Senate Resolution No. 1210

BY: Senator MONTGOMERY

COMMENDING The Reverend Dr. Skip Vilas upon the
occasion of his designation for special recognition
by Brooklyn Community Housing and Services on May
15, 2019

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that
the quality and character of life in the communities across New York
State are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those
individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the community
and its citizenry; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend The
Reverend Dr. Skip Vilas upon the occasion of his designation for special
recognition by Brooklyn Community Housing and Services to be celebrated
at its 40th Anniversary "Feels Like Home" Gala on Wednesday, May 15,
2019, at BKLYN Studios in Brooklyn, New York; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 1978, Brooklyn Community Housing and Services
(BCHS) is committed to ending homelessness in Brooklyn and empowering
all the residents of its home community of Fort Greene and the
surrounding neighborhoods through innovative and comprehensive social,
educational and job-training programs that enable residents to achieve
maximum independence; and

WHEREAS, Every year, BCHS provides clean and safe supportive housing
and services to more than 1,000 formerly homeless families and single
adults and helps them to learn how to live independently; and

WHEREAS, BCHS' programs provide short-term, transitional and
permanent housing, homelessness prevention, personalized case
management, mental health care, on-site nursing, vocational training,
substance abuse counseling, recreational activities and other vital
services; and

WHEREAS, Born and raised in New York City, Skip Vilas attended Yale
University and Virginia Theological Seminary, and was ordained to the
Priesthood of the Episcopal Church in 1960; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his esteemed career, Reverend Dr. Vilas has been
active in the field of mental health and in the ministries of
environmental stewardship and ecojustice; and

WHEREAS, As the Rector of St. Ann's Church in Brooklyn Heights,
Reverend Dr. Skip Vilas participated as a member of the Carter
Administration's Panel on Mental Health during the late 1970s; through
his work on the panel, and in response to the emerging crisis of
homelessness in downtown Brooklyn, he helped lead the creation of
Pastoral & Educational Services, which later changed its name to
Brooklyn Community Housing and Services; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Reverend Dr. Skip Vilas is the founder of the
national Episcopal Environmental Network and of GreenFaith, an
interfaith statewide organization in New Jersey; he serves on an

interfaith advisory committee to the United Nations Environment
Programme and is a board member of the Highlands Coalition; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Skip Vilas was also a curate at St. Mark's
Church in New Canaan, Connecticut, and rector for both St. John's in
Beverly Farms, Massachusetts, and St. Paul's in Chatham, New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, In his much deserved retirement, Reverend Dr. Skip Vilas
and his wife Joyce have served on an interim team at several churches in
New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend The Reverend Dr. Skip Vilas upon the occasion of his designation
for special recognition by Brooklyn Community Housing and Services on
May 15, 2019; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Reverend Dr. Skip Vilas.