I obtained my undergraduate degree at L.I.U., C.W. Post Campus with a Major in Psychology and Minor in Business Administration and from there obtained my Master’s in Counseling Psychology and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.
I began my career in education at the Sponsor’s for Educational Opportunity in 1986 where I developed an after-school program for children residing in city hotels, and provided vocational support services to high school students excelling in math and science. Next, the Assistant Director of Columbia University’s School of Engineering/HEOP program, to assist students in excelling . In 1990, I received my Master’s in Counseling Psychology and Master’s in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and I began to provide services to persons with psychiatric, additional support and housing needs.
I was a Rehabilitation Counselor on an inpatient unit at Metropolitan Hospital, where I planned for the provision of services to persons nearing discharge. Simultaneously, I facilitated evening weekly discussion groups for residents at the Center for Urban Community Services’ (CUCS) congregate permanent housing programs in Washington Heights. This was an exciting time as the “decade of the person” was fast emerging and I along with my colleagues, were wedded to finding resources, particularly housing, and supportive programs for homeless or formerly homeless persons who had additional service needs. From that time, I provided services at Project Renewal, The Center for Urban Community Services, Community Access, Committee for the Heights-Inwood Homeless/Broadway Housing, as well as Catholic Charities, and The Bridge.
I was the Supervisor of Project Renewal’s Brooklyn/Queens Intensive Case Management program which offered housing to women residing in 4 NYC shelters who were chronically homeless; was the Director of the Delta, CUCS’s congregate, mixed tenancy, permanent supportive housing site; was promoted to the Director of West Harlem Transitional Services, at CUCS, which included a Drop-In Center, Outreach Program and Transitional Living Community (“The Kelly”) and there as Director, successfully piloted the Long Term Shelter Stayer program, now being duplicated nationwide; I briefly became the Director of Project Renewal’s Time Square Consortium, which offered respite services and an Outreach Program to homeless men, before providing Training and Technical Assistance on a variety of topics to staff of agencies primarily throughout the NYC metropolitan area, as a Senior Trainer/Technical Assistant II at CUCS.
Next I started a training and consultation company to provide services to staff providing direct and indirect services. This led to providing training and consultation services for Common Ground, Services for the Underserved, and volunteering for a Trauma Conference sponsored in part by Community Access. My work here led to additional consultation services at Community Access, for Access House a transitional residence, and the Supportive Housing Department, before becoming the Deputy Director of Supportive Housing/Housing for five and half years.
With a continued direction in housing, I became a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson in 2012 while at Citywide Apartments where I found affordable and market rate apartments for clients that matched their preferences, with continued vigor for “Housing First” values. I continued real estate endeavors as an Office Administrator, Office Manager and Asset Manager, at Alfa Development, Management, a real estate firm specializing in boutique residential and commercial spaces integrating sustainability, respect for historical architecture and art, and renewed my Real Estate License as a Salesperson under Green Pond Real Estate LLC. Currently in addition to offering apartments on my site, lmgrealtyservices.com through Green Pond, I also offer consultation services through LMG Realty Services related to Mixed Tenancy, Affordable Housing and Property services, as well as consultation services through Tugboat-Solutions, for individuals, organizations, social service providers and information beneficiaries in areas related to Management, Leadership, Wellness, Business Growth and Personal Development.
Tugboat-Solutions was created as a platform to share information I’ve learned along the way, that might be helpful to you! It is my hope that this website and access to services, will help level the playing field for providers and persons of all sectors, or anyone, as I share information that has helped me along the way, or, I and the people I know, have found helpful, inspiring, or invigorating!! It is also meant to tap into your creativity to nourish the foundation that is also you!! If you’re tuning in for yourself, for your business, for those you care about or, any combination, it is my greatest hope that you find the information useful!! Take your time, and read through as much or as little at a time as you want, feeling free to skip all over the place. Please click on photos from time to time to unleash additional info. and contact me directly at, 212-739-9258, (c)or lolita@tugboat-solutions.com, for additional support!! Be also sure to check out my other platforms, socialserviceacademy.com, sacredspacesbydesign.com, lmgrealtyservices.com, and the umbrella company for all, LMG Solutions, LLC at lmgsolutions.biz. Literally, I hope there is something for everyone!!
Thank You for Visiting!!!