  St. Nicks Alliance, formerly known as the St. Nicholas Neighborhood 
Preservation Corp., emerged in 1975 at the height of a nationwide 
grassroots movement to preserve and improve urban neighborhoods in 
decline. In Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a group of concerned and determined 
residents and business owners, and Msgr. Walter J. Vetro, pastor of St. 
Nicholas R. C. Church, came together and initiated neighborhood-based 
efforts to improve the community's physical and economic conditions. 
This led to the incorporation of the organization.
  As we know, some groups are formed to address an issue on their 
block; Msgr. Vetro and the volunteers mobilized to address the issues 
of the greater neighborhood. The organization launched an action plan 
that aimed to address a range of issues and concerns that included 
public safety, crime, and drugs; tenants' rights, abandoned housing, 
and housing discrimination; environmental and public health issues, 
such as toxic waste dumping, lead paint, and pollution; community 
reinvestment, redlining, and related matters; economic development, job 
training, and manufacturing closings; youth, education, and recreation; 
and municipal services delivery.
  Today, forty years later, St. Nicks Alliance has created 1,700 units 
of affordable housing for low income families, seniors and persons with 
disabilities and manages more than 1,000 units of housing in North 
Brooklyn. It has helped residents secure federal assistance ranging 
from Section 8 housing assistance, weatherization programs, to new 
market tax credits, which serve as resources to fuel job creation and 
development. It has collaborated with the public and private sector to 
deliver comprehensive programming to the community. This includes 
summer and after-school enrichment services to 2,500 young people; 
elder care and adult health and fitness programs, onsite service 
coordination; homeownership training, small business development and 
business retention assistance. Its workforce development program, like 
the federally funded Environmental Response & Remediation Technician 
Program successfully trained, certified and placed local residents to 
work the field of environmental response and remediation services. It 
is recognized for the comprehensive ready to work service it delivers.
  St. Nicks Alliance is a part of the fabric of the Williamsburg and 
Greenpoint community. My district is enriched and indebted to them for 
their service to advance the betterment of the North Brooklyn 
community.
  The outstanding accomplishments made by St. Nicks Alliance during its 
proud, 40-year history are a testament to the excellent work of so many 
dedicated professional employees and partners and leadership of Michael 
Rochford, Executive Director and Board Members, past and present.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the St. Nicks Alliance in 
Brooklyn, New York for its commendable and exemplary work and wish it 
many years of continued success.

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