A Special Message From the Board of Directors
- zoe3518
- Jul 29, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 9, 2023
Introducing the Next Executive Director of Community Voices Heard Power and Community Voices Heard Action
Community Voices Heard is ready to enter a new chapter of building power and creating change for New Yorkers under the leadership of new Executive Director, Juanita O. Lewis, effective September 1st, 2021.
Juanita’s outstanding service to CVH, deep commitment to building power with both CVH members and staff, as well as her vision for the next stage of growth for CVH, led the Boards of Directors of both organizations to vote unanimously to place Juanita into the Executive Director role.
“In this critical period with so much at stake for women, people of color and all people economically challenged just to survive, we at CVH and CVH Power look forward to Juanita Lewis’ strong, caring, and dynamic leadership to continue our organizations’ record of Executive Director excellence.” - Joseph Mpa, CVH Power Board Chair
"It is with great pride and delight that I share that the CVH Boards have unanimously selected Juanita Lewis to step into the role of Executive Director for CVH. Her service to CVH and our members for the last 12 years is stellar and she is prepared to partner closely with our staff and Boards to continue, leading CVH into a new moment that builds on all we have already accomplished together." - Afua Atta-Mensah, Esq., Outgoing Executive Director
“I am excited and honored to be the next Executive Director of Community Voices Heard. Over the last 12 years, we've gotten meaningful results for the communities we serve, and I'll bring that focus on getting results to my new role as CVH Executive Director. We are at an important time in New York State where the need for equitable policies, systems of co-governance and accountability is at an all time high. I am ready to work with our dedicated boards, members, and staff on building a stronger and more powerful CVH." - Juanita O. Lewis, Incoming Executive Director
Juanita joined CVH in 2009 and has played a key role in redeveloping the Hudson Valley region as an organizing center for New York State. Starting as the Yonkers organizer, she worked with members to win an Affordable Housing Ordinance ,and Ban the Box for city employees. In partnership with staff, she created and leads the organization's leadership development program called the Ella Baker School for Organizing, which is building the capacity of CVH members. Juanita has also been instrumental to CVH’s housing justice work, leading a 100+ person action and winning the campaign for a Housing Needs Assessment as part of the People’s Agenda for Westchester County. She also led and won critical electoral campaigns in Newburgh and Yonkers resulting in elected officials pushing for better housing and jobs policies.
As Executive Director, Juanita will guide the staff and Boards to build on CVH’s successes. She will immediately begin hosting listening sessions with members and stakeholders, in order to develop a new strategic plan that will continue to grow power, moving toward greater racial, social, and economic justice for all New Yorkers.
The CVH Boards look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of outgoing Executive Director, Afua Atta-Mensah, as she embarks on the next exciting step of her career (details forthcoming). Read Juanita's Full Letter Here. Thank you, Board of Directors Community Voices Heard
This is truly inspiring news! Juanita O. Lewis stepping into the Executive Director role for Community Voices Heard is a testament to her impactful 12 years of service, particularly her work on affordable housing and leadership development like the Ella Baker School. Her vision for building power and achieving equitable policies in New York is exactly what's needed in these critical times. It's clear she's ready to lead CVH into a powerful new chapter, building on incredible past successes. On a different note, if you ever need to combine multiple reports or images into a single document, I've found JPG Merge to be incredibly useful – it's a quick and private way to organize files.
This is fantastic news! Juanita O. Lewis's elevation to Executive Director sounds like a truly well-deserved and strategic move for Community Voices Heard. Her 12 years of dedicated service, especially her work in redeveloping the Hudson Valley region and leading successful campaigns for affordable housing and housing justice, clearly demonstrates her deep understanding of the issues and her commitment to delivering tangible results for New Yorkers. It's inspiring to see an organization so clearly focused on building power from within its own ranks. I’m eager to see the new strategic plan she develops, continuing CVH's vital work for racial, social, and economic justice. For those who frequently work with digital documents and might need to convert content for easy sharing,…
This is truly inspiring news! Juanita O. Lewis stepping into the Executive Director role at Community Voices Heard (CVH) sounds like a perfect fit, especially given her impressive 12-year track record, including her pivotal work in the Hudson Valley and leading the Ella Baker School for Organizing. Her focus on tangible results, as highlighted by Joseph Mpa and Afua Atta-Mensah, is exactly what's needed during this "critical period." It's exciting to see an organization so dedicated to racial, social, and economic justice continue its impactful work under such capable leadership. On a different note, for anyone working on organizational branding or materials, a tool like Converter PNG to SVG can be incredibly useful for ensuring crisp, scalable logos and icons!
This is truly inspiring news! Juanita O. Lewis stepping into the Executive Director role for Community Voices Heard Power and Community Voices Heard Action sounds like a perfect fit. Her impressive 12-year track record, from winning the Affordable Housing Ordinance in Yonkers to leading critical electoral campaigns, clearly demonstrates her deep commitment to New Yorkers and her vision for equitable policies. It's fantastic to see her dedication to building power and focusing on tangible results. I'm excited to see the impact of her leadership in building a stronger CVH. On a related note, for organizations looking to refine their public image, a tool like the Attractiveness Test could even offer interesting insights into visual first impressions, showcasing how every detail…
What truly stands out in this message is the unanimous support and obvious depth of experience Juanita O. Lewis brings to her new role as Executive Director. Her 12 years with CVH, from Yonkers organizer to leading successful housing justice and electoral campaigns, clearly demonstrate a powerful commitment to "building power and creating change for New Yorkers." It's inspiring to see an organization so thoughtfully transition leadership, building on past successes to develop a new strategic plan focused on "racial, social, and economic justice." This kind of dedication to community is truly commendable. For those looking for different kinds of creative tools, check out the AI Pixel Generator; it's a fun way to bring ideas to life.