New boss installed at nonprofit that works with immigrants
STAMFORD — Building One Community is under new leadership after its longtime executive director stepped away after a decade of steering the nonprofit organization, which works with the immigrant community in the greater Stamford area.
New Executive Director Anka Badurina has taken the reins from Catalina Horak.
“I am beyond excited,” Badurina said. “I have worked with the organization the last five years, and I am excited to see that I have been selected as the new leader. I am looking forward to bringing the organization to the next phase.”
Last week, Horak stepped down after 10 years as the executive director. In that time, she played a pivotal role in growing Building One Community from a startup to an established organization that offers free services such as English language and citizenship classes, legal services and employment programs to immigrants.
Badurina said that working for Horak helped to prepare her for the new role.
“She has been a beacon of change and hope and has been my mentor, friend and colleague,” Badurina said of Horak. “I’ve been working alongside her for five years, and I’ve learned a lot from working with her. I admire her, and I feel very lucky to have been with her all this time.”
She said is eager to get to work in her new role at B1C.
“I am ready for the challenge,” Badurina said. “I have been having different meetings with donors and elected officials, to talk about what’s coming next. I am looking forward to the future.”
U.S. Rep. Jim Himes and Stamford Mayor David Martin joined a small celebration at the Stamfordbased Building One Community last week to pay tribute to Horak.
Martin thanked Horak and Building One Community for being an essential source for immigrants and valuable partner to the city. Himes gave Horak an official proclamation.
“I am proud of the 4th Congressional District, in partnership with organizations like Building One Community, for continuing to serve as an example of the important contributions that immigrants make across our country,” Himes said. He also thanked Building One Community for always making him feel uplifted and energized through its work to support immigrants.
Anne Downey, board chair of Building One Community, said the organization’s headquarters at 75 Selleck St. has been renamed the Catalina Samper Horak Center.
“We want to make sure everyone remembers Catalina’s incredible contributions to the Stamford community forever,” Downey said. “The plaque is a wonderful reminder to continue to lead with heart, passion and dedication to support the immigrant community. We are incredibly fortunate to have Anka take the helm to continue B1C’s mission.”
Badurina has worked alongside Horak and the organization’s staff, board, partners and volunteers for five years.
“For me, it has been about the voice of the community,” she said. “I’m proud to work for an organization, where we learn from their voices. Listening to their voices is how we really understand what the needs of the community are. If we don’t have the resources for those needs, we have successfully partnered with other organizations to fill those needs.”