Media Contact: Alison Berg
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NEW YORK (February 16, 2021) – Crain’s New York Business has named Nathaniel M. Fields, chief executive officer of Urban Resource Institute (URI), to the list of Notable Black Leaders and Executives 2021. Fields was honored among esteemed Black leaders across the public and private sectors for their leadership and outsized impact in New York City.
“I am proud to be recognized as a Notable Black Leader and Executive alongside such influential peers across a wide array of sectors, especially in a year of unprecedented attention on racial justice and diversity,” noted Fields. “As a Black man at the helm of a nonprofit organization with the majority of staff and clients identifying as people of color, it is critical to our mission and success that they see themselves reflected in the leadership of the organization, and know that their voices and experiences will be honored. It is equally important that leaders and executives in all fields, both for profit and nonprofit, represent the diversity of our country and demonstrate opportunity for all.”
Since taking on the leadership role in 2012, Fields transformed URI in size, scope, and services, achieving the position as the largest provider of domestic violence residential services in the US and a leading service provider for homeless families. Fields’ leadership style is grounded in innovation, with a keen focus on mission and excellence. He works as a convener across practice areas and industries to share knowledge in order to efficiently and effectively serve clients and engage employees.
Fields serves in leadership roles for numerous organizations and councils addressing the systemic issues of domestic violence and homelessness as well as urgent issues, such as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable populations. He has been tapped to serve on: the COVID-19 Domestic Violence Task Force of the New York State Council on Women and Girls;. the COVID-19 Response Work Group of the NYC Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence; the Fatality Review Committee of the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence; the NYC Mayor’s Nonprofits and Social Services Advisory Council; the Board of the Human Services Council; and the NYC Deputy Mayor for Health & Human Services 2020 Nonprofits and Social Services Advisory Council on “reopening” New York City. He has also led the NYC Coalition of Domestic Violence Residential Providers as co-chair for over ten years.
URI has the capacity to shelter 2,200 individuals every day, including adults and children, at more than 25 locations across New York City and to reach 40,000 each year through innovative education, prevention, and intervention programs. The organization offers both emergency and transitional residential services as well as programs that work with survivors, perpetrators, teens and preteens.. URI’s domestic violence and homeless shelters have remained open and available all day, every day throughout the pandemic. For more information visit www.urinyc.org, or for immediate assistance, call NYC’s 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-621-HOPE (4673) or the National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-SAFE (7233).
About Urban Resource Institute (URI)
Urban Resource Institute (URI) is a leading non-profit organization based in New York City that empowers individuals, families, communities, particularly communities of color and other vulnerable populations, to end cycles of violence, homelessness, poverty, and trauma by increasing safety and resiliency. As the largest provider of domestic violence shelter services in the country, URI’s innovative programs provide care for survivors of domestic violence, homeless families, and other at-risk populations, allowing them to live in safety and recover from trauma in both residential and non-residential settings. Focused on a holistic approach, encompassing prevention, intervention and direct services, and with deep community relationships and a flexible, innovative approach to program development and service delivery, URI is uniquely equipped to provide solutions to the challenges affecting New York City’s most vulnerable populations while influencing service delivery in other parts of the U.S. and the world. For more information, please visit www.urinyc.org.
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