New Community held Employee Appreciation Day on May 26 to recognize staff members who have reached career milestones with the organization. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the event so this year’s gathering recognized employees who reached milestones in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Honorees enjoyed a hot lunch and received certificates documenting their years of service. In addition, New Community launched a new rewards program that provided honorees with a monetary gift in the form of gift cards of their choice with the amount based on seniority.
New Community Chief Financial Officer/Interim Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Mbakaya said she was glad to be able to host Employee Appreciation Day once again after more than two years of time apart.
“We are blessed and lucky to have you all as our employees,” she told the honorees. “We do not take you for granted. We know that you all have many choices other than NCC.”
She acknowledged the challenges presented by the pandemic over the past two years and thanked those in attendance for their flexibility and persistence.
“Every one of you is important to the success of NCC,” Mbakaya said. “From those who ensure that our working areas are cleaned every day and who show up during snow storms, those who showed up every day during lockdown and enabled us to continue providing the critical services needed. Those who put their lives and those of their families in danger to show up to work during COVID and did not have the option of working from home.”
She continued, “I am truly amazed and inspired by all of you. It is both an honor and a privilege to work alongside you. I hope we all get to stay around and celebrate our 40 years plus here at NCC.”
New Community Director of Human Resources Benjamin Galvez was happy New Community was able to recognize employees in person again.
“It was great to finally hold this event after two years of postponement due to the pandemic and acknowledge our dedicated employees for their years of service to New Community and our mission,” he said. “Along with recognizing years of service, this event provides an opportunity for staff to spend time with colleagues all across our network of services and introduce our new rewards program. I see this year’s event as a step towards a renewed commitment to continue to serve our community.”
At the event, New Community Board Member and Outreach Coordinator Madge Wilson received the Monsignor William J. Linder Award in addition to a certificate recognizing her 40 years as an employee of the organization in 2020. The award, named after the late founder of NCC, recognizes “unwavering commitment, dedication and valuable contribution to the mission of New Community.”
NCC Director of Mission Frances Teabout called Wilson up to receive the award.
“It was my distinct honor to present Ms. Wilson with the Monsignor William J. Linder Award,” Teabout said. “She has faithfully served NCC residents, employees and families for over 42 years. Every year, collecting and distributing hundreds of gifts, Ms. Wilson ensures every child connected to New Community has a wonderful Christmas. She has put our needs above her own, often riding many miles to collect turkeys for thanksgiving, Christmas trees for the holiday and supplies for back to school.”
Wilson received a standing ovation when Teabout said, “Ms. Wilson, you said if Monsignor Linder was here, you would tell him well done and I am sure if he was here he would tell you well done.”
Wilson said when she was hired for a role in New Community’s Property Management Department, she didn’t know she would remain at the organization for more than four decades. But she soon realized that NCC was special.
“My first day at work, I felt a sense of belonging. I knew that this would be my calling. I simply had that feeling,” she said. “This job has truly been my mission in life and I feel as though I have fulfilled it. I pray that God will spare me many more years to do his will.”
2019 Honorees
5 Years of Service
Lawrece Anderson, HHELC
Philip Arthur, Extended Care
Carlos Batista, Environmental Services
Abdul Carter, Youth Services
Jill DeRios, Resident Services
Sharlene Jackson, Youth Services
Edwin Negron, Environmental Services
Maurice Okereke, Extended Care
Marycomfort Opara, HHELC
Keith Ransom, Security
10 Years of Service
Mercy Attah, Security
Dashon Hall, Extended Care
Madeline Miller, Extended Care
Patience Omokaro, Extended Care
Dennis Searwar, Environmental Services
15 Years of Service
Faye M. Harvey, Property Management
Michelle Jenkins, CHELC
Mercedes Navarrete, CHELC
Hope Okpala, CHELC
Roslyn S. Skyles, Adult Learning Center
20 Years of Service
Jacqueline Andrews, SAIF
Robert Broadnax, Security
Maximo A. Deleon, Food Services
Genoveva Ferreras, Food Services
Ramon Gerena, Information Technology
Jermaine Jones, Security
Sharon Jordan, Extended Care
James A. Massey, Security
Angela Potts, HHELC
Vander Walker, Extended Care
Susan Williams, Extended Care
Dorothy J. Artis, Property Management
25 Years of Service
Mulu A. Gebreyesus, Credit Union
Robin L. Harris, Extended Care
Gary Taylor, Environmental Services
30 Years of Service
Eara L. Adebamowo, Extended Care
Gail Eunice, Extended Care
Michelle Grier-Porch, Security
Angela Hall, Harmony House
Kathy Jefferson, Extended Care
Vernice J O’Neal, Home Friends
2020 Honorees
5 Years of Service
Nana Bekoe, Security
Jose Carmona, Environmental Services
Noreen Charles, Extended Care
Nalini Chunnu, Extended Care
Sabine Fortune, Security
Benjamin Galvez, Human Resources
Sonia Garcia, SAIF
Janesa Henry, Security
Anne Moran, Resident Services
Martha Ojibe, Extended Care
Odette Phillip, NCCTI
Joseph Sweet Jr., Environmental Services
Winston Thomas, NCCTI
Luz Toro, Property Management
10 Years of Service
Rosa A. Auquilla, SAIF
Manuel Guzman, Environmental Services
Kim Hawkins, CHELC
Gladys C Inazu, Security
Clifford W Melville, Environmental Services
Joyce N Misiani, Extended Care
Aleta M. Morse, Security
Nancy Nii-Moi, Extended Care
Theresa M Omari, Extended Care
Denise Y Swiney, Extended Care
Lisa Watson, CHELC
15 Years of Service
Amalia Aldana, Adult Learning Center
Lucia Dominguez, CHELC
Ogheneochuko L. Erukanure, Extended Care
Samuel Gaddy, Food Services
Manuela Garcia, Property Management
Clifford E. Josiah, Environmental Services
Priscilla Njoku, Extended Care
Gabriel Robinson, Home Friends
20 Years of Service
Delores Bynum, Extended Care
Stevonne N Cummings, Extended Care
Maria D. Perez, Property Management
Ruth D. Reeves, Finance
Adanech Y. Tesfagiorgis, Finance
25 Years of Service
Jonathan Butler, NCCTI
Patricia Tucker, Extended Care
30 Years of Service
Gloria Austin, Extended Care
Jeanette Morales, Environmental Services
Meena Pilgrim, Home Friends
40 Years of Service
Madge D. Wilson, Administration
2021 Honorees
5 Years of Service
Janet Maye Adekunle, Extended Care
William Arango, Adult Learning Center
Veronica Asebiomo, Extended Care
Onassis Boafo, Extended Care
James Bullock, Adult Learning Center
Darlene Grimsley, HHELC
Christiana A Ibeh, Extended Care
Elizabeth Jimenez, Adult Learning Center
Temitope Kayode, Environmental Services
Andrea Kelly, NCCTI
Priscilla Ordonez, Property Management
Colin Pilgrim, Environmental Services
Maurice Savadogo, Extended Care
Bianka Shields, Extended Care
Andrew Solomon, Environmental Services
Glenda Wills, Adult Learning Center
John Zuniga, Environmental Services
10 Years of Service
Yuri Abrams, Environmental Services
Fernando A. Argueta, Environmental Services
Peggy F Barnes, Harmony House
Trudiann J Clement, Property Management
Tony Drye, Security
Emmanuel Ekechukwu, Extended Care
Juan R Figueredo, Environmental Services
Marianne K. Ilunga, Extended Care
Donald McGill, Environmental Services
Folasade A. Ogunniran, Extended Care
Sabrina E. Prunty, Extended Care
Lenette Tillman, CHELC
Winton Tolles, Real Estate Development
Patricia Washington, Corporate Office
Cheick Yaora, Security
15 Years of Service
Deborah Bradley, Security
Alisha Chatman, Property Management
Ruby Cueto De Luna, Finance
Letekidan Ghebreselasse, Extended Care
Marie Carme Jean Paul, Extended Care
Sandy T. Le, Property Management
Edward Morris, Youth Services
Linda Washington, Harmony House
20 Years of Service
Yolanda Dawson, Extended Care
Damari Hernandez, CHELC
Zoisha A. Holder, CHELC
Carolyn Lowe, CHELC
Rafaela Made, Extended Care
Julius Malker, Information Technology
Marilyn Rodriguez, Family Service Bureau
Frances Teabout, Mission
25 Years of Service
Sheila D. Coleman, Extended Care
Gabe Coley, Environmental Services
30 Years of Service
Melinda Liptrot, Security
35 Years of Service
Elmin Debbie Rohrman, Administration
