Q&A
NYC Unity Project's collaboration with ACS and DYCD
0:55:47
·
3 min
Ronald Porcelli explains the role of the NYC Unity Project and its collaboration with ACS and DYCD. The discussion covers various programs and initiatives developed by the Unity Project in partnership with these agencies.
- Unity Project is described as the LGBTQ+ programs division at the Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice
- Collaboration with ACS includes training licensed social workers and clinicians through Ackerman and the center
- Partnership with DYCD involves funding expansion of youth drop-in centers and the Summer Youth Employment Pride program
Ronald Porcelli
0:55:47
Yeah.
0:55:48
That is a great question, and I often get that question.
0:55:50
So identity project is the LGBTQ plus programs division at the mayor's office of Equity and racial justice.
0:55:57
The way that it works is developing and funding various innovative programs and initiatives across city agencies.
0:56:04
So I mentioned DOHMH.
0:56:05
We have also worked with ACS on various programs.
0:56:09
That is one part of the work.
0:56:10
There is obviously a significant amount of community engagement.
0:56:15
So to your second point, yes, there definitely is significant go between between the community and the different levers of government to make sure that services are being rendered and that they're culturally competent services.
Althea V. Stevens
0:56:28
Okay.
Farah Louis
0:56:32
Just piggybacking off of that question.
0:56:34
Has the Unity project worked with ACS, BYCD, when it comes to their respective policies regarding LGBTQUs?
Ronald Porcelli
0:56:43
Yes.
0:56:43
So Being a program's division, I'll touch upon ACS first.
0:56:50
ACS mentioned some of the programs that we have worked on them with, but that includes the training of the licensed social workers clinicians through Ackerman and the center that was originally funded in partnership with the Unity project, and then fortunately baseline through ACS.
0:57:08
And that's really an effort to create this sort of ecosystem across the mental health and social services sector to support LGBTQ plus youth and to further that sort of education and creating that sort of affirming environment.
0:57:24
So that's one particular way that we collaborate.
0:57:26
I frequently check-in with Steven, and Steven was actually the first person that I met in city government in this role.
0:57:34
And so we have been continuous thought partners throughout this entire process.
0:57:39
We also partner on public engagement.
0:57:41
And then Stephen has is well aware of the family acceptance program and has the information on that to share within his respective network.
0:57:51
Canva has also reached out to Stephen at ACS.
0:57:54
And so it's important that we have that sort of integration with this program and that that program in particular is well placed to serve a lot of the needs related to ACS.
0:58:06
And then with regards to d y c d, there is constant collaboration.
0:58:11
There's a number of different programs that I can touch upon in the past.
0:58:15
Unity project has worked with BYCD to fund the expansion of 3 youth drop in centers, the 2247 service allowing an expansion to an additional 400 young people.
0:58:27
Another program that was and that's 400 young people and then service across all five boroughs 24 hours a day.
0:58:35
And then the other program that I could touch upon is summer youth employment pride.
0:58:41
We finished our 2nd cycle, and that is one with BYCD.
0:58:44
We see significant challenges for LGBTQ plus youth, particularly in educational context.
0:58:51
And then employment, and that I think is compounded given some of the challenges that we see today in youth experiencing and facing homelessness and family rejection.
0:59:02
And so creating a sort of opportunity for them to lift themselves up, for them to be acclimated to the workplace, for them to be able to have various experiences and learn in that sort of manner.
0:59:13
I think has been really important, and we do that not only with our agency partners, but also with our community partners such as the Alifernae Center, and they've been absolutely instrumental in that sort of programming and really connecting their youth to that programming.
0:59:28
And as I mentioned, really ameliorating any sort of challenges that come up, whether it's challenges with documentation, whether it challenges with recruiting youth, and so fostering that sort of connection between the agencies and the government and then the nonprofit sector.
