Good day an a very warm and gratuitous welcome to the OBT Family,

Happy International Women’s Day (IWD)!  The IWD Organization’s website reminds us to:

  • “Celebrate women’s achievements. Raise awareness about discrimination. Take action to drive gender parity. Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively we can all #EmbraceEquity”.

The International Women’s Day theme for 2023 is to fully #EmbraceEquity. “Equity isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have”.  A focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society’s DNA, and it’s critical to understand the difference between equity and equality because equal opportunities aren’t enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action.

Similarly, the 2023 Women’s History Month theme is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.”  Women’s stories, and the larger human story, expand our understanding and strengthen our connections with each other. We honor those who give voice to the voiceless, share their stories and keep us informed – our poets, journalists, authors, songwriters, performers, filmmakers, and so many countless women in every industry.

March 2023 also marks a significant milestone for OBT as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary of service and support to the New York City community.  Our celebration aligns with Women’s History month as we uplift our OBT Women Ambassadors!

  • OBT was founded in 1983 by the late Sr. Mary Franciscus to serve at-risk, out-of-school, and unemployed youth in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
  • Fast forward four decades, our executive team is comprised entirely of strong women;
  • The majority of our leadership and team are held by women;
  • Three out of the four CEOs of OBT have been women;
  • 71.43% of our current staff are women.

As we celebrate our legacy, we can reflect on how women have been a significant agent of change in the nonprofit sector, but specifically within OBT.  On average, women make up 70% of the nonprofit workforce and serve as the driving force of our mission in amplifying our vision.  We are excited to celebrate four decades of impact by uplifting our program participants, OBT’s incredible team, and our work to help strengthen the workforce by serving as a bridge to economic opportunities. Each month leading up to our gala celebration, we will highlight connections to our mission by honoring the diversity that makes our work meaningful and how we uphold our values and principles, that helped OBT build 40 years of trust and credibility in the communities we serve.

Celebrating 40 years as an organization means seeing four decades of impact and evolution as the team and transformation of the needs of our participants throughout the years. OBT is committed to staying connected to our community and responding with empathy, compassion, and a person-centered approach to service – There’s No Other Way!

Thank you for your continued support as we “Raise the Bar” on Service and Strengthen the workforce together for many more years to come.

Best Regards,

Dr. Darlene Williams
President & Chief Executive Officer