Angela Thompson is the Vice President of Homeless Families Residential Programs at Urban Resource Institute. In this role, Thompson is responsible for the strategic direction, design, implementation, and operation of URI’s programs for homeless families, including transitional housing and comprehensive services. She is a leader with a personal mission and passion for strengthening individuals and families by empowering them to self-sufficiency. Thompson has over twenty-five years of experience in leadership in non-profit and government organizations in homeless services, mental health, developmental disability, and geriatrics.

Thompson leads from a trauma-informed and strengths-based approach in practice and policy implementation, providing a space of opportunity for families and staff to flourish through a deep commitment to serving with integrity. Her experience working within the public and private social services sector has established partnerships and created an ability to shape and drive systems to achieve quality service delivery. Thompson is highly motivated and a driven team player with strong leadership skills and managerial skills that motivates by maximizing individual strengths and developing leaders. Thompson understands the vision of achieving sustainable independence through service engagement and leads with purpose in fulfilling the mission of URI through commitment and dedication. She holds a Master’s in Social Work from Lehman College.

Lydia Wong, the Deputy General Counsel at the Urban Resource Institute (URI), brings a wealth of legal expertise to the organization. As a key member of URI’s Senior Team, Wong reports directly to Heidi Hamilton, URI’s General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, and assumes a pivotal role in advising on governance, contracts, procurement, finance, policies, procedures, and employment.

Prior to joining URI, Wong served as an associate at a law firm exclusively serving New York non-profits and mission driven businesses. Her diverse professional journey includes serving as in-house counsel at esteemed organizations such as Nonprofit Finance Fund, The Rockefeller Foundation and the United States Golf Association (USGA). Wong began her career as a corporate associate at Davis, Polk & Wardwell. Wong’s professional journey includes serving as an Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice at Seton Hall Law School, showcasing her commitment to education and training.

Committed to building a robust legal infrastructure, Wong develops policies and procedures critical to URI’s mission. Wong collaborates with all departments to comprehend and incorporate legal and contractual obligations affecting URI’s programs, advocacy, facilities, information technology, fundraising, marketing and communications, and employees.
 

Wong’s dedication extends to providing regulatory and compliance training, supervising professional and administrative staff, and seamlessly stepping into the role of the General Counsel when needed. Her comprehensive legal direction and strategic advice contribute significantly to URI’s mission of empowering individuals and families in times of crisis.

A distinguished professional, Lydia Wong’s appointment as Deputy General Counsel underscores URI’s commitment to excellence in legal representation and advocacy for those in need. Wong holds a JD, cum laude, from Harvard Law School and a BA with honors from the University of California, Berkeley.  Wong was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2000.

Jennifer White-Reid, Esq. has dedicated her career of more than two decades to the empowerment and wellbeing of underserved individuals and families. As the Chief of Staff & Senior Advisor to the CEO, she serves as a thought partner and senior advisor, helping catalyze efficient collaboration across the administrative, programmatic, funding, and policy agendas. She also helps inform and implement strategic priorities and manages the workflow of the CEO’s office, as well as engage with the Board of Trustees. Jennifer helps advance the URI core values of transparency, diversity, equity, accessibility, inclusion, and a mission-centric focus through internal and external communications and collaboration. 

Jennifer brings her expertise and experience in leadership, management, and advocacy, most recently as URI’s Senior Vice President of Domestic Violence Residential and Legal Programs, where she helped create, launch, and lead URI’s pioneering People and Animals Living Safely (PALS), which has become a nationally recognized program. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2023, URI PALS remains the only New York City program allowing domestic violence survivors and pets to stay together and heal together, while delivering training and tech assistance to service providers across the U.S. and beyond. Prior to the SVP role, Jennifer served as the Director of URI’s Legal Education and Advocacy Program (LEAP), which she created in 2006 to ensure that survivors of domestic violence residing in shelter had access to free legal assistance. 

Jennifer’s career has been devoted to ensuring that the most vulnerable in society have access to justice, services, and support. Prior to joining URI, she served as a Senior Staff Attorney at South Brooklyn Legal Services where she represented individuals impacted by domestic violence in matrimonial, family court and immigration proceedings. 

Jennifer has spoken publicly about intimate partner violence throughout her career and has served on various boards and committees. She currently serves as the Co-Chair of the NYC Coalition of Domestic Violence Residential Providers and is a former Board member of the NYS Coalition Against Domestic Violence. 

Jennifer obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Certificate in Executive Leadership in the Not-for-Profit Sector from New York University. She is a proud graduate of Fordham University School of Law, where she was a Stein Scholar. Jennifer was honored with the 2003 Stein Scholars Public Service Alumni Award and the 2019 Louis J. Lefkowitz Public Service Award and recognized by Fordham’s Black Law Students Association during Black History Month as a trailblazer in 2019 and 2022.  Jennifer was also honored as an Advocate of New York City in 2020 by the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. In 2023 Jennifer was recognized by City & State New York as an Above and Beyond Innovator and listed as a Power Players Rising by PoliticsNY and amNY.