Fortune Society Brings Halloween Tradition to West Harlem

It was a scary good time! The Fortune Society held its annual Halloween celebration at Castle Gardens, bringing West Harlem residents together for a frightfully fun event.

With hundreds of neighborhood children visiting Castle Gardens, the two-hour event provided treats, entertainment, and a festive atmosphere for community members of all ages. Costumed children and families enjoyed candy, snacks, and pumpkins, while volunteers and staff ensured the celebration was a memorable experience.

The Halloween event is part of The Fortune Society’s ongoing work to support and strengthen communities across New York City. Castle Gardens on West 140th Street, a cornerstone of Fortune's supportive housing, served as the perfect gathering spot to bring local residents and Fortune clients together, encouraging community connection and mutual support. This annual tradition reinforces Fortune’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where all feel welcome, emphasizing community engagement as a vital part of its mission.

“This event is a reflection of what we strive to do every day,” said Angela L. Scott, Associate Vice President, Congregate Housing at The Fortune Society. “We aim to build safe, vibrant, and inclusive communities that support every individual’s journey. Events like this one allow us to connect with our neighbors and foster a sense of belonging, while showing that everyone deserves to be part of a joyful celebration. We’re proud to be able to bring West Harlem together and celebrate as one community.”

ABOUT THE FORTUNE SOCIETY: Founded in 1967, The Fortune Society has advocated on criminal justice issues for over five decades and is nationally recognized for developing model programs that help people with criminal justice histories to be assets to their communities. Fortune offers a holistic and integrated “one-stop-shopping” model of service provision. Among the services offered are discharge planning, licensed outpatient substance use and mental health treatment, alternatives to incarceration, HIV/AIDS services, career development and job retention, education, creative arts, family services, drop-in services, and supportive housing as well as lifetime access to aftercare. Fortune has a dual mission of services and advocacy. We use what we learn from our justice impacted staff and leadership and from the people we serve about the obstacles that people with criminal histories face to inform and fuel our advocacy work. For more information, visit www.fortunesociety.org