2021 CALENDAR OF SUCCESS - Housing Authority of the City of Erie
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2021 “It’s About People!” CALENDAR OF SUCCESS The Housing Authority of the City of Erie • hace.org
“It’s About People!”
The Housing Authority of the City of Erie (HACE) 2021 Calendar
tells a story about individuals who represent youth who have
lived in public housing and gone on to live very successful
lives and have had and continue to have positive impact in
their communities and with their families. They are mothers,
fathers, sisters, brothers, active military, high school principals,
counselors, community health workers, business and community
leaders and so much more.
They all tell a story of how wonderful it was to live in one of
our HACE communities and how they took advantage of the
self-sufficiency programs and recreational opportunities that
were available to youth. Many were participants in one of our
youth programs, played on our sports teams, participated in our Chatiqua Keyes-Carr welcomes HACE
mentoring programs, worked in the summer internship program Executive Director Michael R. Fraley
and received scholarships from the Ellen Curry Foundation. What and FSS caseworker Sabrina Tolbert
to her new home.
they had in common was a strong family support system, utilizing
the opportunities that were available through HACE, a love of
education and a passionate desire to succeed.
It is important to remember that these twelve individuals and the six (6) current
Tullio Scholarship recipients on the back of the calendar represent a small
portion of the success stories that occur every day in HACE communities.
Every year families move out of public housing and Section 8 to achieve the
“American Dream” and purchase their first home.
The 2021 Calendar is the story of an organization (HACE) and a man, John
E. Horan who over 30 years ago realized that for people to succeed first
they had to have a nice and safe community in which to live and secondly
without support services and people in the community who passionately
cared, neighborhoods are just bricks and mortar buildings that people
pass through. So yes, this calendar celebrates the success of these twelve
people, but it also is a celebration of many of the people who along their
path to success made a difference in their lives. There are too many to
mention! They include Ellen Curry who served as a HACE Board member
from 1967 to 1996 and through her generosity provided the funds to
create the Ellen Curry Foundation. She and countless other HACE board
members, staff, program partners and volunteers have provided support
to HACE residents as they pursue their journey to success. As you enjoy
the success stories in the HACE 2021 Calendar of Success, remember
in all that we do and whenever we want to make a difference “IT’S ABOUT PEOPLE!”
Michael R. Fraley
Executive Director
Housing Authority of the City of Erie
Esfir Pikulia Scattered Site (Lake City Dwellings)
I still remember the first day we arrived at our HACE house. Beautiful area, clean exterior
with cozy interiors and all of these were the things that my family, as new immigrants, didn’t
even dream of having. I couldn’t believe my eyes; all I remember is being beyond grateful for
such a place. In our homeland, there was no chance of the government helping people with
accessible, quality housing in such ways, so from a young age I understood what a privilege we
had received.
Later, the Housing Authority gave me an opportunity to intern at their office with the kindest
people who were patient with me and taught me some of the most essential skills and ways
of thinking. In my conversations with family and friends, I still credit HACE and its staff for
enabling me to go through college, to do my best and come out without insane amounts
of debts - special thanks to the Tullio scholarship. Soon after, I was able to land internships
essential to my career as well as get an offer from my dream architectural company in
Pittsburgh.
I truly think that if not for the wonderful HACE team I might’ve never
been able to see my dreams come true the way I did.
My family came to the U.S. with absolutely nothing, so I didn’t have much ambition and
confidence. However, the people of the Housing Authority made me feel and understand that
I can achieve anything and helped me gain confidence that I was always lacking. I truly think
that if not for the wonderful HACE team I might’ve never been able to see my dreams come
true the way I did.
Currently I live in Pittsburgh, PA with my husband and our baby who will arrive in February!
“It’s About People!”
JANUARY
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2
New Year's Day
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Martin Luther King Jr. Day HACE Board Meeting
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 HACE Board Meeting
Walaa Ahmad Harbor Homes
My name is Walaa Ahmad, I am originally from Eritrea. I moved with my parents and siblings to
the United States 19 years ago as refugees. I graduated from East High School, and Penn State
Behrend with a degree in Communications and Media Studies. My husband also graduated
from Penn State Behrend with an Industrial Engineering degree. Currently, I'm the Assistant
Director of the Educational Equity and Diversity Programs at Penn State Behrend.
As a former HACE resident, I was one of the recipients for the Louis J. Tullio Memorial
Scholarship, and I had the opportunity to obtain my first employment through HACE's Summer
Internship program at the E. F. Smith Quality of Life Learning Center. While in high school, I
participated in the IMPACT After School program at the Quality of Life Learning Center, where
I received tutoring and homework assistance and help applying to colleges. While in college, I
came back to the Center to help young people with homework, mentoring, and tutoring them.
Through HACE's scholarship, housing, internship, and resources, I was
able to succeed and accomplish my goals of becoming self-sufficient
and a productive citizen in my community.
I wanted to say that after moving from my parents' house years ago, I moved to various
apartments, and then my husband and I lived at Erie Heights. Earlier this year, my husband
and I purchased our first home, Woohooo! (I was 32 years old, and my husband was 33 years
old).
I am so grateful for all the help and support the Housing Authority provided me and my family.
Through HACE's scholarship, housing, internship, and resources, I was able to succeed and
accomplish my goals of becoming self-sufficient and a productive citizen in my community.
They say, "It takes a village to raise a child..." I say, it takes a productive and constructive village
like the Housing Authority of the City of Erie to make a great impact in a young individual's life
and all the people they serve.
“It’s About People!”
FEBRUARY
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3 4 5 6
Groundhog Day
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Valentine's Day President's Day Ash Wednesday HACE Board Meeting
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
HACE Board Meeting
28
Damian Bounds John E. Horan Garden Apartments
Growing up in public housing was beautiful. It was a joy as a child because most of my family
was out there and my grandmother lived in the same court as me. My cousins lived there.
It was family! Everybody had family and it’s so interesting to reflect back on those times and
know that everyone looked out for each other.
All the families knew and respected one another. It was always “Mr. or Mrs.” when you spoke
to adults and it was just amazing to experience that as a child. We never saw poverty out
there. We had playgrounds, fields to play sports and a neighborhood school. Everyone was in
the same financial situation, so you didn’t see poverty, but you saw people working hard every
day just trying to survive. Although there were challenges, that sense of community and family
outweighed those challenges and made me realize I was never alone in my journey.
Growing up in public housing was beautiful... it’s so interesting to reflect
back on those times and know that everyone looked out for each other.
Through those experiences, I started to realize that public housing was necessary and people
who build their lives in it are vital parts of a community. I was offered many opportunities in
public housing that led to jobs, scholarships and experiences that shaped my view of the world.
I was very grateful when I won a scholarship through public housing that helped support me
through college. Throughout my college years, I had summer employment that paid for my
books, food, and other necessities - all made possible through public housing. Being a product
of public housing led to my passion to work with youth. I spent many years at the Girls and Boys
Club serving as a mentor and basketball coach.
Currently, I am living in Johns Creek, Ga. with my wife, Wendy and four children. I have
been a Principal at Elkins Pointe Middle School for five years now and I credit my public
housing experience for putting me on a trail to always give back and serve communities
with at-risk youth.
“It’s About People!”
MARCH
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3 4 5 6
Read Across America Day
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Begin Daylight Savings Time St. Patrick's Day HACE Board Meeting First Day of Spring
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
HACE Board Meeting Passover
28 29 30 31
Dr. Onjanette L. Jackson Scattered Site (Lake City Dwellings)
Before the age of 10 and up until college, I lived in public housing in a scattered site on
the lower west side of Erie. The best thing about living there was I never felt marginalized.
Everyone I encountered from the Housing Authority whether on the maintenance staff or at
the executive level made my family and me feel like a part of the HACE family. Additionally, my
childhood home felt exactly like a “home” partly because it was cared for and not dilapidated.
HACE really takes pride in their properties. Over the years, I have received scholarships,
worked in the summer program, and currently serve on the Ellen Curry Foundation. Every
accomplishment and with every step they were right there cheering me on and they continue
to do so today.
Everyone I encountered from the Housing Authority whether on the
maintenance staff or at the executive level made my family and me feel
like a part of the HACE family.
I have over 25 years of professional experience in various industries including computer
technology, health and fitness, banking, and nonprofit. Throughout the course of my work
life, I’ve held positions as a Software Configuration Engineer, IT Specialist, Certified Personal
Trainer, Career Development Manager, Training Coordinator, Bank Supervisor, Business
Owner and am now Executive Director at the Eagle’s Nest Leadership Corporation which
serves Erie’s at-risk community.
Originally born in Erie, Pennsylvania, I have earned a Bachelor of Arts in Computer
Management Information Systems from Mercyhurst College (now Mercyhurst University),
a Master’s Degree with concentration in Hospitality Management from Keller Graduate
School of Management, and a doctorate in Business Administration from the University of
Phoenix. My accomplishments include co-authoring the technical manual - The Role of S/390
in Business Intelligence for IBM, recipient of the Future Heroes of Public Housing award, a
board member of the Ellen Curry Foundation, and member of the Hamot Health Foundation
Board of Corporators.
“It’s About People!”
APRIL
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3
April Fool's Day Good Friday
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Easter
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Beginning of Ramadan
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Earth Day
HACE Board Meeting
25 26 27 28 29 30
HACE Board Meeting Arbor Day
Willie Gore John E. Horan Garden Apartments
I moved to the Franklin Terrace (now known as the John E. Horan Garden Apartments) in 1994. At
the time, I was a six-year-old boy mourning the loss of my eight-year-old brother, Clifton Ray Gore
III. Franklin Terrace became a place of healing for me and my family. I spent most of my time at the
Franklin Terrace’s YMCA Kids Club. Jake Holloman and Cherie Kinem, employees of the Kids Club quickly
became my first non-familial mentors. They were pillars within our community who devoted their time
and energy to create a safe, loving, and fun environment for youth. Cherie and Jake believed in me
before I believed in myself and I am so thankful for their support. I was raised in a diverse community
that gave me tools, lessons, and resources that I continue to use today. The community provided many
opportunities for cultural exchange and enlightenment. I was inspired by the resilience of my neighbors.
I gleaned inspiration from what I saw in others, all while navigating my own challenges.
I was raised in a diverse community that gave me tools, lessons, and
resources that I continue to use today.
I want to acknowledge that growing up as a young black man in low-income housing was not easy. I
often experienced racial injustice and systems of inequity limiting my access to resources. Nonetheless,
where I lived became fertile ground for my own growth. One of my favorite quotes is a Mexican
proverb. It reads: “They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.” I was a seed planted in
the Franklin Terrace. I was watered by two loving parents and the legacy of my older brother. I was
nourished by opportunities like the Louis J. Tullio Scholarship, which enabled me to purchase my
undergraduate textbooks. I grew because of the shining presence of residents like the late Carolyn Hicks
who was the mother of one of my best friends, Joshua Hicks. Like Carolyn, I hope to leave each space
that I inhabit better than I found it. I hope to inspire those that come after me to go even further and
achieve more than I could ever imagine.
I am a proud graduate of Erie East High School class of 2006. I received my B.A. double majoring in
English and Black Studies from Allegheny College in 2010. After undergrad, I served as an AmeriCorps
Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) from 2010 - 2013. I received my M.Ed. in Higher Education from
Loyola University Chicago. I have worked full-time in Residential Education at both DePaul University
and Saint Louis University. I currently serve as the Assistant Director for Conflict Resolution Services at
Loyola University Chicago, responsible for providing conflict resolution services for students and staff
across the University system through training, advocacy, and consultation.
“It’s About People!”
MAY
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Cinco de Mayo
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Mother's Day
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
HACE Board Meeting
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
HACE Board Meeting
30 31
Memorial Day
Tasha Roberts Scattered Site (Harbor Homes)
I grew up in a HACE-owned scattered site in a beautiful neighborhood on the border of Erie and
Wesleyville. I love where I grew up. It is the kind of neighborhood where neighbors look out for each
other. Education was always important in my home. My parents instilled in me the importance of
having a good education.
While living in HACE I took advantage of scholarship opportunities as well as employment
opportunities. HACE provided me with my first job that I would consider professional, serving at the
YMCA Kids Club as a summer intern. Through my employment there I was able to gain connections
with folks all over the city of Erie who were doing great things with the youth. I was able to participate
in the Black Achievers Program as well as serve on the youth division of the Erie Conference for
African American Affairs. All these opportunities in addition to my faith in God have molded me
into the woman I am today. There is a saying that, “It takes a village to raise a child.” I think that is
definitely true. I encourage every family to take advantage of every opportunity from HACE.
There is a saying that, “It takes a village to raise a child.” I think that
is definitely true. I encourage every family to take advantage of every
opportunity from HACE.
After graduating Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy, I went on to pursue a Bachelor of
Arts Degree in Criminology and Spanish from Slippery Rock University. After graduating with my
bachelor's degree, I worked at the Barber National Institute with children with Autism.
From 2013-2015 during my master’s program in Student Affairs at Slippery Rock University, I delved
into college student development, critical theories, research, counseling techniques, and lifespan
development. I graduated with honors in 2015 then was hired at Miami University of Ohio as a
Residence Director for three years and an Area Coordinator for two years. I really enjoy teaching,
developing student leaders, and presenting research that results in practical steps to enrich peoples'
lives.
Currently, I spend my time traveling and working with Delta Zeta Sorority at Northwestern University.
My love for developing leaders has sparked a desire to pursue a Ph.D. I am in the process of applying
to the Personality, Development, and Health Ph.D. program at Northwestern University.
“It’s About People!”
JUNE
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Flag Day
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Father's Day
First Day of Summer HACE Board Meeting
27 28 29 30
HACE Board Meeting
Zakaria Sharif Scattered Site (Lake City Dwellings)
In the summer of 1996, my family arrived in Erie, Pennsylvania from Kenya as refugees. We were
originally from Kismayo, Somalia. In 1997, my family moved into one of the scattered site homes
provided by the Housing Authority of the City of Erie (HACE). To this day, my parents continue to reside
and prosper in this home. Of the many memories I shared while living with my parents, I will always
remember those I befriended and the welcoming neighbors. Over the years growing up, my neighbors
became like family and I attended school with close friends from my neighborhood. My parents always
instilled in us the importance of education and pursuing your dreams.
HACE offers many programs and scholarships that aid individuals
pursuing their desired career.
HACE offers many programs and scholarships that aid individuals pursuing their desired careers. To this
day, I fondly recall conversing with Mr. John E. Horan, and interviewing for the Louis J. Tullio Memorial
College Scholarship. He was a kind man and a great mentor. I was a recipient of the scholarship all four
years of college. During the summer months while on break from Penn State I was employed through the
HACE summer internship program. Mr. John Horan always found space in his busy schedule to keep in
contact with me and mentor me while being employed and throughout college. Additionally, Mr. Fraley
and Cherie Kinem, along with many more, have helped me throughout the years.
I graduated Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a minor degree
in marketing. Upon graduating college, I obtained a general management position for Raymond
Management Corporation. This position was essential to me in understanding the sales and business
operations of the workforce. The owner of Raymond Management Corporation retired, sold his
businesses, and I am grateful for all his guidance. Currently I am employed by Erie County Department
of Health. I am Public Health Educator actively dealing with the current COVID-19 crisis. This position
allows me to give back to the communities that helped me to grow and flourish as a young man. First
and foremost, all thanks to God who allowed me to accomplish my dreams. In addition, gratitude to my
parents, Ali Omar and Amina Abdi, they’ve always supported us to follow our dreams and provided a
loving home. In addition, I am very appreciative of my beautiful wife, Sarah Sharif. Together we have four
amazing kids that I strive to please and see smile each day. I would like to encourage our youth to take
education seriously because education is the key to success and growth in this workforce.
“It’s About People!”
JULY
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Independence Day
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
HACE Board Meeting
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
HACE Board Meeting
Gustavo Vera Agnes Priscaro Apartments
My name is Gustavo Vera and moving into what was then known as Westbrook, a Housing Authority
of the City of Erie (HACE) neighborhood now known as the Agnes R. Priscaro Apartments, was
probably the best thing that could have ever happened to me, really.
My family migrated from Puerto Rico to Erie, PA when I was 8 years old. I remember feeling excited
since I was too young to really grasp the immense change I was about to experience. But moving to
and living in public housing immersed me into an array of cultures and ethnicities I had never known
before. I found myself surrounded by other kids that were not only Hispanic, but also Ethiopian,
Caucasian, African American, Middle Eastern, Sudanese, and more. The one thing that made us
all the same was that we were just kids; in a time where there were no computers, no cellphones,
no tablets, and where wanting to play video games was a far second to actually wanting to play
outside until you were called in for dinner or until the street lights came on. Housing provided a
neighborhood where close quarters allowed for close friendships that would last a lifetime.
HACE had a major impact on my life. They helped shaped the man
I am today.
Over the course of 10 years, housing opened many doors for me. I remember that housing would
give us $100 savings bonds if we had perfect attendance during the school year. I had about seven or
eight savings bonds. I cashed them in and used that money towards buying my first car. Housing also
awarded me a college scholarship during my freshman year and prior to leaving for college, HACE
provided me with my first college summer job working as a site supervisor for the YMCA Kids Club.
HACE opportunities helped shaped the man I am today. I live in Reno, Nevada, am a loving father
to two amazing boys. I have a bachelor's degree in Biology Pre-Medicine and a master's degree
in Clinical Research. I am currently working as a Clinical Research Site Manager. I work remotely
and travel all around the world, on one of the largest clinical research trials for the United States
government focused on the COVID-19 Vaccine. I recently enlisted in the Army National Guard and
plan on continuing my education, working towards a doctorate’s degree. I have come a long way
from living in public housing but no matter where I am or what I am doing, I will never forget where I
came from and who helped me along the way. And for that, I have a lot of thanks to give to HACE.
“It’s About People!”
AUGUST
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Ellen Curry Golf Tournament
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
HACE Board Meeting
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
HACE Board Meeting
29 30 31Vasyl Kovalchuk Erie Heights
I came to the United States with my family in the summer of 1999 when I was 15. We settled in
HACE Erie Heights on Garden Avenue residing there until 2003.
While living in Erie Heights and studying at the Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy,
I was a recipient of school attendance certificates from HACE. Upon finishing the Academy as
part of its first graduating class of 2001, I joined HACE Youth Club as a Recreational Counselor
working there full-time with the HACE Erie Heights youth over the summer of 2001. It's been a
wonderful and unique experience working with the youth that promoted my personal growth
and maturity before I began studying at Penn State Behrend in the fall of 2001. While in
college, I was a recipient of Louis J. Tullio Memorial scholarships that provided a much needed
help to pay for college expenses.
It's been a wonderful and unique experience working with the youth
that promoted my personal growth and maturity.
In 2003, I transferred to Penn State Harrisburg as my parents moved to south central
Pennsylvania. I majored in Finance being involved in the campus Finance Club, serving there as
its Vice President and Director of Marketing. In my senior year, I was an investments intern at
Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS).
After graduating with a Bachelor's in Finance in 2006, I worked in various Data and Financial
Analyst roles gradually switching to the Health Care IT field by 2013 then working in the roles
of patient and billing data reporting and analysis.
While working full-time, I studied at Clarion University graduating with an MBA in 2015.
Since 2016, continuing in my career in Health Care IT, I've been working as a Senior Consultant
at Nordic Consulting Partners providing expertise to hospitals across the United States in the
health care data extraction, migration, interoperability and external submission including to
regulatory agencies.
“It’s About People!”
SEPTEMBER
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Labor Day
Rosh Hashanah begins
at sundown
12 13 14 16 17 18
15
Grandparents' Day Yom Kippur Constitution Day
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
First Day of Autumn HACE Board Meeting
26 27 28 29 30
HACE Board MeetingVeronica Lorya Bird Drive
My family emigrated from Kenya to Erie, PA, and lived in the Housing Authority’s Bird Drive
community. In my youth, I spent my summers attending the YMCA Kids Club. I attended Saint
James Elementary and Villa Maria Academy High School. Upon graduation, I studied at Penn
State University – Erie where I double majored in International Business and Marketing and
minored in Operations and Supply Chain Management. During my undergraduate years, I held
several leadership positions on campus including Multi-Cultural Council President and spent
my summers interning with the Housing Authority as an Accounting and Building Management
Intern as well as working as a YMCA Kids Club counselor. In my senior year, I was selected to
be the undergraduate commencement speaker.
Thanks to HACE, my summers were busy interning with the Housing Authority
in the Accounting and Building Management offices as well as working as a
YMCA Kids Club counselor. I can’t thank HACE enough for providing me
with the experience needed to get me to where I am today.
Upon graduation, I moved to New York City where I worked at American Field Service for four
years on the Global Participant Support team managing the support and training for students
and volunteers in four states. Determined to have a career in Marketing, I transitioned into the
Luxury business in 2018 where I started working at LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy). On
the Cultural Diversity team, I helped develop strong and effective culturally diverse millennial
marketing programs through live experiences, strategy, entertainment marketing, and
brand partnerships. I fostered relationships with key community stakeholders, agencies, and
influencers and have managed projects with notable guests including Lin-Manuel Miranda,
Oprah Winfrey, Marc Anthony, Jimmy Fallon, and Ricky Martin.
My passion for storytelling and creativity has been the fuel in my career and I hope to continue
in this path and one day become the Chief Marketing Officer at a Global Beauty brand.
I love to travel, whether it be for business or leisure, I have traveled to several countries and
have been to six out of the seven continents. In 2019 I traveled to Australia where I was able to
scratch off a lifelong dream of holding a koala bear and feeding a kangaroo.
“It’s About People!”
OCTOBER
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
HACE Board Meeting
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 HACE Board Meeting
HalloweenShelley Pulliam John E. Horan Garden Apartments
My experience living in housing when I was a young kid and a teenager was a very memorable
one. I grew up in the once-called Franklin Terrace Apartments now the John Horan Garden
Apartments. I grew up on Tacoma Rd (765 A to be exact). One of my best and fondest
memories/experiences living in housing was the establishment of the Boys and Girls Club out
in the Franklin Terrace (John Horan Garden Apartments) as opposed to being bused to the
downtown Boys and Girls Club.
Being bused to the downtown Boys and Girls Club was a very good experience for me
social-wise because I got to meet and become friends with a lot of kids outside of the Franklin
Terrace (John Horan Garden Apartments). When the Boys and Girls Club did open up in the
Franklin Terrace, it was also a very good experience because it gave us our own youth center
to go to and have fun but it also brought other kids from different areas outside the Franklin
Terrace which either maintained or enhanced my social experiences. From field trips to
basketball and running club teams, it was something as a little kid that brings back the best of
memories that I will never forget.
One of my best and fondest memories/experiences living in housing
was the establishment of the Boys and Girls Club out in the
Franklin Terrace.
As a teenager, a very great opportunity I had through housing was having summer jobs and
working for the Boys and Girls Club through the Housing Authority. Whether it was from being
a lifeguard to just being one of the staff members, it was an opportunity to give younger kids
wisdom and guidance while I was learning the same from the staffs of the multiple Boys and
Girls Clubs. Having those opportunities to work helped me save money for college expenses.
Overall, the experiences and opportunities I had yesterday, helped me become the person I
am today.
I am currently a Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) in the US Navy with 20 years of service,
married for 17 years and am the father to four children.
“It’s About People!”
NOVEMBER
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2 3 4 5 6
Election Day
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Daylight Savings Ends Veterans Day
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
HACE Board Meeting
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
HACE Board Meeting Thanksgiving
28 29 30
HanukkahRosary Giang Scattered Site (Lake City Dwellings)
My family and I resided under the care of the Housing Authority (HACE) throughout my childhood. I have
very fond memories of the well-maintained, quaint home I grew up in, with six of my siblings and parents.
I recall learning to ride a bike out in the front of our home and believing that one of my greatest life’s
accomplishments would be making that sidewalk corner cut, without having to slow down or stop. It was
a much simpler time and as I’ve grown up I’ve come to appreciate and miss the simplicity of just finding
happiness and joy over just about anything and being all in one place with the entire family.
I will be forever grateful for the opportunities I have had because of
HACE and the people whose paths I was lucky enough to cross.
I had an unforgettable experience interning in the main Housing Authority office with some truly inspiring
people, who have built the foundation of what I know today about giving back, being completely selfless,
and genuinely caring about others without expecting anything in return. I had initial fears of working in
an office. I was young and had no experience, but they welcomed me in and treated me with nothing but
kindness. I was told endless stories about the memories they shared and I could tell immediately that
there was a bond greater than just business here. I loved the feeling of familiarity and what I could only
parallel as that same feeling of being amongst family. I believe the first growth opportunity I had under
HACE, was gaining a deeper understanding of what success was; success wasn’t defined by how high you
can rise independently but rather by having purpose and being part of a bigger plan.
I was very fortunate to also be a recipient of the Tullio Scholarship for several years, which was crucial
for surviving my undergraduate years at the University of Pittsburgh; I graduated with a joint degree of
Mathematics and Economics in 2010. I went on to complete my MBA degree in 2016, with a concentration
in management of information systems and business analytics. During my graduate studies, I worked
at the University of Pittsburgh’s Medical Center (UPMC) where I was focused on the data/IT aspects of
research. I switched industries, from health care to energy, during my final year of graduate studies. In
2016, I moved to Houston, TX for a job opportunity in the energy sector. I am a Director of IT, Products
and Technology. On a more personal note, I love traveling (mostly international) and food (mostly
dessert). I recently hiked in several National Parks.
I have never forgotten where I come from and the people who have inspired me to be a better version
of myself during my formative years. I will be forever grateful for the opportunities I have had because of
HACE and the people whose paths I was lucky enough to cross.
“It’s About People!”
DECEMBER
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1 2 3 4
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HACE Board Meeting First Day of Winter Christmas
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First Day of Kwanzaa New Year's Eve2020-2021 Louis J. Tullio Scholarship Recipients
Thanks to the generosity of the Ellen Curry Foundation six (6)
college-bound public housing and Section 8 participants were
awarded $1,250 Louis J. Tullio Scholarships.
Fatimah Al – Dhumeen attending Nar Basnet attending
Penn State Behrend and Mercyhurst University and majoring
majoring in Biology. in Business Management.
Chrinesse Mpunga attending Braah Sharbaji attending the Hedaya Sharbaji attending Shukuru Lusi attending Gannon
Gannon University and majoring in University of Pittsburgh. Penn State Behrend and University and majoring in
Legal Studies/Criminal Justice. majoring in Biochemistry. Public Services & Global Affairs.
606 Holland Street Bishop Dwane Brock – Chair
Erie, PA 16501-1285 Patricia E. Mickel – Vice Chair
Phone: 814-452-2425 Ned Smith – Treasurer
Fax: 814-452-2429 Sean Dugan – Commissioner
TDD: 814-455-1707 James E. Martin – Commissioner
Michael R. Fraley – Executive Director and Secretary “It’s About People!”
www.hace.org
Timothy M. Sennett Esq. – Legal Counsel
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF ERIE
Special thanks to our Board of Commissioners and to our staff,
who make all of our successes possible.You can also read
