FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
GODDARD RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER RECEIVES
2007 AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN CIVIC ADVOCACY
FROM UNITED NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSES
Activist Honored with
Inaugural Advocacy Award
Larry Wood, Community Organizer and Director of
the Family Council at Goddard Riverside Community
Center on New York City’s Upper West Side, recently
accepted the first-ever UNH
Award for Achievement in Civic Advocacy in
honor of his commitment to social and economic justice.
Presented by United Neighborhood Houses, a membership
organization of 35 New York City settlement houses
and community centers, this award recognizes Mr. Wood’s
accomplishments in improving the lives of New Yorkers.
His community service supports UNH’s mission
to strengthen families and improve neighborhoods throughout
the five boroughs.
At Goddard Riverside for the past 20 years, Mr. Wood
began his tenure as a tenant and community organizer
for Goddard’s West Side SRO Law Project. From
1987 to 1995, he championed the rights of low-income
tenants both in and out of Housing Court. Mr. Wood
expanded Goddard Riverside’s community outreach
through the founding and development of The Family
Council, a forum for advocacy and education. As the
Family Council Director, and its first staff member,
he provides leadership and guidance through his vision,
dedication and tireless efforts. More than 10 years
since its inception, the Council continues to provide
access to vital legal assistance, a forum for discussion
of critical issues and mobilizes advocacy efforts.
His commitment to grassroots organizing and advocacy
serves as an inspiration.
Presented to Larry Wood by Sid Lapidus, UNH Board
Chair, the UNH Award
for Achievement in Civic Advocacy has been
made possible by a bequest from Julius C.C. Edelstein,
an advocate for economically and educationally disadvantaged
students, and a great supporter of UNH. “The
award honors the proud history of community activism
and advocacy that has been a hallmark of the settlement
house movement for over 100 years. Through celebrating
the achievements of the individual staff, this award
acknowledges the present day commitment of UNH member
agencies and their staff to social change,”
said Nancy Wackstein, UNH Executive Director.
Mr. Wood’s commitment to social change is best
illustrated by his innovative and successful method
of community organizing. Rather than break up communities
based on age, he motivates seniors and young people
to step forward together to fight for their rights
to essential services. His unique, inter-generational
approach to advocacy unites children with older adults
and fills rally-bound busses to capacity with grassroots
activists of all ages. Mr. Wood’s outreach consistently
draws media attention to critical issues, garnering
support for human services programs, public education,
senior services and voter registration across the
UNH system. As Goddard Riverside Community Center
Executive Director Stephan Russo says, “Larry
Wood is the quintessential organizer and proponent
of civic engagement.”
When he is not at work, Mr. Wood’s interest
in social and economic justice has led him to serve
on the boards and steering committees of several other
nonprofits and coalitions. He holds a Bachelor’s
Degree in Engineering from The Cooper Union and is
trained in non-partisan voter registration and Get
Out The Vote (GOTV), peace-keeping techniques (marshaling
of marches and rallies) and non-violent civil disobedience.
Mr. Wood and his family live on Manhattan’s
Upper West Side and he is a committed public school
parent of two children. He enjoys camping, hiking,
community gardening and bike-riding.
Goddard Riverside Community Center provides services
to 16,000 people annually from Manhattan’s Upper
West Side and Harlem communities. Twenty-two programs
at 16 sites reach out to children and youth, families,
homeless people and older adults. Goddard Riverside,
a not-for-profit organization, provides basic services
such as meals, shelter and education, and enriches
community life with recreational, cultural and arts
activities. The agency manages 600 units of affordable
housing. In addition, advocacy and legal services
offer individuals and groups a voice in their community
and a way to address critical social issues.
United Neighborhood Houses (UNH) is the membership
organization of New York City settlement houses and
community centers. Founded in 1919, UNH’s membership
compromises one of the largest human service systems
in New York City, with 35 agencies working at more
than 300 sites to provide high quality services and
activities to more than a half million New Yorkers
each year. For over 85 years, UNH has worked with
its members to strengthen families and improve neighborhoods
throughout the City. UNH supports the work of its
members through advocacy and public policy research
and analysis, technical assistance and funding by
promoting program replication and collaboration among
its members.
< Previous | Next
>
|
