Welcome Home

colleen jackson has dedicated 30 years of her career to human services, and she wouldn't have it any other way. for almost 20 of those years, she has worked with the west end intergenerational residence, where she is now the executive director.

the nonprofit, located on west end avenue near west 83rd street, provides housing, education and support for homeless families and senior citizens. its 12-story building houses both populations together, an arrangement, jackson said, that benefits both.

"for many of the elderly, the connection with younger people means a lot," she said. "some have lost or didn't have families, and the young families become surrogates to them."

one woman who has lived at the residence almost since it opened in 1989 made friends with one of the mothers there. when the younger woman left to become a stylist, she promised

to visit and has since returned to the residence every mother's day to bring the elderly lady flowers and to style her hair.

"i thought about whether or not this type of program could exist anywhere but the west side," jackson said. "i don't think it could."

"people here are interested in looking at providing services and helping others," she added. "it's just conducive to what we do here."

jackson's organization serves residents in a variety of ways. it provides g.e.d. training, has an onsite medical clinic and geriatrician, and hosts recreational events for both populations. a women's empowerment program is designed to boost young mothers' self esteem, which, jackson said, helps them to keep permanent housing and jobs.

jackson remembered hearing about one of these women who lived in the residence more than a decade ago and who ended up becoming a social worker. she had contacted her former caseworker and said, "now that i have a great job and permanent housing, i want to help people." the woman told the employee that she now sent families to various shelters and would tell them about west end. they would ask her how she knew so much, and she told them she had lived there.

"the most you can do with anyone is plant a seed and hope it grows," jackson said. "when we get stories like that, it makes us realize we are doing a good job."

former residents of west end are not the only ones who recognize jackson's contributions.

"colleen jackson has provided invaluable community service to the upper west side," said manhattan borough president scott stringer. "with colleen's great leadership, the residence has helped over 2,000 young families secure housing stability."

jackson, a former caseworker in a child welfare agency, moved to the city from upstate new york in 1982. she now lives in nassau county with her husband and dog ("who doesn't think he is a dog").

next on her list of charitable projects: the true colors residence, which she is building with cyndi lauper for homeless and troubled lgbt young adults. but this won't be the last thing she does.

"i can't imagine working anywhere else," she said. "this is where i am going to be until i retire."