IMPACCT Brooklyn marked more than six decades of community development and advocacy during its 2026 Emerald Ball, held Feb. 26 at Hotel Indigo Williamsburg.
The black-tie event brought together civic leaders, housing advocates, entrepreneurs and longtime supporters to celebrate the organization’s continued work in central Brooklyn under the theme “IMPACCT. Ignite. Inspire.”
The evening began with a lively cocktail reception that welcomed guests from across New York City’s public, nonprofit and business sectors. Attendees later gathered for a plated dinner and live auction, followed by performances from musician and composer Damien Sneed and the storytelling collective The Soapbox Presents.
“Impact is not just effort. Impact is measurable change. It is housing preserved and created. It is foreclosures prevented. It is credit strengthened. It is businesses stabilized. It is generational wealth built,” said Jamal C. Robinson, executive director of IMPACCT Brooklyn.
The program highlighted the organization’s 62-year history of strengthening neighborhoods through housing preservation, financial education and economic development initiatives.
The celebration also featured remarks from Letitia James, who acknowledged the organization’s longstanding impact and welcomed Jamal C. Robinson as IMPACCT Brooklyn’s executive director.
Elected officials and community leaders in attendance included Kevin Parker, Lincoln Restler and former state legislator Annette Robinson, whose advocacy over the years has supported housing stability and neighborhood investment across the borough.
A central part of the evening recognized leaders whose work reflects IMPACCT Brooklyn’s mission of community empowerment and neighborhood preservation. Three honorees were celebrated for their contributions to housing, entrepreneurship and homeowner support services.
Valerie White, senior executive director of Local Initiatives Support Corporation New York, received the Community Builder Award for her work supporting equitable development and neighborhood investment. Entrepreneur and strategist Brandon J. Hurst was recognized with the Local Business Trailblazer Award for advancing business opportunities and economic growth in Brooklyn communities.
Pat Julien, director of the Homeowner Department at IMPACCT Brooklyn, received the Shirley Chisholm Award in recognition of her leadership helping residents navigate homeownership and housing stability.
Funds raised during the Emerald Ball support IMPACCT Brooklyn’s ongoing efforts to preserve and expand access to quality housing while providing programs that help residents remain rooted in their neighborhoods.
The organization’s work includes foreclosure prevention, credit counseling, small business support and housing development initiatives designed to promote long-term community stability.
Founded more than 60 years ago, IMPACCT Brooklyn remains one of New York City’s leading nonprofit organizations focused on affordable housing, economic opportunity and neighborhood preservation.
