Acacia Network Rooted in the Community Since 1969 Leadership Office of the CEO/COO Raul Russi, President & CEO Raul Russi is the President & CEO of Acacia Network. With an annual operating budget exceeding $750 million, Acacia Network comprises more than 100 affiliates and over 2,700 employees across seven states and Puerto Rico, and serves more 150,000 individuals every year through five principal programmatic areas, mainly Primary and Behavioral Health, Transitional Housing, Affordable Housing, Community Development and Social Enterprises. Raul’s vision and leadership carried the organization during a critical period of growth over a decade ago, paving the way for Acacia Network to become one of the leading human services organizations in New York City and the largest Hispanic-led nonprofit in the State. An expert in mergers, acquisitions, and affiliations, Raul created a model that is now being utilized as a gold standard across the social services field, while preserving critical community assets that would have otherwise been lost. Originally from Patillas, Puerto Rico, Raul migrated to Buffalo, New York at the age of 12 with his parents and eight siblings. As a young Puerto Rican living in a community that lacked diversity, he became keenly aware at an early age about the importance of helping underserved communities gain a “seat at the table.” Raul became a police officer in Buffalo during the 1970s, at a time when Latinos and African Americans were grossly underrepresented in the police force. He went on to become one of the most decorated officers in the history of the department and, after getting shot in the line of duty, subsequently held different leadership and Cabinet-level positions in the public sector, including Chairman of the New York State Parole Board and CEO of the Division of Parole during Governor Mario Cuomo’s administration, as well as Sheriff of New York and Commissioner of the NYC Department of Probation during the administration of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. During his years on the police force, Raul was actively involved in the nonprofit sector, playing a key role in the affiliation of multiple Hispanic organizations in the Buffalo area. In 1973, he created the Consortium of Spanish Speaking Organizations, the first full-service agency headed by a Puerto Rican/Latino in Buffalo, followed by the founding of the Western New York Hispanic and Friends Civic Association. He provided the leadership and spearheaded the creation of Western New York’s first residential substance abuse treatment program, Horizon Village, and later incorporated and chaired the board of La Alternativa, Buffalo’s first Hispanic-based substance abuse prevention program. He then merged La Alternativa with two other organizations to create Buffalo’s largest Hispanic Organization, Hispanos Unidos de Buffalo, which joined Acacia Network as an affiliate in 2011. These early experiences with the affiliation model taught him that there is strength in numbers, especially when it comes to serving and representing minority communities. In 2001, he became the Executive Director of Basics, Inc., and subsequently spearheaded the affiliation with Promesa, Inc. in 2009, which led to the creation of Acacia Network. Under his visionary leadership, Acacia Network grew to become one of the largest Hispanic-led human services nonprofits in the Nation, saving hundreds of thousands of lives every year through a wide array of integrated, culturally responsive programs that include Primary Care; Mental Health and Addiction Services; Residential Treatment for At-Risk Populations; Affordable and Supportive Housing; Transitional Housing; Early Childhood Education; Afterschool Programs and Youth Development; Senior Services; Workforce Development; Arts and Culture, and more. He further expanded Acacia Network’s portfolio and footprint by launching several for-profit ventures that aimed to serve as revenue streams for the nonprofit arm. Today, Raul feels that his vision has been nearly realized, as Acacia enters a new phase of growth and expansion. He continues to work tirelessly to open doors and advocate for Puerto Ricans and Latinos at large, in order to ensure that the next generation continues this important work to reinvest in our communities by bringing innovation, creativity, and most importantly, “To get the job done!” Raul Russi has four children and lives in Manhattan with his wife, Rody Reyes-Russi, and his youngest son, Joshua. Lymaris Albors, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jose A. Rodriguez, Esq., Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer Vicky Gatell, Chief Financial Officer Maria Del Carmen Arroyo, Chief Administrative Officer David C. Collymore, MD, Chief Medical Officer Yaberci Perez-Cubillan, LCSW-R, Chief Program Officer Steve Kadin, Executive Vice President of Finance Melany Compres, Director of Operations for the Office of the CEO & COO Senior Vice Presidents Lorraine Coleman, Senior Vice President of Real Estate Management and Tenant Services Giamara M. Rosado, Esq., Senior Vice President/Executive Deputy Counsel Katrina M. Jones, MS, PHR, SHRM-CP, Senior Vice President of Human Resources & Talent Management Jesus Pedrosa, Jr., Senior Vice President of Facilities Management RECENT NEWS Statement on Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine April 13, 2021 Free Crisis Counseling Program March 12, 2021 Hispanos Unidos de Buffalo (HUB) Begins Construction on a $17.1 Million Affordable Housing Development to Serve Low-Income Seniors in Buffalo, NY February 12, 2021 Apply to Metcalf Avenue Apartments December 12, 2020 Employment, Training & Housing Opportunities for Veterans in New York City November 9, 2020 ABOUT Who We Are What We Do Directory of Services Our Affiliates Our Leadership Our Board Announcements TAKE ACTION Donate Join our Team Contact Us Join our Mailing List IMPORTANT NOTICES Universal Consent Entities Participating Health Insurance Plans Hospital Affiliations Acacia FCOI Policy Notice of Privacy Practice (NPP) Notice to our Clients of Possible Unauthorized Access to Client Information CONTACT US TODAY! Primary Care Call Center: 718-734-2539 Behavioral Health Admissions: 718-960-7599 Older Adults Services: 347-614-2519 Ext. 7304 Workforce Development: 212-473-0255 Childcare: 646-937-0068 Youth Education & Development: 212-781-5500 Ext.5513 Supportive Housing: 718-299-1100 Ext. 6535 Affordable Housing: 718-741-1900 Contact © 2021 Acacia Network.