2023 Annual Report

From Our Executive Director—Andrew Mann

“Everything is harder in NYC.” This has become a mantra for me, often followed by the exclamation, “Ugh!” From small tasks to large endeavors, the city will exercise a person’s grit and determination. After a staff meeting in June, we looked out of the open church door and observed an eerily orange sky. This seemingly apocalyptic landscape was caused by traveling smoke from wildfires in Canada. I exclaimed, “It’s even harder to breathe in NYC!”

This past year Graffiti 2 has certainly experienced the “hardness” of life and ministry in the city. Abuse, neglect, violence, suicide, addiction, refugees, homelessness, poverty, teen pregnancy, trauma, prison, court, and mental health crisis are not generic words for our team. Each one of these words connects to a face, a name, a friend.

Teddy Roosevelt once said,

“For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know.” 

What a privilege it is to serve alongside a team of people fighting for life!

Within the report linked below are brief reports about each of our programs. No matter the focus of a program, each one is designed with Graffiti 2’s three essentials:

1. Provide a safe environment
2. for holistic enrichment
3. that fosters meaningful relationships.

Reflecting on the year, and all the “Ughs,” I know three things to be true. 1) Struggle provides opportunity—some of the most meaningful moments of ministry have come in the hardest challenges. 2) Faith isn’t faith when things are easy and untested. Faith becomes real when you have problems. 3) God has provided everything needed (funds, words, patience, listening-ears, grace, wisdom) according to His riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).