nothin Allen-Bell Says Goodbye | New Haven Independent

Allen-Bell Says Goodbye

Markeshia Ricks Photo

Everyone at the housing authority knew how Sheila Allen-Bell took her coffee, Gary Hogan said. And he could prove it.

How many Splendas?” Hogan called out.

Five,” the crowd replied.

Sheila,” Hogan said, you will forever be missed.”

Hogan and the crowd made the point at a farewell party Friday for Allen-Bell at Housing Authority of New Haven (HANH) headquarters on Orange Street. It was an emotional moment, for coworkers, and for Allen-Bell, who moved over from City Hall to the agency in 2007 to serve as deputy director.

I’m getting worried,” Allen-Bell said. I wake up around 5 a.m. or 5:15 — what am I going to do?”

Turn back over!” came a shout from the back of the packed boardroom.

I can’t do that,” Allen-Bell said with a laugh. I don’t know but I worry about that. I can’t be like the retirees on TV who keep going back to their place of employment and people are sick of seeing them.”

But if the stories about Allen-Bell, who is affectionately known at the authority as Jacqueline de la Fontaine, were any indicator, no one would mind if her familiar face popped up every now and again.

Allen-Bell, who wore a crimson blazer Friday, is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. HANH’s special projects director, Shenae Draughn, the authority’s only other AKA, pointed out that Allen-Bell’s retirement means she’s outnumbered. A number of women who work for the housing authority, including Executive Director Karen DuBois-Walton and Public Housing Director Evelise Ribeiro (pictured with Allen-Bell), are members of rival sorority Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

We might have to call Sheila back,” she said with a laugh. But it wasn’t long before Draughn, whom Allen-Bell affectionately calls Nae Nae,” choked up too.

It is a true testament to your spirit that any time someone found out that I worked at the housing authority, they would say, Do you know Sheila Allen-Bell? Please tell her I said hello.’ People always speak fondly of who you are and what you represent. And I will truly miss seeing you every single day,” Draughn said.

Jo-Anne Basile (pictured far left in the photo), Elm Shakespeare board president, said she has a few ideas for how Allen-Bell should spend her retirement. Allen-Bell, who is a trustee for Elm Shakespeare, is responsible for getting the organization to team up with the housing authority to provide a summer day camp led by teaching actors.

That’s all because of Sheila,” she said. I’ve only been at Elm Shakespeare for the last two years, but she’s that face when you come into a place and she just makes you feel so welcome. She did that for me on the board.”

Some of the most heartfelt farewells were reserved for DuBois-Walton. Back in 2002 when Allen-Bell was the community services administrator, she hired DuBois-Walton. DuBois-Walton would go on to become her boss at the housing authority.

Once and a while we’ll shed a tear,” Allen-Bell said of her and DuBois-Walton. And then I’ll say, Karen, we live right around the corner from each other!’”

Sheila has been by my side well before coming to the housing authority,” DuBois-Walton said. If you’ve ever walked into a new place, a new job experience, the people you meet can either make that experience or break it.”

When Shelia came here there were support services for our residents here, but there certainly was no community and economic development department,” DuBois-Walton said. That was Sheila’s brainchild. Sheila built it and she recruited most of the staff and really built a program beyond homeownership, which is very important. She recognized all that was needed for residents to build their life plan, remove barriers and be successful in moving forward, so from our youngest young people to our most senior she thought about what was important for families to have in place in order for them to live comfortably — in order for them to establish goals and move ahead on those goals.”

Allen-Bell thanked DuBois-Walton for standing back and letting her do her job. I love creating, whether it’s toys or programs for the housing authority programs for residents,” she said. I love doing that, and I’m best when I’m left alone. I don’t think I’ve ever worked anywhere quite like this. It has been a place where I didn’t mind coming to work every day.”

Allen-Bell said while she’s not sure how she’ll spend her time, she is looking forward to the first snow — mainly because she won’t be among those digging out their cars and warming them up in preparation to head to work.

I’m just going to sit by my fireplace,” she said with a chuckle, and enjoy watching the snow.”

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