The Fortune Society will host its seventh annual Victor Rojas Block Celebration on August 22, bringing households, alumni, and native companions collectively at its Fort Gardens residence in Harlem (625 W. a hundred and fortieth St. between Broadway and Riverside Drive) in honor of a group hero and buddy. The occasion takes place from 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
The daylong occasion is free and open to the general public, and can characteristic meals, video games, faculty provide giveaways, and a brand new recent produce distribution to deal with meals insecurity within the neighborhood.
The block occasion honors Victor Rojas, a Fortune participant who turned a counselor with the nonprofit earlier than his demise in 2018 at age 52.
Rojas first lived at Fort Gardens, a transitional housing useful resource for individuals exiting the legal justice system, as a participant within the Fortune program and finally turned a full-time counselor there on its Household Providers group. Whereas there, he turned an vital a part of its mission to assist individuals with a historical past of legal justice points transition towards higher lives. Rojas moved into Fortune’s everlasting residence at Fort Gardens and took on additional obligations with the group.
“The annual block occasion in his title isn’t solely a celebration of his life, but in addition a testomony to the ability of group, belonging, and hope,” mentioned Rob DeLeon, deputy CEO of the Fortune Society in a press release shared with the AmNews. “At Fortune, we’re proud to honor Victor’s legacy by creating joyful areas the place households, neighbors, and companions can come collectively to carry one another up. For his son and household, we hope [the event] is a reminder of how deeply Victor touched the lives of others, and the way his legacy continues to convey individuals collectively.”
Since its launch seven years in the past, the block occasion has grown steadily in recognition, with extra group members becoming a member of alongside Fort residents and alumni of Fortune’s scattered-site housing program.
The occasion beforehand featured performances from Fortune’s Inventive Arts program, though this yr’s focus will stay on group assets. Native companions supporting the occasion embody the Hope Heart, Democracy Prep, ICL, and Hudson Harvest.
Organizers say the gathering is greater than a seasonal custom: It creates an area for households and people with justice involvement to spend time collectively with out the stigma of previous errors.
Based in 1967, the Fortune Society has change into nationally acknowledged for its companies to individuals with legal justice histories, starting from housing and schooling to job coaching and substance abuse remedy. The block occasion, staffers say, is among the most seen methods the nonprofit’s mission is widely known every year.
“Victor embodied the easiest of Fortune: resilience, compassion, and the idea that everybody deserves a second likelihood,” DeLeon mentioned. “He got here to us searching for help and, by way of his willpower, turned a pillar of our group and an inspiration to so many.”
For extra info, go to fortunesociety.org.
