27th Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer Retreat for Social Justice
The Challenge of Homelessness:
Strategies to Provide Support and Restore Hope
Handouts Distributed:
Ending Chronic Homelessness Pubic Policy Platform
9:00 Welcoming Remarks- The Rev. Chloe Breyer, Executive Director, Interfaith Center of New York
9:05 Opening Prayer- Venerable Guo Chan Fashi, Dharma Drum Meditation Center
9:10 Introduction to Retreat- Sarah Sayeed, Program Associate, Interfaith Center of New York
9:15 Dyad Introductions
9:20 – 9:30 Reciprocity Foundation Video Clip: Homeless Youth on Retreat at DharmaDrum Meditation Center, introduced by Taz Tagore and Adam Bucko, Co-Founders, Reciprocity Foundation
9:30 – 10:10 Opening Address: “Sacred City under Siege”
Fr. Michael Callaghan, C.O., Executive Director, Nazareth Housing
10:15 – 11:00 New York City Response: Homebase and Department of Homeless Services
Susan Nayowith, PhD, LCSW, Director, Office of Client Advocacy; Sara Zuiderveen, Assistant Commissioner for Prevention Services division of Department of Homeless Services (DHS)
11:00 – 12:20 Panel: Homelessness Prevention and Intervention: Shelter and Support Options
Larry Wood, Family Council Organizer, Goddard Riverside Community Center
Jennifer Laurie, Assistant Director, Housing Court Answers
Jeff Caltabiano, Assistant Program Director, CAMBA
Christy Parque, Executive Director, Homeless Services United
Moderator: Larry Wood, Family Council Organizer, Goddard Riverside Community Center
12:20 – 1:45 Lunch in Small Groups (See Suggested Questions for Group Discussion)
Moviz Asad Siddiqi, Islamic Circle of North America Relief USA Women’s Shelter- Remarks and Muslim Prayer
Montage of video interviews with attendees:
1:45 – 3:00 Panel: Faith-Inspired Strategies to Serve, Educate and Restore Hope
Taz Tagore, Adam Bucko, Co-Founders, Reciprocity Foundation
Marc Greenberg, Founder and Executive Director, Interfaith Assembly on Housing and Homelessness
Jeanne Newman, Founder, SHARE the Project, Inc., a frequent partner of the Midnight Run, Inc.
Jim Melchiorre, Volunteer, B’nai Jeshurun/Church of St Paul and St Andrew Homeless Shelter
William Burnett, Board Member, Picture the Homeless
Moderator: Lysander Pucio, Coordinator, Robert Daniel Jones Memorial Shelter at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
3:00 – 4:15 Panel: Policy Priorities to End Homelessness
Patrick Markee, Senior Policy Analyst and Director, Advocacy Department at Coalition for the Homeless
Ted Houghton, Executive Director, Supportive Housing Network of New York
Barika Williams, Policy Director, Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development
Moderator: Matt Dunbar, Advocacy and Community Relations Manager, Habitat for Humanity, New York City Chapter
4:15 – 4:30 Closing Reflections- Hon. Letitia James, New York City Council Member, District 35
4:30 Interfaith Assembly and Habitat: Mayoral and City Council Accountability Campaign
4:45 Closing Prayers- Tejpreet Kaur, Sikh Coalition and Sunita Viswanath, Sadhana Coalition for Progressive Hindus
