St. Nicks Alliance was joined by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso (3rd from left) and others to rededicate 106 Gerry Street to Nancy DesGrottes a former staff member who was killed by domestic violence over twenty years ago. Also pictured are (l to r) Ezra Brathwaite (real estate project manager, St. Nicks Alliance), Joseph Yanis (chief of staff for NYS Assembly Member Maritza Davila), Michael Rochford (exec. dir. for St. Nicks Alliance), Kim Darga (deputy commissioner for development at HPD), Leana Pardo, exec. dir. of North Brooklyn Coalition Against Family Violence, Evelyn Cruz (district dir. for U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez), and Frank Lang (dep. exec. dir. of housing for St. Nicks Alliance).

On December 9, St. Nicks Alliance celebrated the rededication of 106 Gerry Street. We were joined by community partners and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso; NYC Council Member Lincoln Restler; Evelyn Cruz, district dir. for U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez; and Joseph Yanis, chief of staff for NYS Assembly Member Maritza Davila.)

When the project was constructed in 2000, 106 Gerry Street was named Nancy DesGrottes Apartments. This was to honor a wonderful colleague, a beloved coworker and supervisor, who lost her life to domestic violence. Nancy DesGrottes served with St Nicks Alliance for over five years rising from controller to the most senior level position, director of finance. Nancy was an accomplished certified public accountant (CPA) and very skilled at nonprofit accounting and financial management.

St. Nicks Alliance Workforce Development graduates 42 in tech fields

Graduation of trainees in tech fields was celebrated at St. Nicks Alliance Workforce Development Center at 92 Throop Avenue on December 22. Pictured (from l to r): Nasim Shafiquzzaman (alumni of Workforce Development tech training), Larry Rothchild (senior managing director for St. Nicks Alliance Workforce Development), Michael Rochford (exec. dir. of St. Nicks Alliance), Sarah Lorya (director of operations, St. Nicks Alliance Workforce Development), Victoria Peters, (from NYC Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez’s office), Kelly Reynolds (alumni of Workforce Development tech training), Laura James (St. Nicks Alliance Board), Steven Jacques (tech graduate), Daniel Garcia (tech graduate), NYS Senator Jabari Brisport, Melissa Peña (alumni of Workforce Development tech training), Scott Short (president of St. Nicks Alliance CDC), and Batuhan Demirci (alumni of Workforce Development tech training).

On December 22, St. Nicks Alliance Workforce Development Center (92 Throop Avenue) celebrated the 42 graduates from their IT skills training. These graduates’ course work focused on Google IT help desk support, data analytics and cyber security.

“Our graduates have starting salaries between $44,000 and $65,000.   We have a few tech graduates who have gone on to make $80K–$85K,” said Larry Rothchild, senior managing director for St. Nicks Alliance Workforce Development.

In 2025 our Workforce Development Center held four Google Professional cohorts. Half of these graduated during the summer and the other two finished in November and December.  Some of the skills our graduates learn and earn certifications in are: computer hardware repair and maintenance, troubleshooting, project management and workflow platforms like Jira, network security, and penetration testing for hackers.  Our graduates are then qualified to take on a career as a: database coordinator, data entry specialist, IT associate, or tech bar support technician.

Employer partners have offered internships which have led to some interns being hired. Some of these partners are: Liquid Technology, WALTER, Agilant Solutions inc., and NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull.

If you are or know someone interested in tech training, information sessions for this training are held on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. at 92 Throop Avenue.  To sign up go here: https://stnicksalliance.org/sign-up-digital-literacy/ or email: TechLiteracy@stnicksalliance.org