Herman Hewitt is a licensed real estate broker and manages his own company, H.F. Hewitt Realty since 2002. He is also the president and CEO of another company that manages private coops and condos and a licensed contractor. Herman has been an active member of the community since 1978. He is currently the president/chairperson of various community and housing associations. Herman Hewitt has been the president of the Board of Directors of PMHA since inception.
Mahbub Hassan Since moving to the United States from Bangladesh, Mahbub Hassan has received a Master’s degree in Business. He managed the largest fleet of yellow cabs in NYC, and owned and operated a restaurant on the Upper East Side. He now runs a small organic farm. Mahbub was a building representative at 535 E 5th St when he first moved in. He is a member of 6th Street Garden, and is also involved with the CSA-6th St Community Center. Following the footsteps of the late Mary Spink, he feels we should all volunteer some of our time and skill so that this organization can be a beacon of hope for others in need. In his own words – I strongly believe I can make a significant contribution to bettering this organization.
Astou Fall is currently employed by the Nigerian Mission to the United Nations. She received diplomas in Business from the Institute Grand Jean de Daker, Senegal and Macbeth College in London. Mrs. Fall has been an active member for many years, serving as her building representative.
Ying Chen Ying Chen has been a resident at LESPMHA for over twelve years now. She has lived in the neighborhood since she was a child, and has seen the community evolve in many ways but had never been directly involved. She is a teacher for the NYC Department of Education, and received her Master’s Degree in Childhood Education and her undergraduate degree in Linguistics and Sociology. Being a part of the tenant board will give her a chance to build community relations by actively engaging with community members, organizing events and collaborating with diverse groups creating a more connected community.
Thomas Chen is taking part time and evening college classes. His mentality is to commit to his responsibilities and duties. He will serve in his school’s council and is a volunteer at the Bowery Mission.
Alberto Torres is a proud Bronx native and a respected community advocate. As a dedicated attorney in the South Bronx, he works hard to create a sustainable future for the residents of our communities who live in under-resourced neighborhoods. Alberto Torres began his career in civic service more than 37 years ago, working on the anti-drug “Not In My Neighborhood You Don’t Campaign” and “Contract for Life” at Bronx Corps, and with various organizations serving the needs of our communities. He organizes and hosts community campaigns such as green thumb community gardens to promote environmental education and basketball/baseball leagues to prevent gang activity by creating youth educational forums to bridge relationships between residents and neighborhood partners. Alberto Torres’ natural leadership and organizing skills were honed by advocating for families, seniors, young adults and students on important community issues, while identifying and allocating much time and needed resources to neighborhoods throughout New York City. Alberto Torres’ dedication and passion has earned Alberto a seat on several Advisory Committees, such as the Land Use Committee of Community Planning Board #1. Alberto Torres will continue his life’s work – of motivating and inspiring, and leading with passion and advocating for those in need. As a community leader, Alberto Torres sprang into action when the COVID-19 pandemic hit New York City, heavily impacting already vulnerable neighborhoods. He collaborated with his family to organize food and PPE distributions and has connected residents to other much-needed resources. Alberto Torres continues to help in the creation of a plan for sustainable recovery for our communities. Alberto Torres continues to commit his professional life to the social causes for our Black and Latino communities, and to grassroots outreach, organizing, and education. Alberto Torres was the first in his family to graduate from college and law school and maintains a law office on Melrose Avenue in the South Bronx, which services his community. Alberto Torres’ public service includes his appointment as a nonsalaried Commissioner on the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, and volunteer work with the Castle Hill Little League, El Flamboyan Community Garden, YARD Foundation and Adopt a Neighbor Campaign in the Dominican Republic.
Alistair DuPont (Bio forthcoming)
Aura Olavarria is a native New Yorker. Her father was Puerto Rican and she, like her father, was born and raised on the Lower East Side. Her mother emigrated from Cali, Colombia to New York City in 1970. Aura is the mother to Nico, an artist in high school. Aura worked for former Councilwoman Rosie Mendez during 2012 to 2017, while also attending night classes at Borough Manhattan Community College . Aura went on to attain a Bachelors Degree at Hunter Silberman School of Social Work. In 2019, Aura ran and won Democratic seat for District Leader in Assembly District 74 Part A and held the seat until January 2025. In 2020, Aura was hired as Deputy Chief of Staff for Assembly Member Harvey Epstein, shortly after New York City was hit with COVID-19 pandemic, changing our lives forever. Aura went on to complete a Clinical Masters in Social Work at Columbia School of Social Work while interning for Henry Street Settlement, Good Companions Older Adult Center, later obtaining her LMSW and is now working at the Bellevue Hospital, Emergency Department. As a community member who benefitted from affordable housing, it’s essential to help preserve affordable housing in perpetuity — housing is healthcare and housing is opportunity. Aura’s hope is to empower young Latinas to stand up for what they believe in and continue to create pathways for those to come.
Lillian Nazario has resided on the Lower East Side her entire life & she knows her community. She is interested in serving the organization because she understands the residents’ needs and concerns. She’d like to be a voice for the tenants, bringing their concerns to decision makers so that those concerns will be addressed and resolved. She graduated Berkeley College in Manhattan where she majored in Marketing and obtained a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. She is on the Forsyth Street Festival committee which happens every year during the summer and also on campaigns for District Leader/Councilman, etc.
Alfred Robinson is a licensed contractor with his own company based in mid Manhattan. The name of my company is called Triple A Carpenters LLC. I started my company in 2007 and have been servicing the Lower East Side Village for almost 25 years are the areas I service would be Tri-State area, Upper West Side, West Village, etc. About two years ago, I became a board member for LESPMHA and at that time, the Board was having difficulty finding members. I was voted on as one of the members have remained a member for the past two years. We were having quite a few in-house meetings, which I thought were perfect, and then I started having personal issues, family issues that came about and slowed down my in-house meeting and started doing more zoom meetings along with everyone else. As I said, in the beginning of my joining or becoming a member of this board, was that we are being selected to help the members of our buildings and make decisions based on our judgment as Board members.