Natalie Katz Rogers (1919-2023) was the founder of Queens Centers for Progress, a nonprofit organization established in 1950 to advocate for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A champion for those with these disabilities, she served on the board of directors for the Cerebral Palsy Association of New York State. Rogers advocated for policies at the state and federal levels that would empower individuals with disabilities and helped expand the range of services available to them.
Rogers began advocating for children with cerebral palsy after visiting a ward of patients at Queens General Hospital in 1950. Recognizing the specific needs of these children, Rogers and several concerned parents worked together to establish United Cerebral Palsy of Queens, which is now known as Queens Centers for Progress.
In addition to her work in advocacy, Rogers was an aerodynamic engineer for TWA during World War II and served as Mayor of the Village of Ocean Beach on Fire Island from 1998 to 2006.
Bill Parry, “Queens Centers for Progress mourns loss of founder Natalie Katz Rogers” QNS, May 25, 2023, https://qns.com/2023/05/natalie-katz-rogers-queens-centers-for-progress/
"Committee Report of the Infrastructure Division," The Council of the City of New York, December 20, 2023, https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6454385&GUID=147D2DDE-18FE-49FE-B960-AA2EDDF24EFF
Czarinna Andres, “Queens community celebrates Natalie Katz Rogers with street renaming ceremony” QNS, May 14, 2024, https://qns.com/2024/05/queens-community-celebrates-natalie-katz-rogers-street-renaming-ceremony/
Sophie Krichevsky, "Co-naming honors QCP’s Katz Rogers" Queens Chronicle, May 16, 2024, https://www.qchron.com/editions/queenswide/co-naming-honors-qcp-s-katz-rogers/article_7921a65b-d629-5884-b4b8-fe49992b50d8.html