LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Deb Howard upon the occasion of her
designation for special recognition by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to publicly recognize
those extraordinary individuals who have made contributions to the
success and progress of society in the course of their life's work; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Deb Howard
upon the occasion of her designation for special recognition by the
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, to be celebrated at its 2011 Building
Brooklyn Awards Ceremony on Thursday, July 14, 2011, at the Brooklyn
Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York; and
WHEREAS, Deb Howard is the Executive Director of the Pratt Area Commu-
nity Council (PACC), a community-based organization serving the Central
Brooklyn neighborhoods of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights
and Bedford Stuyvesant; in the early 1970s after graduating from Knox
College, she began her career as a VISTA Volunteer in Chicago, Illinois,
at Voice of the People; and
WHEREAS, Since coming to PACC in 1990, Deb Howard has held positions
as Community Consultant, certified Homeowner Counselor specializing in
foreclosure prevention and in 1998 as Director of Homeowner Services; in
2002, she became PACC's Housing Director managing and supervising PACC's
affordable housing program and was later promoted to Executive Director
in 2004; and
WHEREAS, Deb Howard now oversees a staff of 74 along with a large
budget focusing on five particular program areas, including homeowner
and homebuyer services, community and tenant organizing, lead poisoning
prevention, economic development and commercial revitalization, and
support services for persons living with chronic illness; PACC currently
manages a portfolio of 57 buildings with an additional 10 affordable
housing projects in development, valuing at a significant amount; and
WHEREAS, A resident of Fort Greene since 1974, Deb Howard serves on
the Boards of the Association of Neighborhood Housing Developers, South
Brooklyn Legal Services, Citywide Taskforce on Housing Court and the FAB
Alliance; she also serves on the Executive Committee of the Coalition
for the Improvement of Bedford Stuyvesant; and
WHEREAS, Deb Howard served on the steering committees of New Yorkers
for Responsible Lending and Brooklyn Speaks; she is active at the Lafay-
ette Avenue Presbyterian Church as an Elder and Chair of its capital
campaign; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the life in their community and have shown a long and sustained
commitment to excellence certainly have earned recognition and applause;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Deb Howard upon the occasion of her designation for special recog-
nition by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Deb Howard.