163rd Street Improvement Council

At 163rd Street Improvement Council, we are committed to building meaningful connections with our community partners to expand services and create safe, positive spaces for our residents. 💙
Through healthy dialogue, peer socialization, and open access to supportive services, we continue to promote mental wellness and stronger community bonds.
Thank you for the wonderful food and beverages provided for our residents, as well as the “Living A Healthy Life” booklets filled with valuable tips for managing chronic illness.
Together, we continue making a positive impact! ✨

VHR FOOD PANTRY 🥬🍓🍅🍽️

Neighbors helping neighbors 💛 At our VHR site, residents receive weekly, door-to-door food support—from surprise meals to breakfast sandwiches and fresh pastries—made possible by our community partners and the incredible teamwork of our staff. As grocery costs continue to rise, this support truly matters. We remain committed to person-centered care and showing up for our residents every single day.

Grateful hearts this Easter season 💛🐣

A huge THANK YOU to our amazing partners at Beautiful Safe Haven Inc. for hosting such a magical Easter celebration for our clients here at the GLO! From egg painting and a generous clothing drive to delicious food and an abundance of Easter treats, the day was filled with joy, creativity, and community.
Moments like these remind us of the power of compassion and partnership. We are so thankful for your continued support and dedication to uplifting others. 🌸✨

🌸🐣 Wishing our community a joyful, peaceful, and prosperous Easter!
May this season of renewal bring hope, new beginnings, and continued strength to you and your loved ones. Thank you for being part of our journey and for helping us build a stronger, more caring community—together.

With gratitude,
The 163rd Street Improvement Council 💛

VHR’s Pre-Easter Game Day was a huge success! 🎉🐣 Residents from VHR and OAR came together to mingle, unwind, and enjoy a variety of games—with Bingo taking the top spot as everyone’s favorite! 🎯✨

Guests enjoyed warm, healthy soups and exciting Bingo prizes, including gift bags filled with mugs, wallets, scarves, hats, socks, and sweet treats. 🧣👜🍬 To kick off the Easter holiday, each resident also received a beautifully decorated mini Easter egg cup filled with goodies—wrapped and gifted with care. 🐰💐

We love seeing our VHR and OAR communities come together and look forward to creating even more shared experiences in the future! 💛

Celebrating an incredible evening of collaboration and community! 🍽️✨

We were honored to take part in a special happy hour celebration between Rethink Food and the 163rd Street Improvement Council. Events like this remind us how powerful partnerships can be when organizations come together with a shared mission—serving and uplifting our communities.
Since its founding, Rethink Food has partnered with over 200 local restaurants and food businesses to provide chef-crafted, nutritious meals to communities in need. Their impact continues to grow through three core programs: Neighborhood Meals, Rapid Response, and Medically Tailored Meals, ensuring that individuals and families have access to healthy, high-quality food when they need it most.
We are grateful to celebrate this meaningful work and the continued commitment to fighting food insecurity through innovation, compassion, and collaboration. 💛

Our Tenant Sobriety Celebration was truly a hit! 🎉
We were honored to have so many community partners join us in celebrating the victories and milestones of our tenants. Their support reflects the strong and meaningful connections we’ve built with community resources that help our residents continue to thrive.
Even more inspiring were the milestone achievements of our tenants. Their journeys remind us that when we push through challenges, stay focused, believe in our worth, and keep getting back up no matter how many times we fall or face triggers, we have the power within to rise and grow. Your strength and determination are an inspiration to us all.
We look forward to the next celebration as more residents from both VHR and OAR reach new milestones. As always, this was made possible through the incredible teamwork of the VHR and OAR teams! 👏

Proud to stand in solidarity at the End Veteran’s Poverty Rally — advocating for the rights and dignity of veterans in every district, across every community, and beyond party lines. 🇺🇸
The 163rd Improvement Council honors our veterans and thank them for their service in defending our country.
Thank you to Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson, Landon Dais, and retired Navy veteran Mr. Thomas Shepherd for addressing the urgent challenges veterans face — especially homelessness — and for committing to legislative action.
Grateful to connect with Luis Soltero-Rodriguez of Fordham University and AVP Mr. Van Miles of Goodwill Industries to strengthen partnerships supporting veterans through housing, employment, wellness, and re-entry services.
For over 25 years, our supportive housing program has transformed lives — and we will continue to advocate, collaborate, and act. The unity at this rally was powerful and necessary. Our veterans deserve nothing less.

Today, we reflect on the life, leadership, and lasting impact of Dr. King. His vision of equality, justice, and unity continues to inspire us to serve our communities with compassion, courage, and purpose. Let us move forward together—choosing love, standing for justice, and being the light in all that we do. 🤍✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿