A New Year with New Beginnings
With 2016 behind us, we at IMPACCT Brooklyn are excited about our new beginning as the organization’s tireless leader, Deb Howard retired last month and I, Bernell Grier, assumed the role of Executive Director. I owe a huge thank you to the organization’s Board of Directors, committed staff and Deb for making this transition seamless.
As a resident of Fort Greene-Clinton Hill since the early 1990’s, I first heard of Deb Howard as her reputation preceded her as a phenomenal community organizer with what was then called Pratt Area Community Council (now IMPACCT Brooklyn). Since then, she has been the backbone of the affordable housing movement; spearheading the preservation of the over 1,000 units of low-moderate housing developed during her tenure. Ms. Howard is a community treasure who embodies the mission of IMPACCT Brooklyn: embracing a vision in which people strive together to build an equitable, diverse, engaged, and flourishing community in Central Brooklyn.
As the successor to the foundation of excellence that Deb paved, I am truly honored and excited to join IMPACCT Brooklyn. I have supported and admired the work of IMPACCT for many years, having served on the Board in the late 1990s. Also, I bring with me an extensive background in community development and affordable housing advocacy.
In 2017, IMPACCT Brooklyn is well positioned and will continue to build upon its great legacy, working alongside our board members, stellar staff and community partners, and pursuing our major goals. With the uncertainty of the recent election, I am dedicated to ensuring that residents throughout the city continue to get the services and support they deserve. We will aim to build our capacity and work with our partners to meet the need for affordable housing development and advocacy, tenant rights training and anti-bias-fair housing education that we believe will be critical throughout this administration.
I look forward with great anticipation to the year ahead, meeting and working with friends and clients old and new. Happy New Year!
Bernell K. Grier
Chief Executive Officer
