Lead Abatement Team Honored by Mill Brook Resident Leaders
Since 2021, NYCHA’s Team for Enhanced Management Planning and Outreach (TEMPO) program has been dedicated to outreach, inspection, and abatement of lead hazards in all apartments where there is known lead-based paint, particularly those where children under age 6 live or routinely visit.
Working citywide, TEMPO staff improve the health and safety of residents, providing oversight throughout the lead-based paint abatement process and supporting those who may need to temporarily relocate while abatement is performed. The Authority’s lead abatement program is administered by the Lead Hazard Control Department (LHCD), a subdivision of NYCHA’s Healthy Homes Department.
At one development in the Bronx, resident leaders have paid special tribute to the TEMPO program and dedicated lead abatement staff for their efforts to help ensure healthy living spaces for neighbors. During Black History Month this past February, Princella Jamerson, President of the Mill Brook Houses Resident Association, presented service recognition awards to Oluwaseyi Olaniran, Lead Abatement Program Manager in LHCD, and Vera Owens, a TEMPO Outreach Manager working with the firm Johnson & Asberry. Mr. Olaniran was commended for his “exceptional ability” to troubleshoot and coordinate lead hazard repairs in residents’ apartments, while Ms. Owens was recognized for her unwavering dedication to addressing resident needs.
“He is deeply dedicated to ensuring that all repairs are completed safely and satisfactorily – and when issues arise, he consistently works to ensure they are properly corrected,” Ms. Jamerson said of Mr. Olaniran, affectionately known as “Double O [OO]” by colleagues. “We recognize his commitment, dedication, and service to the community.”
Referring to Ms. Owens, Ms. Jamerson said: “Her continued commitment to the well-being of our families is truly remarkable. She consistently provides solutions for any technical issues and ensures that residents feel supported.”
As of March 1, the LHCD team has successfully completed more than 18,000 lead abatements citywide, including 400 lead abatements at Mill Brook Houses, where more than 2,500 residents live. Healthy Homes Senior Vice President Jaclyn Sullivan said the program’s commendation “reflects the strong, trust-based relationship our team has built with the resident association board.”
“I commend OO and Vera for this well-deserved recognition and am incredibly proud of the entire team’s commitment to improving the health and safety of our residents,” Ms. Sullivan said.
Mr. Olaniran, a native of Nigeria who has worked in lead abatement at NYCHA for nearly seven years, took pride in receiving appreciation for his service to the resident community.
“To be recognized for what you’ve been doing for them is really gratifying,” he said. “I often say that I don’t see this as a job; listening to people, trying to find solutions, and working together to get it done is really something that I look forward to every day.”
Ms. Owens, who has 17 years of experience in public engagement across agencies, was pleasantly surprised to be honored by residents she works closely with at Mill Brook Houses. Working as part of a team with Mr. Olaniran, she also finds gratification in helping to improve the quality of life for NYCHA residents and children.
“I put my all into what I do and I love what I do, so it was definitely an honor,” she said. “I feel that helping residents and making a difference in their lives, one resident at a time, allows me to build relationships within the community – and it is very meaningful and rewarding.”
Photo caption: Oluwaseyi Olaniran, Lead Abatement Program Manager (left), and Vera Owens, TEMPO Outreach Manager (right), were presented with awards from President Princella Jamerson and the Mill Brook Houses Resident Association during a February board meeting.