Dream Big Day!

On August 6th, 2011, Abraham House students involved in our Summer Program were selected to participate in Dream Big Day put on by the Bronx Children's Museum! Abraham House youth ages 5-12 put on a special dance number for the festival attendees under the direction of the Afro-Caribbean dance group ¡Retumba!.

The students also celebrated with music and art - a large mural painted by our 1st and 2nd graders, along with Bronx Children's Museum staff, was on display at the event! Abraham House students and staff were honored to meet Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and this year's honoree United States Surgeon General Regina Benjamin. It was a wonderful day for the Abraham House Summer Program and we thank the Bronx Children's Museum for letting us be a part of the event! For more information on the 2011 Dream Big Day, CLICK HERE.

Mural painted by Summer Program 1st and 2nd graders in partnership with the Bronx Children's Musuem currently on display at Abraham House.

For a picture slideshow from Dream Big Day, CLICK HERE.

Abraham House names Deputy Executive Director

Abraham House is pleased to announce the appointment of Althea Brooks as Deputy Executive Director, effective November 8, 2010. Althea initially joined Abraham House in November 2009 as Interim Director of the Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) Program. In her role as Deputy Executive Director, Althea will continue to be responsible for the ATI Program, while overseeing and developing the Human Resources component of the organization. Althea will also assist in the day-to-day building operations alongside Andre Pabon, the Executive Director.

Althea came to Abraham House after 15 years of experience at the Fortune Society, where she served as Associate Vice President. Althea also served as Senior Director of Health and Transitional Services, and as Director of Case Management and Supportive Services at the Fortune Society. She has extensive experience working with the incarcerated, the formerly incarcerated, and their families.

"Althea has been a great addition to Abraham House", said Andre Pabon. "Althea is an experienced professional with the skills and knowledge necessary to help the organization go to the next level. We are excited that she's on board!"

For more information, you can contact Althea at abrooks@abrahamhouse.org, or (718)292-9321 ex. 22

Youth INC Celebration Event

Abraham House names Deputy Executive Director

Abraham House is pleased to announce the appointment of Althea Brooks as Deputy Executive Director, effective November 8, 2010. Althea initially joined Abraham House in November 2009 as Interim Director of the Alternative to Incarceration (ATI) Program. In her role as Deputy Executive Director, Althea will continue to be responsible for the ATI Program, while overseeing and developing the Human Resources component of the organization. Althea will also assist in the day-to-day building operations alongside Andre Pabon, the Executive Director.

Althea came to Abraham House after 15 years of experience at the Fortune Society, where she served as Associate Vice President. Althea also served as Senior Director of Health and Transitional Services, and as Director of Case Management and Supportive Services at the Fortune Society. She has extensive experience working with the incarcerated, the formerly incarcerated, and their families.

"Althea has been a great addition to Abraham House", said Andre Pabon. "Althea is an experienced professional with the skills and knowledge necessary to help the organization go to the next level. We are excited that she's on board!"

For more information, you can contact Althea at abrooks@abrahamhouse.org, or (718)292-9321 ex. 22

Our New Executive Director

On February 8, 2010 Andre Pabon joined Abraham House as our new Executive Director. Andre has a Masters of Social Work from Fordham University and joins Abraham House after 14 years with Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, where he was a Senior Director responsible for overseeing both the Juvenile Justice and Special Populations Department and the East New York Family Care and Mentoring Center.

Andre Pabon named Executive Director

"Andre's experience with special populations, both as a social worker and an administrator, is just right for Abraham House at a critical time in its lifecycle. His passion and dedication to vulnerable families and his unbridled optimism for their futures make him a fitting successor to Sr. Simone and her vision for the underserved: that lives can be rebuilt, families mended, lessons learned," said Bob Murphy, board chair.

Andre earned an MSW from Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service and in 2007 was recognized by the US Administration of Children and Families Youth Service Bureau for demonstrated excellence in the field of youth services. He has participated in numerous collaborative initiatives with the Department of Youth and Community Development, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Probation, and the NYPD.

New York's Neediest Cases

Abraham House has been featured in the New York Times' Neediest Cases. Click here to read the article.

Click here for 2001 Neediest Cases Article.

Click here for 1999 Neediest Cases Article.

Meet Althea Brooks, Alternative to Incarceration Director

“Abraham House is family. I felt that the minute I walked through the door. And that’s how we want to keep it. For many of our residents, Abraham House is the first family they’ve had,” said Althea Brooks, who joined Abraham House as Director of the Alternative to Incarceration Program in November 2009.

Althea came to Abraham House after 15 years of experience at the Fortune Society, where she most recently served as Associate Vice President of Programs. Prior to that, Althea held the positions of Senior Director of Health and Transitional Services, and Director of Case Management and Supportive Services at the Fortune Society. She has extensive experience working with the incarcerated, the formerly incarcerated, and their families.

Althea meets each candidate personally and assesses them against a variety of benchmarks to make sure the program is a right fit. The most significant marker, she thinks, is the candidate’s demonstrated willingness to change.

“Although not every participant will successfully complete the program, the majority of those who do go on to lead productive, law-abiding lives”, said Althea. She further added, “What we hope to accomplish with everyone passing through our doors is to plant the seeds of change in their minds, so that they can make better life choices once they leave our program.”

College Bound

The After School Program has four students in the 12th grade -- and all are headed for college. Kiara, who started in the After School Program in the first grade, received offers of admission from several competitive colleges, including Hunter, Fordham and NYU. Kiara worked for Abraham House’s summer program last year and manages to find time to help the younger After School students practice their reading.

Omar also worked in the summer program last year and does community service at Abraham House on Saturdays. He will attend one of the CUNY colleges and has an interest in digital art.

Catalina’s favorite activity at Abraham House is the Youth Leadership Program. She will attend a CUNY college and is planning to work part-time to pay for tuition. Catalina is focused and conscientious and will find the right balance between work and studies.

Mirabel is a new participant in the After School Program. She is considering community college and vocational schools and wants to be a veterinarian.

Abraham House staff helped each of the students, and their parents, in each step of the process, from completing the applications to analyzing merit and financial aid packages and work-study options.

What’s more, each of the students are the first in their generation to attend college – and will be close enough to visit their friends at Abraham House on a regular basis.