Turning Point

TURNING POINT NAMES CARLTON S. MITCHELL AS INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Carlton S. Mitchell was named Interim Executive Director of Turning Point and its affiliated agencies effective January 16, 2012.

As the interim executive Mr. Mitchell has chief responsibility for offering strong and effective leadership during an important transition period. He will focus on expanding and deepening Turning Point’s relationships with funders and with the social services community. "While Turning Point conducts the executive search process, Mr. Mitchell provides considerable experience in operations, resource development and finance that will undoubtedly facilitate a smooth transition,” said Turning Point Board President Alan Gallo. “We welcome his guidance and insight during this exciting period of change."

TURNING POINT WELCOMES NEW CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER TATA TRAORE-ROGERS

On December 1, 2011 Tata Traore-Rogers joined the team at Turning Point as Chief Program Officer. In that capacity, Ms. Traore-Rogers has primary responsibility for the development and implementation of programs, as well as the leadership of the staff. Working with its multiple stakeholders, she ensures that Turning Point’s programs and initiatives are in line with its mission and are responsive to the needs of its clients. She will lead and manage the programmatic operation of the organization and ensure that the expectations of funders, partners, constituents, clients, and community stakeholders are met and oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of Turning Point’s programs.

Ms. Traore-Rogers was most recently Deputy Executive Director of the Astraea Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting groups working to secure rights for LGBTQ people and to advancing gender, racial, economic and social justice worldwide.

She previously served for eight years as a Director in the Prevention Division of Harlem United Community AIDS Center, an agency providing comprehensive services to people who have been affected by HIV and AIDS. At Harlem United Tata designed and managed innovative HIV prevention programs, including behavioral interventions focusing on risk-reduction and prevention support for immigrant communities, women of color and LGBTQ populations. Tata is an Adjunct Professor at CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College where she focuses on Community Health. We are very pleased to welcome Tata Traore-Rogers to Turning Point!

Special Announcement

Turning Point is a non-profit organization helping economically disadvantaged people in Brooklyn, New York. Our goal is to change lives by providing comfort and help to hurting people. We work with disconnected youth, families in crisis, the homeless, substance abusers, the unemployed, persons infected with and affected by HIV, adult non-readers, and non-English speaking immigrants. Turning Point provides direct services to more than 12,000 people in Brooklyn each year, and reaches more than 20,000 people through education and outreach programs.

Turning Point has been providing services since 1975. It all began when members of the street gang "Homicide" came to Reverend Doug Heilman's Tuesday night youth meeting at the 59th Street Lutheran Church and asked for help. What began as informal involvement grew quickly into a full-time job. As young people heard of the good work being done by Reverend Doug and some volunteers, the requests for help grew. Word spread through the community, and our agency was born.

In 1977, we incorporated under the name of Discipleship, Inc. As community needs emerged, we added more and more services, growing into a multi-purpose, community-based organization providing education, health, and social services.In 2004, Turning Point/Discipleship Outreach Ministries, Inc. became Turning Point. We took this step to reflect the change in our widening outlook and to signify our entrance into a larger community of agencies working with the hurting.

Ray Figueroa, the Executive Director of Turning Point since 2002, retired on September 30, 2011. Mr. Figueroa came to Turning Point in 1989 and has been a driving force behind much of Turning Point's expansion of services over the years at a number of sites in Sunset Park and Red Hook. Ray's energy, drive and commitment to the residents of the community will be missed.

The Interim Executive Director of Turning Point is Steve Jorgensen, who brings considerable experience in nonprofit management and a special connection to Turning Point: he was its Executive Director in the past and currently oversees the organization's fiscal operations. The Board will appoint a new Executive Director in 2012.