John Damien Draper (he/him) is the Civil Rights Union Organizer for VOCAL-NY. John is responsible for organizing, advocating, political education, legal analysis, lobbying, and peer mentorship of the Civil Rights Union. John is a certified paralegal and is a BA/MPH candidate at CUNY. John is a public speaking, financial, legal, & wellness consultant, as well […]
Tara Fedele (she/her) is a PDSE Peer Educator for VOCAL-NY. Tara is responsible for PDSE Street outreach, Narcan training, and Peer education in Brooklyn. Tara supports the team by driving for the PDSE team and conducting maintenance on the vehicle. Tara is a 2nd degree Reiki Practitioner and is proud to be an excellent driver.
Shantae Owens (he/him) has worked in harm reduction for over ten years. He started as a peer intern with the Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center in Lower Manhattan. He worked giving out safer injection supplies to people who inject drugs and safer sex supplies to help prevent the spread of HIV/Hepatitis C. Due to
Mary Supley (she/her), Director of Development for VOCAL-US, is responsible for developing strategies to sustain and grow the work of our state affiliates in Kentucky, New York, and Texas, as well as our national movement. For more than 20 years, Mary has led resource development efforts, directed communications, planned events, and managed volunteers with organizations
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org CARL STUBBS WAY: VOCAL-NY CELEBRATES TIRELESS LEADER AND ADVOCATE WITH STREET NAMING IN GOWANUS NEW YORK — Today, lawmakers and community members gathered at the corner of Douglass Street to 4th Ave in Brooklyn – the same block as VOCAL-NY’s permanent home for justice, love, and compassion – to unveil “Carl Stubbs Way.” The
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org IN RESPONSE TO CHAOS AT THE TOP OF ADAMS ADMINISTRATION, VOCAL-NY CALLS FOR MAYOR TO RESIGN NEW YORK — Following the rapidly decreasing capacity of the City government to meet the needs of the City’s most vulnerable residents due to ongoing chaos at City Hall and the mass exodus of administration leaders, VOCAL-NY
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY CONDEMNS NYPD MASS SUBWAY SHOOTING Shooting Comes on Heels of NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban’s Resignation; 23 New Yorkers Have Been Killed Across the State by Police This Year Alone NEW YORK — This past Sunday at the Sutter Avenue L train stop in Brooklyn, NYPD officers opened fire at someone they claim evaded paying the $2.90
VOCAL-NY Condemns NYPD Mass Subway Shooting Read More »
CONTACT : Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY SLAMS COURT DECISION TO HALT CITYFHEPS EXPANSION; SUPPORTS APPEAL Decision Comes Same Day as Report by Coalition for the Homeless Shows 350,000 People in NYC are Without Homes NEW YORK — Today, a New York State Court rejected a lawsuit to force Mayor Adams to enact CityFHEPS reforms passed by the New York City Council.
VOCAL-NY Slams Court Decision to Halt CityFHEPS Expansion; Supports Appeal Read More »
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org WITH RECORD NUMBER OF SECTION 8 APPLICANTS, VOCAL-NY DECRIES FAILURE OF NY STATE LEADERSHIP IN ADDRESSING THE HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS CRISIS NEW YORK — In response to more than 630,000 applicants applying for Section 8 housing in a one-week period, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to Milton Perez, a leader with VOCAL-NY’s Homelessness Union: “After
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY COMMENDS EXPANSION OF NYC PUBLIC RESTROOMS, A STEP TOWARDS RESTORING DIGNITY TO THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS Restricting Access to Public Restrooms is a Quality-Of-Life Issue Often Used to Criminalize Individuals Experiencing Homelessness NEW YORK — Yesterday, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation announced it will build 46 new restrooms and renovate
