• JustLove,  Strengthening Families and Resolving Crises

    Hurricane Relief in Puerto Rico

    Edwin Melendez, Ph.D. & Assemblyman Marcos Crespo On this week’s episode of JustLove, Monsignor Sullivan speak with two guests focused on hurricane disaster relief in Puerto Rico.  On the show Assemblyman Marcos Crespo who represents the fifth district in the Bronx and East Harlem is on the show. He shares his experiences with Msgr. Kevin Sullivan on joining Gov. Andrew Cuomo on the first relief flight to Puerto Rico two days after Hurricane Maria hit the island Also appearing on the show is Edwin Melendez, Ph.D., Professor of Urban Affairs and Planning  and Director of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College. Msgr. Sullivan and Prof. Melendez will be discussing the…

  • Strengthening Families and Resolving Crises

    This Week: The Glass is More Than Half Empty

      This week the glass is more than half empty for me! After the devastation caused last week by natural disasters, Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and by the student stabbings in the Bronx, I, like so many others, am deeply pained. I spent a good part of this week working on how Catholic Charities of NY might be of support for the individuals and families suffering in Puerto Rico.  Some of my time was spent talking with elected officials and staff in Washington D.C., other time with nonprofit and business leaders. Both the sadness and resolve was intense.    Particularly strong prayer and solidarity goes out to one of our…

  • JustLove,  Protecting & Nurturing Children & Youth,  Strengthening Families and Resolving Crises

    Closing Riker’s Island and Prison Reform

    Photo: JoAnne Page & Liza Jessie Peterson On this week’s episode of JustLove, Monsignor Sullivan speaks with two guests focused on the Closing of Riker’s Island and issues surrounding Prison Reform: Calling into the studio, JoAnne Page, President CEO of The Fortune Society a New York City-based non-profit that advocates for and provides services to the formerly incarcerated. On the show Msgr. and JoAnne talk about recent discussions surrounding the closure of Riker’s Island – New York City’s 413 acre facility administered by the Department of Corrections where on any given day 9,500 people – the bulk of the city’s prisoners. They also discuss how feasible the plans to close Riker’s…

  • Strengthening Families and Resolving Crises

    Responding in Charity to Successive Storms

    Kim Burgo & Fred Parrella On this episode of JustLove Monsignor Sullivan will discuss both the recovery efforts taking place in Houston in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, as well in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. He will speak about the changing context of marriage and family. Calling in to the studio is Kim Burgo Vice President for Disaster Response Operations for Catholic Charities USA. She will be talking about the impact that Hurricane Harvey has had on coastal Texas and its surrounding areas as well as the impact that Hurricane Irma has had on the Florida how Catholic Charities USA is helping local Catholic Charities agencies respond to…

  • Strengthening Families and Resolving Crises,  Welcoming and Integrating Immigrants and Refugees

    Recovering from the Storm and Persevering

    Embed from Getty Images On this week’s JustLove Monsignor Kevin Sullivan will be speaking with  Jesse Thompson about the Trump Administration’s decision on DACA  and what it means for Dreamers in the weeks and months to come.  Jesse Thompson, Esq. is a Staff Attorney  in the  Immigration Legal Services Department of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York.  Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is an Obama Administration era policy that shields young unauthorized immigrants brought to the United States as minors from deportation. The show will focus on what those young people – referred to as Dreamers – can do now that the President has announced the end of the…