Social service champions honored

Everyday, professionals working within the social and human services field help New Yorkers live their safest, healthiest, happiest lives. 

Whether they’re providing fresh-cooked meals to a family that can’t afford dinner, or operating programs to help the recently incarcerated gently rejoin their communities, or are advocating for governmental funding that will support care for those struggling with mental health issues – social service workers do a lot for their communities and neighbors. 

It is often a behind-the-scenes, thankless job that doesn’t bring nearly as much recognition as is deserved. But at the 3 West Club in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday, City & State honored 54 hardworking social service workers who are making an impact on the state.

The “Above & Beyond Social Services: Recognizing New York’s Leaders in the Social Services Sector” awards ceremony was a time for these doers to celebrate all the work they’ve done and all the work coming. The event was associated with City & State’s  “Above & Beyond: Social Services” power list.

“Tonight is about recognizing leaders who don’t just serve, they uplift, advocate and push for a more equitable future for our communities,” City & State and New York Nonprofit Media correspondent Phenix Kim, who served as emcee, said.

The reception kicked off with keynote remarks from New York State Office of Children & Family Services Commissioner DaMia Harris-Madden. 

She shared a quote from the late Rep. Shirley Chisholm that she felt spoke to the moment: “Service is the rent you pay for the privilege of living on this earth.” Harris-Madden noted that serving others is a calling that all the honorees share and fulfill with “open hearts.”

“Our success, collectively, is not measured by applause, paychecks, the titles or the hierarchy. It’s actually not even measured by the ‘thank yous’ that you may or may not get,” she said. “Rather, the intrinsic rewards and knowledge that every day we swing the bat and we work really hard for what’s right.”

New York City Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park gave the second keynote speech. 

She acknowledged that it’s a turbulent time for the social services field and shared that there are times she struggles, not just with the federal budget cuts but more so over the growing feeling that people lack empathy for others nowadays. 

“There are moments when I am, personally, really struggling,” Wasow Park said. “It is that moment of feeling that compassion and empathy are really fading away. That, because I am someone who cares about people beyond my family and my immediate social circle, I am in the minority. That’s a really hard feeling to have, and there are days where it’s demoralizing.”

In response to these feelings, the commissioner called on all the honorees to find strength and comfort in the fact that they’re not alone in the struggle, and to find opportunity during the hard times to create an even more equitable system for the future.

“This is a moment when I certainly don’t have all the answers, and perhaps I don’t have any of the answers, but what I know is that I have faith in you and your organizations and your teams, and I believe that we can do the hard work together,” she said. 

At the end of the evening, the honorees left saying they  felt even more inspired and empowered to continue uplifting their communities and clients. 

“To be able to be here is just amazing,” honoree Monika Estrada Guzman of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital said. “Just seeing phenomenal people doing amazing work, especially in a pivotal time that we have right now, [seeing] that our profession and who we are and how we show up is really important. Tonight is very surreal.”

These sentiments were echoed by fellow honoree Javier Gomez of HANAC’s Legal Immigration Assistance Program.

“It is inspiring to be recognized as one of the leaders in the community that serves others who are in need,” he said. “The inspiration to continue working hard for others.”

The event was sponsored by Neighborhood SHOPP at the gold level; Carey & Co, Lantern Community Services and Services for the Underserved at the silver level; and The Arc Westchester, BronxWorks, BTQ Financial, Help USA, the Human Services Council and the NYU Silver School of Social Work at the bronze level.