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Susan Stamler

Occupation:

Executive Director, United Neighborhood Houses (UNH)

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Susan Stamler is a political activist who has served as the executive director of United Neighborhood Houses (UNH) since 2015. 1

UNH is the oldest and largest network of settlement houses and community centers in New York City. 2 It describes itself as “a policy and social change organization.” 3

Career

Stamler founded the New York AIDS Coalition in 1988. From 1987 to 1991 she was director of outreach for the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, a professional association for trial lawyers. 4 In 1991, she joined the Planned Parenthood Action Fund as its director for three years. In 1994, Stamler held leadership positions with the UJA-Federation of New York, which supports and advocates for the Jewish community and fights antisemitism. 5 1

She joined United Neighborhood Houses in 2001 as its director of policy and advocacy, then left UNH in 2010 to join Malkin and Ross, where she worked on a five-year juvenile justice campaign. Malkin and Ross is a New York-based lobbying firm focused on left-of-center issues advocacy founded by left-wing activist Donald Ross. 6 1 7

In 2015, Stamler returned to UNH as its executive director, overseeing UNH strategy, fundraising, and advocacy. 1 UNH was the city’s first organization to support settlement houses, 8 an “approach to social reform with roots in the late 19th century and the Progressive Movement… a method for serving the poor in urban areas by living among them.” 9 They became advocacy bodies within marginalized communities, advocating for low-income public housing and assisting immigrants coming into the city. UNH represents 43 settlement houses supporting 765,000 people. 8

Advocacy

Susan Stamler has contributed to several Democratic candidates over the years, including former U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D). 10

At UNH, Stamler led efforts to advocate for Local Law 11, “Our City, Our Vote,” which would allow green card holders, permanent residents, and noncitizens with work permits to vote in New York City elections. 11 UNH and the New York Immigration Coalition, along with immigrant advocates, formed the Our City, Our Vote Coalition supporting the legislation and the expansion of the right to vote to immigrants. 12 13 In January 2020, Stamler, along with then-New York City Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhattan) and immigrant rights advocates, participated in a rally at the City Hall in Manhattan supporting the legislation and immigrant voting rights. 14

In 2020, UNH published a statement condemning the police-involved killing of George Floyd. The statement referred to “our history of white supremacy,” claiming that “power, privilege, and oppression continues to shape daily life in America,” and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. 15

Stamler is a member of the New York City Department for the Aging Advisory Council. The Council has 31 members, with 16 of them representing nonprofit organizations. 16

Stamler advocates for government-provided benefits for asylum seekers, including shelter, food assistance such as “SNAP for All,” and legal services. 17

Recognitions

Susan Stamler has been recognized in City and State New York’s Nonprofit Power 100, a list developed by City and State New York and NYN Media to recognize “the leaders of social services providers, legal aid organizations, advocacy organizations and foundations.” Others recognized in the list include Twyla Carter, the attorney-in-chief and chief executive officer of the Legal Aid Society of New York ; Richard Buery Jr., CEO of Robin Hood Foundation; and JoAnne Page and Stanley Richards, the CEO and deputy CEO of the Fortune Society. 11

Stamler was recognized by Brooklyn Org, a philanthropic organization for nonprofits that focuses on left-wing social advocacy issues, in its inaugural “Brooklyn Org 25.” This list honored nonprofits and its leaders in several left-of-center sectors including social justice and housing. Others recognized included the leaders of The Black Institute, Domestic Workers United, and VOCAL-NY. 18

Board Memberships

Susan Stamler was a board member of the Red Hook Initiative from 2014 to 2018. The Red Hook Initiative is a community-based nonprofit organization supporting the Red Hook public housing community “by confronting the impacts of racial inequity and decades of disinvestment.” 19

Stamler was a board member of NEO Philanthropy from at least 2001 to 2010. 20 NEO Philanthropy is a New York-based philanthropic clearinghouse and fiscal sponsor for left-of-center causes, originally founded by Donald Ross as Public Interest Projects. 21

References

  1.  LinkedIn – Susan Stamler. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-stamler-65511a/details/experience/
  2. “Susan Stamler.” NYN Media – Author Archive. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://www.nynmedia.com/voices/susan-stamler/24241/?oref=nyn-post-author
  3. United Neighborhood Houses website. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://www.unhny.org/
  4. “NYSTLA History & Introduction.” NYSTLA. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://www.nystla.org/?pg=History
  5. [1] “We Are UJA.” UJA Federation New York. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://www.ujafedny.org/about-uja/overview
  6. “About Us.” Malkin & Ross. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://www.malkinross.com/about-us/
  7. Greg Berman. “Leader to Leader: Susan Stamler on the evolution of the settlement house movement and where it stands today.” NYN Media. June 30, 2022. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://www.nynmedia.com/opinion/2022/06/leader-to-leader-susan-stamler-on-the-evolution-of-the-settlement-house-movement-and-where-it-stands-today/374249/
  8. Emily Nonko. “The 100-year history of New York’s settlement house collective.” 6sqft New York City. November 22, 2019. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://www.6sqft.com/the-100-year-history-of-new-yorks-settlement-house-collective/
  9. Jone Johnson Lewis. “Who Created the Settlement Houses?” ThoughtCo. January 27, 2020. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://www.thoughtco.com/settlement-house-movement-3530383
  10. Open Secrets – Susan Stamler. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/search?order=desc&q=susan+stamler&sort=D&type=donors
  11. “The 2023 Nonprofit Power 100.” City & State New York. October 2, 2023. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://www.cityandstateny.com/power-lists/2023/10/2023-nonprofit-power-100/390717/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGI0GFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHWxj_yYPq0TLNzeAackCjrlmP07hOZEOSwKX0gHFZem9pYp9Jo9zTNzR2w_aem_5B3RkYEpRa-c33XOSnitoA
  12. “Partners.” Our City Our Vote. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://ourcityourvote.org/partners
  13. C Dennison. “In Advance of NYC Council Hearing, Immigrant Advocates Push for Critical Bill Expanding Immigrant Municipal Voting Rights.” New York Immigration Coalition. September 20, 2021. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://www.nyic.org/2021/09/in-advance-of-nyc-council-hearing-immigrant-advocates-push-for-critical-bill-expanding-immigrant-municipal-voting-rights/
  14.  “NYC: New Legislation to Allow Immigrants to Vote in Municipal Elections in NYC.” Getty Images. January 23, 2020. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/video/susan-stamler-susan-stamler-is-a-political-activist-and-news-footage/1201550844
  15.  “United Neighborhood Houses Statement on Police Brutality and the Murder of George Floyd.” IFS Network. February 6, 2020. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://ifsnetwork.org/news/united-neighborhood-houses-of-new-yorks-statement-on-police-brutality-and-the-murder-of-george-floyd/
  16. “Advisory Council.” NYC Department for the Aging. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://www.nyc.gov/site/dfta/about/advisory-council.page
  17.  Settlement Houses Supporting the Newest New Yorkers: Voices from the Field. Published by United Neighborhood Houses. December 2023. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://uploads.prod01.oregon.platform-os.com/instances/542/assets/UNH%20Voices%20from%20the%20Field%20Report%201252023.pdf?updated=1701804199
  18. “Brooklyn’s Leading Nonprofits Recognized for Outstanding Impact.” BK Reader. October 22, 2024. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://www.bkreader.com/non-profit-community/brooklyns-leading-nonprofits-recognized-for-outstanding-impact-9691216
  19. “About Us.” Red Hook Initiative. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://rhicenter.org/who-we-are/about-us/
  20. NEO Philanthropy. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990 – Schedule A). 2001 – 2010.
  21. “Michele Lord.” Skaggs. Accessed October 26, 2024. https://skaggscreative.com/2015/06/23/michele-lord/
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