A NOTE FROM JODY Running an organization that provides services to 13,000 individuals with significant histories of trauma and other serious challenges requires one key ingredient: committed, caring staff. At ICL we have those staff members in spades. I learned that from the start of my tenure: On my second day at ICL, I met staff who had babies named after them by clients. Evidence like this, of staff’s extraordinary impact, can be found across the organization. Just take a look at Donna’s story below. It’s no surprise she was recently recognized as New Yorker of the Week. Equally as unsurprising as it is fitting: Jose Cotto, our Senior Vice President for Residential Treatment, was named a rising star by City and State Magazine, and our former CEO, who retired last fall, was just recognized with a lifetime achievement award by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing for his work in helping people get better with ICL. In all, ICL has about 1,250 staff members who every day come ready to do what it takes—and often more—to help our clients live their best lives. Our staff does so much and I feel it is our responsibility to do more for them. That’s why I have been pushing the city to increase salaries for our frontline workers, who are significantly underpaid on city contracted work. Especially now, with rising costs and in light of their tireless work during the height of the pandemic, these individuals deserve better. I hope the city does right by them. Onward, Jody Rudin | |
