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Advocating for the one in 15 New Yorkers who live in New York City Public Housing
Karen Blondel

Winner

Karen Blondel

Advocating for the one in 15 New Yorkers who live in New York City Public Housing
Karen Blondel

Website

karenblondel.carrd.co

Year

2023

Organization

Public Housing Civic Association

Sector

Placemaking & Neighborhoods

Borough

Brooklyn

Neighborhood

Red Hook

Karen empowers 340,000 New Yorkers living in NYCHA housing to fight for their homes.

A native New Yorker from Coney Island, Karen moved into New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Red Hook Houses after becoming a young mom. Four decades later, Karen continues to call the same Houses…
Read winner story

Publication

Spectrum News NY1

The David Prize winner talks helping public housing residents

By Chloe Tai
Each year, five New Yorkers are presented with $200,000 each as part of “The David Prize.” The award is given with no-strings-attached to enterprising individuals to support their efforts in making the city a better place…
Karen Blondel seated on a bench in front of a garden
1 in 15
New Yorkers live in public housing
A sign reading "Welcome to Red Hook West Houses"

Publication

Gothamist

Brooklyn public housing leader wins $200K prize, plans to support Red Hook neighbors

By David Brand
September 6, 2024
Everyone in Red Hook seems to know Karen Blondel. Now the public housing leader is getting more formal citywide recognition for her work organizing her neighbors…
Karen Blondel
“Karen is a visionary and rarity. She is an indigenous local leader who has earned the trust and respect of her peers, elected officials, and some of NYC’s most vulnerable New Yorkers.⁠”
Dr. Beverly Watkins
NYU College of Global Public Health
Various documents laid out on a table
To all winners

Are You a Visionary?

The David Prize is accepting submissions for its 2024–2025 Open Call.

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