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John,
The NYC Council just passed the FY23 budget and we made some important gains, thanks to your support in emailing your elected officials and standing with us at our rally. We secured huge wins for language justice, adult literacy, and representation for immigrants facing deportation!
- The New York Immigrant Family Unity Project received $16.6 million in funding and, in total, immigration legal services received over $58 million in funding. This is a huge win ensuring that immigrants across New York can access legal counsel while facing the looming threat of deportation.
- Adult Literacy Programs across the city will receive $6.5 million and an additional enhancement of $6.7 million for Adult Literacy Baseline funding, expanding the reach of essential literacy courses that support New Yorkers with the language skills necessary to thrive in the United States.
- $10 million has been allocated for Child Care for Undocumented Families via vouchers to expand access to Pre-K, 3-K, Extended Day, and Extended Year programs across New York City.
- $3 million has been allocated for Language Services Cooperatives, as well as $2 million for a Community Interpreter Bank. These language justice initiatives will eliminate barriers so immigrant New Yorkers can have easy access to public information in their preferred language.
While we made notable progress, the prosperity of our communities remains at risk due to the massive $215 million cut from public school funding, as well as the exclusion of Linking Immigrant Families to Early Childhood Education (LIFE) Project and the transfer school pilot program. Both are hugely necessary proposals to empower and support immigrant youth to acquire the quality education they deserve, which is why we’re still fighting for these programs.
New Yorkers can only rebound from the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic and growing inflation when every family has equitable access to the resources they need to thrive — in New York City and across the state. Our work continues and we will fight to ensure that our communities have the resources to not only survive, but thrive. Stay tuned for ways that you can join us in fighting for access and justice for all New Yorkers!
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In solidarity,
Murad Awawdeh
Executive Director
P.S. Early voting for New York's primary election is in full swing until Sunday, June 26! Your vote for Assembly and statewide offices is crucial; we need to elect representatives who truly advocate for our immigrant communities both locally and statewide. Your vote will shape the priorities of elected officials and remind them that we voted them into office to work for the people’s needs.
Early voting runs until Sunday, June 26 and the election will take place on Tuesday, June 28. Ensure that your voice is heard by voting today!
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