Scroll down for photos “If you sign up for volunteering at Disney, your name never goes off the list,” said David Walters, hoisting a half-dozen bags of meals outside the Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center at East 93rd and First. “I used to work for Disney eight, ten years ago. I’m still on the list.” […]
Blog & News
Goddard Thought Leaders in Mental Health and Advocacy Honored
Two Goddard Riverside employees were recently honored by their peers at United Neighborhood Houses—the umbrella organization for settlement houses in New York. Derrick Manigo, the director of our Assertive Community Treatment teams, received the Pathfinder award, which honors people who “are charting new directions and inspiring change through their creativity, commitment, and courage.” ACT teams, […]
Our Newest Supportive Housing Honors Stephan Russo, a Housing Pioneer and Former Goddard Head
Get a peek at the renovations in our video! Nearly 100 people showed up to celebrate the ribbon-cutting for our Stephan Russo Residence on West 107th Street on Tuesday. This freshly-renovated building will provide 14 affordable one-room units for low-income renters and 54 permanent supportive housing units for formerly homeless people. “For many of the people […]
Celebrating Goddard’s Programs and Book Prizes at the Bash
Goddard friends, supporters and staff gathered for our Annual Bash earlier this month to celebrate our Book Prize winners and raise money for our work. This year’s Bash focused on our Behavioral Health programs, which address mental health and addiction. A video introduced attendees to clients of our mobile mental health teams, mental health clubhouse, […]
Book Prize Winner Jonathan Blitzer and the Real-Life Impacts of US Immigration
Watch a video of the Book Chat here Jonathan Blitzer’s Everyone Who is Gone is Here takes a panoramic look at US immigration policy regarding Central America over the last several decades. But it’s never boring or bureaucratic, because it’s relentlessly focused on the people caught up in those policies—from a doctor dealing with the […]
#DegreesNYC Director Joins the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) Council
The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) has listed its 2025-2026 Policy Council Members and our very own Dr. LaKisha Williams, Director of #DegreesNYC at the Options Center is among the leaders chosen. The Policy Council is a group made up of leaders from across the country dedicated to discussing policy strategies with the mission of […]
From Intern to Owner: LTW Grad Has a Plan for Success
Jiany Lopez dropped out of high school during a turbulent time in her life. She came to our Learning to Work program a few years ago, looking to finish high school and figure out her next steps. Learning to Work is embedded at the Edward A. Reynolds Transfer High School. It helps students overcome barriers […]
Meet Linda – Lifelong Learner at the Resource Center
At Goddard, Lifelong Learning is one of our core values. Linda Aka, a case manager at our Resource Center, is showing us how to do it— while helping others and thriving in the process. In less than a year, Linda has gone from an internship to her new role, in a career that she began […]
Building Strength on Both Sides of the Park: Goddard Riverside, Isaacs Center Merge
Goddard Riverside and the Isaacs Center are excited to announce that we have formally merged as of June 2025. We launched our partnership nearly four years ago with a sense that our goals and strengths complemented each other—and that sense has only grown as we’ve become one team. “The Isaacs Center had a great unifying […]
“My Mind is Blown”: Options Center Conference Highlights Obstacles to Education for Formerly Incarcerated
A woman approached a table with a sign that read Quick Loans and Pawn Shop. The agent behind the sign immediately picked up her cellphone and launched into an animated conversation. “I’m busy! I’m on the phone!” she told the customer. Scenes like this played out all around the large meeting room at the CUNY […]