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Antirson Ortiz

Community Action Center Director

Antirson is an Afro-Latino, born in The Dominican Republic and raised in The South Bronx. A life-long grassroots organizer, Antirson started his career as a Youth Counselor in The South Bronx and West Harlem, positions which he used to lead school-based initiatives assisting and empowering youth, connecting them and their families to community resources and helping organize against displacement.

Antirson first got exposed to local government at the age of 13, when he first started going to Bronx Community Board 2 meetings. In 2015, he was offered the opportunity to serve his community within the 85th Assembly District under the former Assemblyman, where he helped lead initiatives in addressing hundreds of quality-of-life concerns.

Furthering his career, Antirson joined the office of the NYC Comptroller in 2017 as a Bronx Borough Liaison. He was later promoted on 2019 to Director of Constituent Services, appointed as the office representative to The Community Action Board at DYCD and Summer Internship Coordinator for the Bureau of Public Affairs.

Brenda Badillo

Ambassador of Service

As a Community Associate, Brenda Badillo assists constituents with their complaints about inadequate services ranging from potholes, sanitation pickups, water charge disputes, pension issues, etc. She is also responsible for logging, processing, and responding to requests from constituents, 311, executive correspondence, elected official requests, and other city agencies via email, phone calls, and walk-ins in the Comptroller’s Office.

Brenda is a strategic case worker with expertise in the arenas of non-profits, government, and politics with a wide range of skills in case management, facilitation, motivational interviewing. With a background as a Community Health Worker, she has 10+ years of leadership experience for at-risk populations providing health education, information and advocacy.

Prior to joining the Community Action Center, Brenda was a Community Health Worker for a non-profit under the supervision of the NYC Department of Mental Health and Hygiene assisting and advocating for NYCHA residents who were diagnosed with Asthma, Diabetes, and Hypertension. She provided one-on-one health education sessions and workshops to the community. Case management was also provided to NYCHA residents who needed assistance in repairs, lease renewals, maintenance, etc.

Ebony Boyd

Ambassador of Service

Ebony Boyd is a seasoned government, community and executive affairs professional that joined the Comptroller’s office in 2006, under the administration of the first African American Comptroller, William C. Thompson.

Through the years she has served in many roles and is the proudest in helping New Yorkers navigate city services and also in helping to manage the day-to-day operations. Ms. Boyd has supported the Public Affairs Bureau in working on thousands of community inquiries, commendations for community organizations, and beyond.

Internally she is a trusted member for handling ARAS, a software request program in placing purchases for support of the office.

Ms. Boyd has a Jr. Deputy that is three years old, her daughter Janiyah and they reside together in the Bronx.

Ava Chaplin

Ambassador of Service

Ms. Chaplin joined the New York City Comptroller’s office in January 2002 under the first African American New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. Ms. Chaplin started as a Clerical worker in the Comptroller’s Executive office assisting in managing the appointments, filing and planning meetings for the Comptroller’s Special Assistants.

Ms. Chaplin moved on to work for the Comptroller’s Commercial Banking Department where she assisted with foreclosures cases.

The overwhelming amount of foreclosures cases led the Comptroller to add in a Foreclosures Division within the Commercial Banking Department.

Ms. Chaplin trained with NeighborWorks America and became a Certified Foreclosures Counselor in 2007 through 2011. After the Commercial Banking Department was dismantled, Ms. Chaplin relocated to Community Action Center, where she continues to advocate for constituents, concerning finding Shelters, Housing, Human Resources Assistance, Claims inquiries, Pension inquiries, Health Benefits and much more.

Brenda Cuellar

Ambassador of Service

Sharon Forbes

Ambassador of Service

As Community Coordinator for the Community Action Center, Ms. Forbes joined The Office of the New York City Comptroller as a HUD Certified Foreclosure Counselor for the very first African American Comptroller Mr. William C. Thompson.

Prior to joining the Comptroller’s office Ms. Forbes served in the non-profit and private sectors as a foreclosure housing counselor, administrative manager, and a calendar deposition clerk. She also sits on her local Community Board and attends the District Cabinet meetings for the Office of the New York City Comptroller.

Ms. Forbes has a passion for helping others and on a daily basis advocates for constituents who contact the Comptroller’s office for assistance, on various services and quality of life matters, while building relationships stemming from bureaucracies within city agencies.

Ms. Forbes earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Management & Communication from Marist College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with an Advanced ABA Approved Certificate in Corporate and Real Estate Law.

Linda T. Mauro

Ambassador of Service

Linda T. Mauro truly believes that public service is among the most noble of career choices. She started her City employment as a clerical aide in the Press Office of Kings County District Attorney Elizabeth Holtzman. Fun Fact: When Linda began her first City job, “cut and paste” literally meant “cut and paste.” The position included searching newspaper articles highlighting the office’s activities and successes as she documented such events, usually, with Elmer’s glue and a pair of scissors in hand.

In January 1990, when Holtzman became NYC Comptroller, Linda was invited to join the Comptroller’s Press Office team, continuing such work. When an opportunity to be more hands on in service to the public occurred, she took it that July, transferring to the agency’s former Citizen’s Action Center, which aptly broadened its name to the Community Action Center during the early 2000’s to be more reflective of the unit’s growing scope.

Throughout the intervening years in the CAC, Linda availed herself of City tests, was promoted to Principal Administrative Associate, and currently is an Administrative Manager, (NM), among the uppermost non-managerial job titles. But, regardless of titles, Linda simply appreciates being employed to help people, especially the most marginalized, and those with City concerns – including pensions, health coverage, claims, or any topical issue requiring our agency’s assistance and liaison services.

Julio H. Perez

Ambassador of Service

Julio H. Perez, bilingual community service professional with over 14 years of diligently assisting the public serving as a bridge between constituents and government to ensure communication in response to the public needs.

Developed contacts throughout the City and State (and some Federal) agencies in order to respond to local concerns and time sensitive demands. Lead special projects to improve inter-government collaboration and ensure successful and consistent public services.

"I am half human and half metal!"

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