Emilio Dorcely Appointed Interim Acting President of Bridge Street

Board of Directors on Tuesday announced its appointment of Emilio Dorcely as interim acting president and CEO of the organization.

Mr. Dorcely will succeed Rhonda A. Lewis, who resigned at the end of 2011 after more than a decade at the helm of BSDC.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Dorcely served as Bridge Street's chief operating officer. Following Ms. Lewis's departure, he began assuming much of the day-to-day responsibilities of running the organization.

"The Board is pleased to appoint Mr. Dorcely as acting president & CEO," said Edward Odom, chairman of BSDC's board of directors. "With his strong management skills, thoughtful leadership, and ability to bring forth new and innovative initiatives, he is uniquely suited for this new role, and we look forward to his many valuable contributions."

A Brooklyn native born and raised in Flatbush, Mr. Dorcely is a former resident of Bedford-Stuyvesant and knows the area well. "So my work with Bridge Street is a homecoming of sorts," he says.

Prior to joining Bridge Street in July 2011, he worked as a director of nonprofit philanthropy and leadership at the Independent Sector. Additionally, he has worked extensively in the field of non-profit administration with a number of philanthropy organizations, including the Rhode Island Foundation, the Association of Black Foundation Executives and the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

Mr. Dorcely has dual degrees in science and communications from SUNY Oswego and holds a juris doctor from University of Iowa's College of Law.

“I think one of the biggest challenges facing Bedford-Stuyvesant today is preserving it as an affordable place for longtime residents to raise families, own businesses, and participate in the rich cultural, spiritual, and recreational offerings of this unique community, while at the same time welcoming the ongoing economic and demographic changes that are occurring in the neighborhood," Mr. Dorcely told Bed-Stuy Patch.

"Bridge Street’s affordable housing efforts, financial literacy education, foreclosure prevention—indeed all of our programs—will help to achieve that delicate balance. I look forward to working with our numerous community partners and other stakeholders in the years to come.”