CORE PRINCIPLES
SET AMBITIOUS GOALS
Claire’s forty years of experience has been built on taking reasonable risks to accomplish things that many thought impossible. Learning from her mentor Herb Sturz, President of the Vera Institute of Justice whose mantra was “double or triple social utility,” Claire created social enterprises and then began affordable housing development. One of Claire’s early projects was a paratransit service employing ex-offenders which led to NYC creating Access-A-Ride, the largest municipal paratransit service for elderly and disabled individuals in the US. Claire pioneered the Neighborhood Work Project – a day labor program for recently released inmates – that became the model for NYC’s Center for Employment Opportunity, which now employs 8,000 individuals annually giving them an opportunity to earn immediate income upon release and build a work history. Claire founded a not for profit affordable housing organization – Housing and Services, Inc. – which began with a pioneer effort to create permanent housing in former Single Room Occupancy hotels for homeless individuals. These first not for profit SRO’s offered an alternative to expensive temporary shelter and a model for housing with on site support services that has been a cornerstone of NYC’s billion dollar supportive housing industry.
In each case, Claire led a group of talented professionals to tackle what seemed like intractable problems and bring to the task creativity, collaboration, empathy and financial soundness so that these and other projects have stood the test of time and still operate today.
GROUND PROJECTS IN SOLID PLANNING
Many good ideas go aground because they have not been subjected to rigorous analysis – from a financial, community impact, and operational feasibility perspectives. An objective approach that tests the project’s feasibility on these parameters provides the foundation for a project’s success.
WORK WITH EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE
Claire has, over the years, identified people with solid planning and execution skills along with a strong commitment to make the world a better place. Now, at Altman Strategies, Claire is forming collaborative relationships with architects, construction companies, cultural organizations, employers and service providers to bring together teams for each project that have the requisite experience and skills to see the project through to success and sustainable future.
COMMUNICATE REGULARLY
We set forth project goals with our clients and then communicate progress toward these goals on a regular basis in clear, concise terms. Our clients are our partners and deserve the highest quality communication and analysis.
INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
We are committed to building a firm that reflects the diversity of our world a firm that respects gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, and life experience. As a woman owned business, we recognize the challenges faced by “minority” entrepreneurs. We are committed to fostering the growth of Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises, working with MWBE’s and small companies to help them succeed. Only when resources are more widely distributed in this country will underrepresented groups have the representation they deserve in our economy. We are committed to making Altman Strategies a place where both our clients and employees reach their highest potential.
ASSESS OUR IMPACT
We are committed to regular and rigorous assessment of our impact so that we learn from experiences and help our clients move ahead informed by this knowledge.
TAKE THE HIGH ROAD
We maintain the highest ethical and legal standards – that’s the only way we will serve our clients in the best possible way.