Participants of the inaugural Neighborhood Leadership Program(from l-r),Lisa Thompson, Bed-Stuy Gateway Business Improvement District,Laurel Brown, Nostrand Park, and Dale Charles, Pratt Area Community Council with Council Member Albert Vann (2nd from Right)

New York – Deputy Mayor Robert K. Steel, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, and Small Business Services Commissioner Robert W. Walsh today announced the 20 participants who were selected to be part of the inaugural Neighborhood Leadership Program. Neighborhood Leadership is a five-month leadership training program that provides individuals working to strengthen New York City’s commercial corridors with the tools, experiences and networks they need to develop new ways to lead change in their organizations and communities.

The Department of Small Business Services (SBS) partnered with the Coro New York Leadership Center and the Association for a Better New York (ABNY) to launch the new leadership development program to support community-based organizations focused on revitalizing their commercial corridors. Twenty individuals were selected to participate in the program, with a majority of participants serving low to moderate-income neighborhoods.

The participants will work with experts in the field and other participants to develop their personal leadership skills and hone their commercial revitalization expertise. The program will incorporate the leadership development curriculum created by Coro, New York City’s premier leadership training program. The five-month leadership program began in January 2011 with an opening retreat and will end with a final ceremony in May 2011.

“Commercial corridors add vibrancy and economic opportunity to New York City’s unique neighborhoods, and working behind the scenes to revitalize them are committed individuals and community-based organizations in all five boroughs,” said Deputy Mayor Steel. “We want to empower these leaders by giving them the tools they need to expand their efforts and continue to make our commercial districts thrive. With strong partners like the City’s Department of Small Business Services, Coro and ABNY, the new Neighborhood Leadership Program will help us achieve that.”

“New York has always been known as a City of great leaders, and I’m so excited that we’re able to continue this through programs like the Neighborhood Leadership Program,” said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “By having a hands-on development program, we’re able to truly build leaders – and a better future. I want to thank Deputy Mayor Robert K. Steel, SBS Commissioner Rob Walsh and our partners Coro and ABNY for making this program possible.” 

 “We are thrilled to be celebrating the launch of this program and welcoming twenty participants of the first ever Neighborhood Leadership Program,” Commissioner Walsh said. “It will provide a tremendous opportunity for this group and we look forward to seeing the impact in neighborhoods across the City. I want to thank Deputy Mayor Steel and Speaker Quinn, as well as our partners in Coro and ABNY for their support in launching this program.”

“For 30 years, Coro has been building the leadership community of New York by training the city’s students and executives, activists and entrepreneurs,” Scott Millstein Executive Director of Coro New York Leadership Center said. “This is a great opportunity to extend our impact with a new group of leaders who are doing remarkable things to strengthen our city’s neighborhood business communities.  We are pleased to be part of this partnership.”  

“ABNY is pleased to support the Department of Small Business Services and Coro New York in launching the Coro Neighborhood Leadership program,” said Jennifer Hensley, Executive Director of ABNY. “As the city looks to do more with less, we believe that leadership at a neighborhood level is more important than ever before. We look forward to working with SBS and Coro to train practitioners in the skills they need to revitalize communities and commercial districts throughout New York City.”

The participants of the inaugural Coro Neighborhood Leadership Program are:

• Kevin Alexander, Rockaway Development and Revitalization Corporation
• Michael Blaise Backer, Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership
• Laurel Brown, Nostrand Park
• Ricardi Calixte, Queens Economic Development Corporation
• Dale Charles, Pratt Area Community Council
• Lauren Danziger, Greenwich Village Chelsea Chamber of Commerce
• Elizabeth Demetriou, Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation
• Lauren Elvers Collins, Church Avenue Business Improvement District
• LaQuita Henry, Heritage Health and Housing
• Ira Jones-Cimini, Abyssinian Development Corporation
• Phillip Kellogg, Fulton Area Business (FAB) Alliance
• Kevin Kong, Renaissance Economic Development Corporation
• Kerry McLean, Women's Housing & Economic Development Corporation
• Ralph Memoli, Lincoln Square Business Improvement District
• Simone Price, Sutphin Boulevard Business Improvement District
• Angelina Ramirez, Washington Heights Business Improvement District
• Michele Sledge, Northfield Community Local Development Corporation
• Lisa Thompson, Bed-Stuy Gateway Business Improvement District
• Kevin Tolan, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership
• Bob Zuckerman, Lower East Side Business Improvement District

In order to be eligible for the program, leaders must be dedicated management staff of nonprofit organizations that serve commercial districts in New York City, such as a Business Improvement District (BID), local development corporations or other non-profit organization whose work focuses on commercial revitalization activities. For more information on the Neighborhood Leadership Program visit www.coronewyork.org.

About the Department of Small Business Services
The Department of Small Business Services (SBS) makes it easier for businesses in New York City to start, operate, and expand by providing direct assistance to business owners, fostering neighborhood development in commercial districts, and linking employers to a skilled and qualified workforce. For more information on all of SBS’ services go to www.nyc.gov/sbs.

About the Coro New York Leadership Center
Coro is New York City’s premier leadership training program and a community of 2,000 alumni across business, government, schools and non-profits that is shaping the city’s future. For nearly 30 years, Coro has used the city as its classroom teaching students and executives, activists and entrepreneurs how New York works so that they can make it better.  For more information about Coro, please visit http://www.coronewyork.org.

About the Association for a Better New York
The Association for a Better New York (ABNY) is dedicated to improving the quality of life for those that live and work in New York City and for those that visit. We bring together hundreds of the city’s finest citizens and organizations in the joint commitment of finding solutions that enhance and highlight the best New York City has to offer.  For more information about ABNY, please visit http://www.abny.org.