The Neighborhood Association for Inter-Cultural Affairs, Inc., (NAICA) is a designated tax-exempt not-for-profit corporation established under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) and has been providing housing intervention and assistance services to residents of the Bronx since 1974. NAICA’s mission is to provide culturally & linguistically client-centered housing, legal and social support services that promote self-efficacy and improves the quality of life for individuals and families in New York.
Our primary focus is geared towards single adults, families, and seniors who are indigent and/or homeless or at risk of losing their homes. NAICA is a not-for-profit, multi-service, family-oriented housing and human service agency that provides culturally sensitive services to children, youth, seniors, and families.
The agency’s core methods of service include affordable housing development & construction, housing management, legal assistance and representation, homeless prevention & stabilization, case management/casework, eviction prevention, supportive housing, tenant advocacy, rapid rehousing, and community education and development.
As part of the overall transformation, NAICA has played a major role in rehabilitating run-down buildings, developing tenants’ associations, addressing building code violations, and developing new housing throughout the Bronx. NAICA continues to build and expand its commitment to the economic, social, and cultural resurgence of Bronx neighborhoods.
In 1989, NAICA was designated a Neighborhood Preservation Company by the State Division of Housing and Community Renewal. Since then, NAICA has received annual administrative awards to provide a variety of housing-related services and develop affordable housing opportunities in the Bronx. For the last 20 years, DHCR has provided funds to NAICA for the purpose of helping Bronx residents with their housing needs.
As a designated Neighborhood Preservation Company, NAICA offers services to residents, building owners, businesses, and community stakeholders to ensure that their housing needs are met, without displacing current community residents.
Chief Officers
![8 Eduardo LaGuerre, MS](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/8-1-scaled-e1697220122205-300x280.jpg)
Elvira Barone
Chief Executive Officer
![Gonzalez-Gamba Shameeka Gonzalez-Gamboa, MBA](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Gonzalez-Gamba-scaled-e1698182074604-300x279.jpg)
Shameeka M. Gonzalez-Gamboa
Chief Financial Officer
![20 Richard Izquierdo Arroyo, MA](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20-scaled-e1698182613609-300x283.jpg)
Richard Izquierdo Arroyo
Chief Operating Officer
Board of Directors
![Barbara Gonzalez Elvira Barone](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Barbara-Gonzalez-e1697220910465-300x282.jpg)
Barbara Gonzalez, LMSW
Chair
![Rosemarie Torres Rosemarie Torres](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/rosemarie-torres-e1697220941599-300x277.jpg)
Rosemarie Torres
Vice Chair
![Carmen Aquino Carmen Aquino](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/carmen-aquino-e1697220494877-300x284.jpg)
Carmen Aquino
Treasurer
![Linda Duke Linda Duke](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/linda-duke-e1698182751698-300x285.jpg)
Linda Duke
Secretary
![member-1_A](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/member-1_A-e1697219969173.jpg)
Jason Caraballo
Member
![Dr. Davis Victor Negron](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Dr.-Davis-e1698183042364-300x269.jpg)
Yonette Davis, MD
Member
![Barbara Rosa Marlen Valarezo, Esq.](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Barbara-Rosa-e1698183254340-300x270.jpg)
Rosemarie Rosa
Member
![Ana Banegas Marlen Valarezo, Esq.](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Ana-Banegas-e1698341764217-300x273.png)
Ana Banegas
Member
![Carlos Vega 1 Marlen Valarezo, Esq.](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Carlos-Vega-1-e1698183349236-300x291.jpg)
Carlos Vega
Member
![Perry 3 Marlen Valarezo, Esq.](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Perry-3-e1697219885641-300x292.jpg)
Cassandra Perry
Member
Executive Leadership
![Angie 2 Marlen Valarezo, Esq.](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Angie-2-scaled-e1698341564729-300x262.jpg)
Angie Gonzalez, MS
Executive Director of Public Relations
![Ana Maldonado 2 Gary Lee, BS](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Ana-Maldonado-2-2-e1698183405574-300x268.jpg)
Ana Maldonado
Executive Director of Facilities and Project Management
![Torres Elvis Torres, MAFM](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Torres-scaled-e1698341178530-300x274.jpg)
Elvis Torres
Executive Director of Housing Services
![IMG_9999_312 Gary Lee, BS](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_9999_312-scaled-e1698183461602-300x267.jpg)
Gary Lee
Executive Director of Information Technology
![Mark Baguio Marlen Valarezo, Esq.](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Mark-Baguio-e1706735019167-300x282.jpeg)
Mark Khim Baguio, CMA, MBA
Comptroller
![Ricardo Torres Marlen Valarezo, Esq.](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Ricardo-Torres-e1698341682543-300x277.jpg)
Ricardo Torres
Executive Director of Transitional Housing Programs
![Valarezo Marlen Valarezo, Esq.](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Valarezo-scaled-e1697221242916-300x274.jpg)
Marlen Valarezo, Esq.
Executive Director of Legal Services
Senior Management
![IMG_9999_94 Marlen Valarezo, Esq.](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_9999_94-scaled-e1697221536319-285x300.jpg)
Alejandra Rivera
Regional Director of Transitional Housing Programs
![7 Marlen Valarezo, Esq.](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/7-scaled-e1690316724675-287x300.jpg)
Kalvin Bethel
Director of Facilities and Project Management
![Mabel Calderon Marlen Valarezo, Esq.](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Mabel-Calderon-e1706734941678-293x300.jpg)
Mabel Calderon
Regional Director of Transitional Housing Programs
![Melissa Garrido Marlen Valarezo, Esq.](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Melissa-Garrido-scaled-e1698340953297-289x300.jpg)
Melissa Garrido
Director of Housing Services
![IMGL1880 Marlen Valarezo, Esq.](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMGL1880-scaled-e1697221364948-292x300.jpg)
Precious Stephens
Director of Finance
![female-avatar-placeholder Marlen Valarezo, Esq.](https://www.naicany.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/female-avatar-placeholder-300x300.jpg)
Stephanie Peguero, Esq.
Director of Legal Services