As we welcome a new year, I reflect on the challenges and triumphs of the past twelve months. Above all, I’m inspired by the resilience and hope shown by our participants, staff, partners, and stakeholders. Despite uncertainty and setbacks, I have witnessed a steadfast determination to overcome barriers and pursue a better life.   

At Fortune, we witness the power of resilience, both individual and collective, every day. Hope shines bright in the face of homelessness, mental illness, or incarceration, and, through our work, we see how hope fuels healing and change for those in our community.   

Every day, we see firsthand the impact of ensuring that people know they are valued, heard, and included in our community. In our last fiscal year, Fortune served over 18,000 people through 16 direct service programs, and each of our participants brought powerful stories of growth and perseverance.   

For example, Jennifer came to Fortune at a particularly vulnerable time in her life, and she was reinvigorated last year after completing Fortune’s Substance Use Treatment program. With support from Fortune staff members and peers who encouraged her progress, Jennifer is now planning to pursue a degree in Psychology to help others who face similar struggles.    

And Grant, a resident of Fortune housing, found a safe and supportive home in our Mandaela Community in the Bronx. Grant gained access to a network of valuable resources that support his well-being, including a regular home attendant and access to fresh produce and other essential items at the nearby Fortune Fresh Food Pantry.     

Every person we serve chose to enter our door and pursue a different life for themselves and their family. That action alone demonstrates the incredible hope embedded in their hearts, borne out of their ability to fight through adversity and land on their feet.     

Our capacity to serve formerly incarcerated people in need requires partnership, focus, and commitment to ride the waves of uncertainty we may face. This work and collective partnership must remain anchored in the hope of the possibilities that lie ahead.   

So, join me in celebrating the pursuit of justice, guided by our humanity and our unwavering commitment towards fairness.   

As we enter this new year, let us celebrate the human spirit of generosity, the ability to survive the ups and downs of life, the intrinsic goodness and humanity gifted at birth, and our collective ability to love and see the best in each other.    

We must hold on to the image of what is possible until we all begin to see it, believe it, and, finally, live it. This year, I encourage you all to continue striving to create the world we wish we lived in.