Our Team

• Dawn M. Pinnock

  President and Chief Executive Officer

  For nearly three decades, Dawn has dedicated her career to public service; beginning in the nonprofit sector …

  Dawn M. Pinnock

  President and Chief Executive Officer

  Dawn M. Pinnock has spent nearly 30 years in public service driving change and opening doors of opportunity for New Yorkers. As President and CEO of the Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS), she leads one of the city’s most effective social service organizations, supporting over 50,000 people each year on their path to housing stability, better health, and long-term well-being. Under her leadership, CUCS has grown from being known as one of New York’s “best kept secrets” to serving as a national model, achieving a 98% housing retention rate across 3,500 units, and providing health care to more than 5,400 people annually.

  Before joining CUCS, Pinnock built a distinguished public service career across several of New York City’s largest municipal agencies, culminating in her appointment as Commissioner of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). In this role, she created the city’s first community-based hiring model, advanced family-forward policies for more than 320,000 employees, managed 22 million square feet of city-owned and leased office space, and made New York greener through fleet electrification and large-scale energy efficiency upgrades. During the COVID-19 crisis, she introduced the City’s first telework policy, allowing the government to keep running while protecting public health.

  Outside of her role at DCAS, she built a reputation across city government for modernizing operations, fixing long-standing compliance gaps, and pushing forward equity initiatives that changed how agencies serve New Yorkers. Pinnock launched the City’s first professional development conference series for HR and EEO professionals, brought New York into legal compliance with civil service law, and pioneered hiring halls that restored staffing levels post-pandemic. She also co-chaired the City’s first Pay Equity Cabinet, helped lead the City’s Task Force on Racial Inclusion and Equity, and oversaw initiatives that reduced carbon emissions and created safer, more sustainable city operations.

  Beyond her executive leadership, Pinnock serves on the Board of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, the NYC Public Schools’ Pathways Industry Commission, and was recently appointed as a Board Trustee for Metropolitan College of New York.

  She has shared her perspective in outlets like Gotham Gazette and SHRM HR News, writing on issues ranging from racial equity to veteran employment to modernizing HR in government. In 2023, City & State New York recognized her influence by including her in its “Power of Diversity: Women 100” and “Black 100” lists, as well as its “Above & Beyond: Gen X” honor. She was also honored with a proclamation from the New York City Council’s Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus for her service and commitment to equity.

  A graduate of Baruch College and The New School’s Milano Graduate School, Pinnock also completed Harvard University’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government program. She is a certified human resources professional and an active member of the Association for Talent Development.

  As a people-centered leader, Pinnock often says her work is more than a job; it’s her life’s mission. She is driven by the belief that public service is her calling, and she takes joy in turning barriers into opportunities so that every New Yorker has the chance to live with dignity, stability, and hope.

  

• Van Yu, M.D.

  Chief Medical Officer, Janian Medical Care P.C.

  Van Yu, M.D., brings more than 20 years of experience in psychiatry to our medical and psychiatric services program Janian Medical Care…

  Van Yu, M.D.

  Chief Medical Officer, Janian Medical Care P.C.

  

  Dr. Yu, a board-certified psychiatrist, has been with CUCS for over 20 years, including serving as Chief Medical Officer since 2013.  In this role, Dr. Yu oversees Janian Medical Care, the largest providers of on-site psychiatric care, primary care and nursing to programs serving New Yorkers with experiences of homelessness.  He is a member of the board of directors of Homeless Services United and is a past board member and Secretary of the board of directors of the National Healthcare for the Homeless Council, where he continues to serve on the finance committee. Dr. Yu is a steering committee member of the Helmsley Collaborative on Housing for Health which is developing projects to improve services and care for high-acuity New Yorkers with experiences of homelessness.   

  Dr. Yu is author and co-author of several papers and book chapters including a chapter on supportive housing in the Textbook of Community Psychiatry, a chapter about emergency care of people experiencing homelessness in Emergency Psychiatry Principles and Practice, and a paper about geriatric care of people experiencing homelessness in the Journal of Applied Gerontology.   

  Dr. Yu earned his M.D. at State University of New York at Stony Brook and completed residency training, where he served as Chief Resident, at NYU Medical Center.  He was an Attending Psychiatrist and then Assistant Director and Acting Director of the Bellevue Hospital Center Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program before joining the precursor of Janian Medical Care in 2003.  While Medical Director of Janian he also served as Medical Director of the Manhattan Outreach Consortium from 2007 to 2013.  Dr. Yu is Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine where he has had a faculty appointment since 1998.   

  Dr. Yu believes that care and service is only effective through relationship—that people help people.  

  

• Abbey Nyamekye

  Chief Strategy Officer

  Abbey Nyamekye serves as CUCS’s Chief Strategy Officer, bringing over 25 years of experience in direct service and program leadership …

  Abbey Nyamekye

  Chief Strategy Officer

  

  Abbey Nyamekye serves as CUCS’s Chief Strategy Officer, bringing over 25 years of experience in direct service and program leadership across the agency. In this role, she oversees strategic planning, external and intergovernmental affairs, and stakeholder engagement to ensure CUCS’s long-term sustainability and service excellence. Her portfolio includes Development and Communications, Strategic Operations, the CUCS Training Institute, and the IT Department. Abbey and her team operate as internal consultants, supporting departments through policy development, project management, quality improvement, and data analysis. Previously, Abbey served as CUCS’s Chief Administrative Officer and as Deputy Chief Program Officer for Janian Medical Care, with 15 years of experience supervising integrated healthcare programming. She also continues to lead CUCS’s community and constituent relations and serves as a primary executive sponsor of the agency’s DEIB Committee. Abbey serves as Board Secretary for Vital Healthcare Capital, a CDFI focused on healthcare and healthcare jobs in low-income and historically disadvantaged communities.

  Abbey is committed to innovation and continuous improvement that engages and creates pathways to success for the people she serves.

   

  

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• Adina Barbosa, L.C.S.W.

  Chief Program Officer

  Adina Barbosa, LCSW brings over 25 years of direct service and management experience to her role of Chief Program Officer…

  Adina Barbosa, L.C.S.W.

  Chief Program Officer

  Adina Barbosa, LCSW brings over 25 years of direct service and management experience to her role of Chief Program Officer. Adina started at CUCS as a Social Worker at the Prince George, supportive housing program in 2000 before moving into a variety of leadership roles, including being the inaugural director of the Christopher supportive housing program in 2004. Prior to becoming the Chief Program officer, Adina was the Deputy Chief Program officer for 14 years where she oversaw a diverse portfolio of programs and led new program initiatives to provide high quality services to improve the lives of New Yorkers. In her role of Chief Program Officer, Adina supervises senior program staff, overseeing the Quality Assurance Department and 33 service programs, having a positive impact on the lives of the most vulnerable New Yorkers.

  

• Beatrice Thuo

  Chief Operating Officer

  Beatrice brings a wealth of cross-sector experience and a deep commitment to serving New Yorkers …

  Beatrice Thuo

  Chief Operating Officer

  Beatrice brings a wealth of cross-sector experience and a deep commitment to serving New Yorkers to her role as Chief Operating Officer for CUCS. Prior to joining CUCS, Beatrice served as Executive Deputy Commissioner at the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services, where she led citywide operations in procurement, workforce development, energy management, and fleet services. Her leadership helped reduce the City’s vacancy rate, expand access to public service careers, and advance sustainability across government buildings and vehicles. She has additionally served as Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and practiced real estate law at Proskauer Rose, MetLife, and other private sector firms.

  

• Crystal Monge

  Chief of Staff

  Crystal Monge is a seasoned public sector leader with nearly four decades of experience…

  Crystal Monge

  Chief of Staff

  Crystal Monge is a seasoned public sector leader with nearly four decades of experience serving New Yorkers through both nonprofit and government roles. She joined the Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS) in 2024 as Chief of Staff, bringing with her a deep commitment to public service, community well-being, and organizational excellence.

  At CUCS, Crystal works closely with the CEO to ensure the executive office remains accessible and responsive to staff across the agency. She leads strategic efforts to strengthen administrative infrastructure, increase employee engagement, and build systems that support CUCS’s long-term growth. Her leadership is grounded in collaboration, transparency, and impact.

  Crystal previously spent 34 years in New York City government, where she led programs for justice-involved youth and adults, oversaw secure and non-secure detention facilities, directed administrative teams, and served as a Chief Engagement Officer. She is widely recognized for her integrity, efficiency, and problem-solving approach, and has built a reputation as a trusted leader, mentor, and champion of service.

  She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Political Science from Brooklyn College. Crystal is driven by a simple but powerful belief: to help those less fortunate and to make things better for the next person and the next generation. She is passionate about helping people navigate systems and connect to housing, health care, employment, education and, ultimately, hope.