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Brooklyn Navy Yard Celebrates Transformative Community Partnerships at Inaugural “Power of Partnership” Breakfast

Event Honored Farragut, Ingersoll and Whitman Resident Associations, The Lay Out and The Robin Hood Foundation for Outstanding Collaborative Impact

BROOKLYN, NY (January 15, 2026) – The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) hosted the Power of Partnership Breakfast to celebrate the community leaders, nonprofit partners and local stakeholders that support its high impact work. In addition to honoring three exceptional partners for their vital contributions with awards, the event underscored the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s role as an engine of inclusive economic growth and community engagement.

“The power of the Navy Yard comes to life through partnership,” said Lindsay Greene, President and CEO of BNYDC. “It is through the dedication and dedicated advocacy and activism of organizations and leaders like those we honor today that we are held accountable for and also able, through their partnership, to deliver on our core commitment to deliver opportunity directly to our community, creating a tangible impact on thousands of lives,” said Greene. “Together, we are not just hosting events or funding programs; we are building pathways to prosperity.”

The centerpiece of the breakfast was the presentation of three distinct awards, each recognizing a different mode of essential partnership:

  • The Community Anchor Award, which honors hyperlocal partners who extend the Yard’s mission into the community, was presented to the Resident Associations of the Farragut, Ingersoll and Whitman Houses. The associations were recognized for years of steadfast partnership, connecting public housing residents to jobs, training and educational opportunities at the Yard, and collaborating on community initiatives like the annual Back-to-School Bash and Toy Drive. The award was accepted by Presidents Dorene Flowers (Farragut), Darold Burgess (Ingersoll) and Julie Sharpton (Whitman).
  • The Horizon Award was bestowed upon Emily Anadu, founder of The Lay Out, a platform dedicated to celebrating and growing Black community, culture and business. This award celebrates partners whose bold vision expands the Yard’s reach and uplifts small businesses. Anadu was honored for transforming the Yard’s Annual Holiday Market into a premier showcase for over 50 hyperlocal Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) each year and for her creative partnership in elevating community events.
  • The Waymaker Award was presented to The Robin Hood Foundation for its strategic philanthropic leadership. This award recognized partners who open the doors to economic opportunity. Since 2011, Robin Hood has invested nearly $2.5 million in the Yard’s inclusive economic development model, directly fueling the growth of the Albert C. Wiltshire Employment Center and Adult Upskill Training Programs. This investment has connected hundreds of local jobseekers to family-sustaining careers in advanced manufacturing. Chymeka Olfonse, managing director of Adult & Household Support at Robin Hood, accepted the award on the foundation’s behalf.

“These honorees exemplify the collaborative spirit that drives meaningful change,” said Hank Gutman, chairman of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation. “From the deep community roots of our Resident Associations to the entrepreneurial vision of Emily Anadu and the transformative, results-driven investment from Robin Hood, these partnerships are the foundation upon which we build a more equitable and vibrant Brooklyn and New York City. We are immensely grateful for their shared commitment to our mission.”

Toni Williams, creator and host of Brooklyn Savvy and a member of the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Board of Directors, served as emcee. In her opening remarks, Williams highlighted the symbiotic relationship between the Yard and its partners, stating, “I know firsthand how essential your contributions are to New York; and how powerful your partnership with the Navy Yard is for the communities we all serve.”

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About the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation

Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) is a not-for-profit corporation that serves as the real estate developer and property manager of the Yard on behalf of its owner, the City of New York. BNYDC’s mission is to fuel New York City’s economic vitality by creating and preserving quality jobs, growing the City’s modern industrial sector and its businesses, and connecting the local community with the economic opportunity and resources of the Yard. BNYDC helps connect local talent to quality jobs via the Albert C. Wiltshire Employment Center and the Brooklyn STEAM Center high school located on the campus. BNYDC’s vision is a vibrant and dense, modern manufacturing community where businesses are provided the stability they need to invest, grow, and thrive and where diverse candidates can attain quality jobs. Brooklynnavyyard.org