Politics & Government

PortSide NewYork Honored by White House

The Brooklyn waterfront non-profit received the "Champions of Change" award for Hurricane Sandy recovery work.


A Brooklyn non-profit received national recognition on Wednesday when it was bestowed the "Champions of Change" Award in Washington, D.C. 

Waterfront oriented non-profit PortSide NewYork was honored in a ceremony at the White House for exemplary efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The group skillfully protected the tanker MARY A. WHALEN—listed in the National Register of Historic Places—from damage, then came inland to perform recovery work in Red Hook that ranged from providing workstations with free wi-fi and electricity to coordinating rebuilding seminars with Katrina-savvy architects offering expertise, among other services.

Their 351 recovery center on Van Brunt Street was an "only-in-Red-Hook blend: an aid station run by a maritime organization in a real estate office that was also an art gallery," describe organizers. 

"PortSide NewYork's innovative approach was to apply their experience with cultural pop-ups to create an immediate, inventive community-based Sandy aid station that continually changed services in response to needs and opportunities deployed a deep knowledge of the community to pull it all off," wrote District Manager Craig Hammerman in his nomination of PortSide for consideration. 

Hammerman has not been the only local elected praising PortSide. Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) echoed the sentiment: "PortSide NewYork is to be commended for their work protecting the MARY A. WHALEN and establishing relief services for Red Hook," she said in a statement.

But for their part, organizers of PortSide NewYork have been humble and quick to share the spotlight with others who helped, crediting Realty Collective, Brooklyn Gallery, Red Hook Initiative and many other groups and individuals who worked tirelessly to restore Red Hook after the storm.

"It takes a village," read a tweet from a bus ride in D.C. en route to the festivities.

Congratulations to all.


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