The Faces of Charter Oak Communities

Tyra Wallace is a self-proclaimed product of Stamford’s housing system. She grew up in what was once Southfield Village low-income housing, where everyone knew one another and looked out for their kids as well. Tyra said that growing up like that taught her discipline and responsibility and shaped who she is today. It also drew her to work at Charter Oak Communities.

Tyra was hired as a property manager in July 2022 to oversee Stamford Manor (80% seniors and 20% disabled residents) and 12 units for families on Connecticut Avenue. Her job is very diverse – collecting rent, handling applications and recertifications, and filtering complaints. But perhaps most importantly, she sees her role as an advocate for residents, helping connect them to other services to make sure their needs are met, even beyond housing itself.

“Growing up in Stamford I saw COC as a way to give back to the environment that gave me so much,” she said. “As a nice coincidence, three women from Southfield Village are now my residents so it’s like I’ve come full circle. They took care of me back then and now I get to return the favor.”

Tyra is especially good at connecting with and taking care of others. Often, you’ll find her setting out a home-cooked meal for her Stamford Manor residents. She’s cooked it herself and decorated the community room to make it feel special. “I want to show them that they’re deserving of all that,” she said.

Tyra enjoys working as part of the COC team, where she truly feels like part of a family and her colleagues share the same passion for serving the community. “Not only do I feel supported and heard, but I feel like I’m making a difference in the lives of the people I serve, and that really is the most rewarding part.”

When she was studying to be a social worker, Gabriela Parada-Bravo learned about the importance of active listening, empathy and good communication. Today, she draws on all those skills and more to work effectively as COC’s Housing Choice Voucher Manager.

Gabriela oversees the administration of Section 8 rental assistance programs, which help provide affordable housing for low-income families, the elderly and the disabled. She and her team manage tenant eligibility, calculate rent and subsidies and process landlord payments. Additionally, she is responsible for ensuring that the program adheres to federal regulations and local policies and resolving client and landlord issues.

“In my experience, people just want to be heard, and when they are, we can help address their concerns and hopefully resolve their issues,” she said.

Gabriela had some experience with housing before joining COC in 2023. She worked for Laurel House as a Community Support Counselor and then YWCA Greenwich as a Rapid Rehousing Coordinator. The latter is where she first came to know COC. After serving as COC’s HCV Intake Specialist for almost two years, Gabriela was promoted to HCV Manager in 2024.

A lifelong Stamford resident, Gabriela was drawn to COC not only as a major agency but also because it gives her a chance to do some good right in her hometown. “Working here is like giving something back to my community. Plus, it gave me a place to plant roots for my own family.” In fact, she became a proud Stamford homeowner herself last year.

Gabriela says she knows that the simple security of housing and shelter is a fundamental requirement in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, just like air, water and food. “Our clients often come to us with a lot of uncertainty and that’s not lost on me. The fact that COC can help address that basic need, and with a very human services-oriented approach, makes me extremely proud to work here.”

How does a person go from intern to Technology Services Manager? Just ask Luisa Correa-Warren.

Luisa first joined COC as an IT intern during her senior year at the Academy of Information Technology & Engineering (AITE) in Stamford. Having already satisfied her graduation credit requirements, she saw the internship as an opportunity to use her free periods to gain some valuable job experience and make a little extra money.

She enjoyed the work environment so much that she continued to work there part-time even in college. Luisa was able to work in several different departments at that time, which allowed her to learn a lot about the organization and how it works. After graduating from the University of Bridgeport, she returned to COC in her first full-time role as Help Desk Specialist.

“I started learning here at such an early age, before I really knew what I wanted to do and I had some really great mentors, who taught me so much,” she said. “I took the job because I already knew so many people and I saw an opportunity to contribute and to grow.”

In her role as Technology Services Manager, she has a lot of day-to-day IT responsibilities for equipment, software and the website, among others. “I like challenges and I love the responsibility,” she added. “I enjoy working with my colleagues to solve problems and, while I don’t work directly with our residents, I know that by assisting our employees, I play a small part in helping residents too.”

Her connection to COC is also very personal. It’s where she met her husband, who works at Rippowam Corporation, COC’s real estate development and asset management subsidiary. Before coming to work here, Luisa says she didn’t know what a housing authority was.  “COC has really opened my eyes. I’ve learned a lot about what we do, how we do it and how we help people. It’s a special place and I’m very proud to work here,” she said.

For Curtis Robinson, you might say that working for a housing authority is in his DNA. He grew up learning at his father’s side. His dad, Curtis, Sr., was the maintenance supervisor for the Greenwich Housing Authority, and Curtis said he spent many school vacation days helping him and learning how to solve issues and repair things.

“Dad taught me how to fix things and, in doing so, sometimes you’re fixing people too,” he said. “Mom always pushed me and my sisters to work hard and put our best foot forward. Those are lessons I carry with me to this day.”

Curtis started working at COC as an inspector in 1990 when it was still the Stamford Housing Authority. He had just graduated from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical University with a degree in construction management and a minor in safety management. He didn’t have a lot of experience but thought that the housing authority would be a good fit given his background and his degree.

He has been an inspector for nearly all of his 36 years, though he also spent two years as a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program eligibility specialist. He said that role taught him a lot about the program in general and this has been useful to him still today as an HCV inspector. Curtis is very organized and detail oriented (other good habits he learned from his parents) and this is essential in documenting deficiencies, advising landlords and tenants on repairs, and ensuring program compliance.

He said he always kept to himself growing up, but being an inspector really brought him out of his shell. “Having to deal with so many different situations and types of people – residents, landlords, City departments – has taught me how to speak up and advocate for what’s right, constructively and with confidence.”

Curtis enjoys making connections with people in the community and is proud to make a difference.

“It has been amazing to witness COC’s growth in Stamford – tearing down those old buildings and providing better housing for individuals and families here. But for me, working here is like coming full circle from my childhood. I feel like I’m giving back and I love that I’m using all I’ve learned over the years to help people.”