Community Board 12-Manhattan (CB12M) celebrated the close of its spring term by hosting a public mixer at Fort Washington Public House on June 25. The outdoor event welcomed dozens of attendees — board members and community residents alike — with free food and an opportunity to connect.
Participants mingled and reflected on the board’s work over the first six months of the year. “We have so much to be proud of. In these first six months of 2026, we passed 29 resolutions addressing policy, community needs, and budget. We also held two town halls, hosted four public events, and published 19 press releases,” said CB12M Chairperson Anthony Viola. “In my view, the Board went above and beyond its basic mandate.”
The mixer also served as a welcome moment for CB12M’s 16 new members, many of whom attended to connect with colleagues and constituents. “As a new member of CB12M, it was a great opportunity to learn more about my fellow members, and meet the constituents of CB12M,” said Connor Lillis, a recently appointed CB12M member. This summer, CB12M will launch a mentorship program pairing new members with longer-tenured board members to foster collaboration and institutional knowledge.
The event further highlighted the work of the Outreach Committee, a special committee established at the start of the year. The mixer is the latest in a series of community events presented in whole or in part by CB12M, following January’s recruitment event at Fito NYC, May’s Mother’s Day event at Bocadito’s, and the Juneteenth Block Party on 163rd Street.
“The event left me energized to deliver solutions for the people of CB12M!” said Lillis.