My Nonprofit Reviews

Project Renewal has been and continues to be a blessing to me. I was addicted and homeless and hit bottom with nowhere to go. Ironically, the last person that I got high with told me they had just gone to a NA meeting. Helpless and alone I decided to go to a meeting at St. Marks Place, and shared my story of being distressed and sick and tired of drug addiction. Fortunately, three men who were graduates of the Manhattan Bowery Program (former name of Project Renewal) heard my testimony and ordered me to come with them. I had no idea that they were taking me to the now named Project Renewal. They took me to the director who took the time to hear my story and admitted me.

At that time Project Renewal was a therapeutic community in which, combined with the treatment we had in house volunteer jobs. I had various job functions while there but I ended up working for the maintenance department, controlling the storage area and supplies. I graduated the program but remained on staff in the maintenance department and worked for the RCCA another facility that at Project Renewal manage. I was later recruited to work for the director of facilities Ernie Talbot, as an assistant, that managed maintenance personnel, purchasing, and special projects for all the programs and facilities.

I worked at PR for about 6 years and left to be the Business Manager of the 1st NY State Charter School, Sisulu Children's Academy. Later I was recruited by one of the vendors that supply Project Renewal and now am a partner for that company. We still supply Project Renewal, and support the agency in any way possible.

Project Renewal and staff have supported me through drug addiction to recovery. They have enabled me to have a great life. I have regained my family relationships, wife, children, and career. My clan brothers that went through the program with me are still connected like a fraternity. Ed Geffner, Ernie Talbot, Barbara Hughes, Stephanie Cowles, Dan Maulk, Donald Myers, Aaron Atkinson, Arvey Campbell and the late William Washington, have been and still are great, dynamic influences in my life. When I had no idea of how to run my life, these individuals helped to direct, correct, push, encourage, and loved me, unconditionally, until I could love myself.