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CHANGER, INC.
Greetings!
“Organize, agitate, educate, must be our war cry.”
- Susan B. Anthony
The many women homeowners of CHANGER are doing just this. This month we introduce you to Antoinette Coffi-Ahibo and Ana Aguirre, two women central to the work of CHANGER in helping homeowners across New York City stabilize themselves and their families in these economic times.
Sincerely,
Lionel Ouellette
Executive Director
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| Antoinette Coffi-Ahibo
Ms. Coffi_Ahibo
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Antoinette Coffi-Ahibo emigrated to the United States in 1988 from the Ivory Coast. A single mom of two boys, Antoinette sought to access the American dream of homeownership. She was the unwilling victim of a one-stop-shop real estate company that tricked her into an inflated subprime mortgage. She was then ripped off by a loan modification company when she was struggling to pay her mortgage after being laid off from her work as a Certified Optician. Antoinette embodies the energy of woman warriors like Susan B. Anthony. After coming to CHANGER and learning about how she was duped by various real estate and lending institutions Antoinette started to agitate and organize. She was a leading force behind Attorney General Quomo’s investigation and indictment into loan modification consultants. She has provided testimony for state senate hearings, spoken at press conferences with city and state elected officials, and been featured in the Daily News, NY1, and the News Hour with Jim Lehrer.
With CHANGER’s assistance Antoinette defended herself in a foreclosure case, paid off her second mortgage, obtained a loan modification on her primary mortgage, and had $4,200 refunded to her from the loan modification consultant that sought to exploit her. Antoinette stands on the homeowner Advisory Board of CHANGER as an example of the strength and tenacity that all people are capable of. It is with pride that CHANGER recognizes Ms. Antoinette Coffi-Ahibo at the close of Women’s History Month.
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Ana Aguirre
Ana Aguirre
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Ana Aguirre is the Executive Director of United Community Centers (UCC), a board member of CHANGER, INC., a homeowner, and tireless educator, advocate, and organizer for women, children, immigrants, homeowners and tenants. In her 16 years of service with United Community Centers and the community of East New York Ana, has made housing, public health, immigration, youth and gender equity a priority. Under her leadership UCC has created innovative programs that engages the community in education and serves as the base for powerful organizing. UCC’s efforts defeated plans for building an incinerator in the community, implemented a successful and ongoing condom distribution program, provides ESOL classes, and started one of the most dynamic youth urban agriculture programs in the country, East New York Farms. In 2007 when CHANGER started its organizing campaign, Do Something, it was under Ana’s leadership that UCC became CHANGER’s first organizing partner. Ms. Aguirre has made homeownership preservation a priority in the community UCC serves. We commend Ms. Aguirre for her dedication to health and prosperity of women and families. |
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Save the Date
June 10, 2010
CHANGER cordially invites you to our
Summer Soiree. Join us for an evening of cocktails, music, and a silent auction.
June 10, 2010
6 – 9:30 PM
138 South Oxford St.
Brooklyn, NY 11217.
Call 718-596-4011 for sponsorship and tickets.
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