VIDEO: An Evening of Elegance and Networking for Bed-Stuy's 'Champions'

Last night, at Bed-Stuy's beloved Victorian Mansion, located at 247 Hancock Street, the Neighborhood Technical Assistance Clinic (NTAC), led by its founder Valerie Oliver-Durrah, hosted "Champions of Bedford Stuyvesant."

The elegant affair brought together some of the most formidable leaders representing non-profit organizations that for years have done a phenomenal job in serving Bedford Stuyvesant and its residents.

The organizations that were recognized included The Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center, Inc., Bedford Stuyvesant Lions, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, Bedford Stuyvesant YMCA, Bridge Street Development Corporation, Brooklyn Central Community Development Corporation, Brownstoners of Bedford Stuyvesant, Community First Services, Inc., Neighborhood Housing Services of Bedford Stuyvesant, The Noel Pointer Foundation, Northeast Brooklyn Housing Corporation and the Magnolia Tree Earth Center.

In addition, Oliver-Durrah, on behalf of NTAC extended a special honor to Seth Edwards, vice president, Community Relations, of Brooklyn and Staten Island JP Morgan Chase and Ralph Bumbaca, senior vice president, Brooklyn and Staten Island Commercial Lending, of TD Bank.   

Valerie Oliver-Durrah explains to Bed-Stuy Patch her inspiration behind the Neighborhood Technical Assistance Clinic, and why she felt it was important to assemble last night's champions for Bedford-Stuyvesant.

“The Champions of Bedford-Stuyvesant celebration was something that was very personal for me,” said Oliver Durrah.

“I have lived in Bedford-Stuyvesant as a homeowner for over 43 years. When my husband and I moved to Bed-Stuy, the only non-profit in the area was the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, and we, among other homeowners, had to get our hands dirty and do the environmental work, the housing work, the educational work, the take-back-the-park work that had to be done.

“Having worked in corporate and non-profit as a chief officer for foundations for over 20 years, I started the neighborhood technical assistant clinic, and I had been working in neighborhoods all over New York City. But I realized I hadn’t done very much work in Bed-Stuy.

“I received a grant from TDB Bank to bring attention to underserved neighborhoods that were really growing , to bring the attention of what can really happen when companies invest and neighborhood leaders get engaged and get involved.

“And so I accepted the grant and the challenge to lift up five neighborhoods in New York City-- one per borough. And I decided to take my own neighborhood of Bed-Stuy to showcase what we have done over the years.

“Many of the non-profit executives who head up organizations don’t live in Bed-Stuy. They live in Jersey, they live in Queen, they live in Manhattan. So many of them don’t know each other. They don’t know the neighbors who live here; who they represent.

And so I thought it would be a great idea to serve as a catalyst to bring everybody together under one roof, including The Brownstoners of Bedford Stuyvesant and just see what we have accomplished; what we are accomplishing. We are a project in progress.

“People came out; TDB brought 19 people. And people were surprised to see how we live in Bedford-Stuyvesant. To see this great mansion that stands in the heart of Bedford-Stuyvesant; to see the good people they’ve been funding over the years.

“These companies are potential people who can invest in them as individuals. Many key people were able to meet and make a successful introduction. I was very proud of our success tonight.”