CASES mourns the death of Chris Molnar, President and CEO of Safe Space, a community-based organization dedicated to serving the children and families of Jamaica, Queens. Ms. Molnar was a visionary leader who for the past four years led Safe Space, whose staff have praised her “extraordinary intelligence, vision, warmth and charm.”

Over the past year, CASES worked closely with Ms. Molnar and Safe Space to launch the Queens Justice Corps, a program serving young people age 18-24 who have recent involvement in the criminal justice system and who reside in Jamaica or the surrounding neighborhoods. Queens Justice Corps provides education and employment services for these young people, who as part of the program work with a team of community stakeholders to design and implement neighborhood service projects.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Ms. Molnar initiated a range of recovery services with a focus on the Rockaways. As part of this effort, participants in Queens Justice Corps volunteered in the distribution of supplies to community members affected by the storm.

Joel Copperman, CASES CEO/President, served with Ms. Molnar on the Board of Directors of the Human Services Council, a coalition of more than 200 human services organizations in New York City. “Chris was one of those special people,” Mr. Copperman said. “You could see her drive and energy in everything she did, and she was an inspiration to all of us who had the chance to know her.”

For more on Chris Molnar, click here.