New York, NY - FPWA held its annual meeting today, bringing together non-profit leaders from its network of
nearly 200 member agencies across New York City, and releasing "With One
Voice", a report that examines the systems
that maintain economic inequity, and that advances policy goals that
would definitively move New York City towards equity.
The highlight of the meeting came when FPWA honored
New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito for her years of
public service and leadership in advancing legislation and policies to
combat systemic inequality, and create and sustain
greater equity throughout New York City.
“Whether through the Young Women’s Initiative, or
legislation spearheaded by the Council to make MWBE’s more competitive
in the New York City Market –or through the Worker Cooperative Business
Development Initiative, and the Day Laborer
Workforce Initiative – both of which the Council was proud to help
fund, we have made major strides in offering innovative ways for New
Yorkers to overcome economic and social inequality, “ said Speaker
Melissa Mark-Viverito. “As Speaker, I have made it a
priority to target much of our work toward the most vulnerable, and
those simply in need of a chance. It has been a privilege to help
support the FPWA in their mission and I’m grateful for this honor. “
“We are thrilled to recognize Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito with this award,” said FPWA CEO and Executive Director Jennifer Jones Austin. “Speaker Mark-Viverito has led and played a most vital role in making New York City a national leader on progressive, anti-poverty policies. We are proud and privileged to have worked with her, and all New Yorkers have been and will be the beneficiaries of her great works for years to come.”
FPWA’s “With One Voice” report recognizes the gains
New York City has made in reducing poverty, while pointing out that 42 percent of New Yorkers continuing to struggle to meet their basic needs. The
report draws on the Self-Sufficiency Standard
to better define what is needed for economic security and stability
rather than the federal poverty measure, which doesn’t begin to capture
what it truly costs to live and care for yourself and family in New York
City. With the input of human services agencies
citywide, key areas for reform were identified, including income
security, workforce development, education, criminal justice, health and
mental health, housing, and human services. For each area, the report
lists examples of promising transformational policies
that have the potential to move the city towards economic equity and
aims to remedy inequitable systems.
Source: Mercury
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