Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY), 2018 Human Services alumnus Chaplain Kelvin O. Howell Jr. is what leadership looks like in Human Services and Social Justice. Please join us in congratulating him on his new position…TransNewYork appoints Kelvin O. Howell Jr. as the organization’s first Deputy Executive Director & Chief of Staff

Kelvin is also a Team Leader at New York Cares, Director of Operations at Queens Pride, and Chairman of FIERCE. He is unapologetic, unafraid, and unparalleled when it comes to bringing about change to make a positive impact in the LGBTQ community and ALL communities. His tenacity is documented and recognized by the Intrepid Museum and Budweiser in the “Intrepid Among Us“ campaign that launched nationally on September 14, 2020.

“I thank God that I am able to be of service in the middle of this global, national and local pandemic. The Coronavirus hit the City of New York hard, especially in areas of Queens. Being someone with underlying respiratory issues including critical asthma and having just recently completed weight loss surgery, I didn’t know how I could be of service but I was sure that I needed to be. It was faith that pushed me out the door and continues to push me every day,” says Kelvin Howell as he reflects upon his faith as a source of strength, “Unfortunately, this world and its systems of oppression have brought me to areas that I can’t believe exist in New York City. Even in the darkest moments of my life, grace and mercy were upon me. It is with the favor of God that I return the love, support and humanity that was been shown to me when I needed it the most.”

Kelvin is an Agent of Change and lives by words that he read during his first purpose (semester) as a student at MCNY…

“What are human services? Stated most simply, they are the complex interactions that address and respond to human concerns. When successful, they make positive and lasting differences in peoples’ lives, and they help improve the world. The importance of human service cannot be overstated. Unfortunately, institutions rarely address empowerment as their central concern. Empowerment is reciprocal. You become empowered as you assist in the empowerment of others.” — Audrey Cohen, Founder of Metropolitan College Of New York