East Side House Settlement
Natalia Alvarez-Plaud is an experienced program director with a strong background in youth development and disaster preparedness. Currently serving as the Learning to Work Program Director and SONYC Program Director at East Side House Settlement since September 2015, Natalia effectively manages an after-school program that addresses social-emotional, leadership, community development, and academic needs. Previously, as a Mass Care Coordinator for the American Red Cross Greater New York, Natalia contributed to establishing a secure Mass Care unit and managed responses to local and regional disasters. Additionally, as an Individual & Community Preparedness Intern, Natalia played a key role in organizing emergency preparedness trainings and initiating the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign. Natalia's earlier experience as a Resident Assistant at Hofstra University involved mentoring students and fostering a supportive residence hall community. Natalia holds an Advanced Certificate in Management from the CUNY School of Professional Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Community Health from Hofstra University.
East Side House Settlement
East Side House Settlement – one of New York City’s oldest non-profit social service organizations – was established in 1891 on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. In 1962-63 it moved to the Mott Haven neighborhood of the South Bronx, within one of the country’s poorest congressional districts. Still headquartered in the South Bronx, East Side House has expanded its reach to serve residents of surrounding communities in the Bronx and Northern Manhattan. Today, a staff of more than 600 full and part-time teachers, social workers, and other experts serve 10,000 individuals from 28 program locations annually, with a budget in excess of $18 million – a significant percentage of which comes from private philanthropy. Throughout its history, East Side House’s mission has been to help improve lives and enrich the quality of life in the community.