Q&A
Council Member Stevens questions MOERJ on collaboration and challenges to equity work
0:26:55
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165 sec
Council Member Althea V. Stevens engages in a Q&A session with Sideya Sherman from the Mayor's Office of Equity and Racial Justice. Stevens inquires about potential collaboration between her office and MOERJ, and discusses the challenges facing equity work in light of federal pushback against DEI initiatives.
- Stevens expresses interest in working more closely with MOERJ on reports and initiatives.
- Sherman affirms MOERJ's commitment to continuing equity work despite national challenges.
- The discussion highlights the importance of supporting and funding equity initiatives in difficult times.
Althea V. Stevens
0:26:55
Well, thank you chair doctor Williams.
0:26:58
I really appreciate you taking on this topic and bringing this to the forefront and thank you for being here with us.
0:27:04
Like the chair said earlier, I've been working with the BLACK, which is a subcommittee of the Black Hawk BLAC, which is the black delegation of city council to really talk about our issues and how do we move forward.
0:27:18
And so one, I think my first question with you is, like, how can we work together more closely around some of the work that you're doing as far as, like, some of the reports and things like that so we can be working more in tandem and supporting your work in a much different way?
Sideya Sherman
0:27:33
Sure councilmember, and I know that I met with you very early in the administration, so glad to reconnect.
0:27:40
And would definitely love to work more closely and intentionally with you.
0:27:44
So as we release you know our work and some of the reports that are going forth it would be great to brief your office to find areas of opportunity and collaboration.
0:27:52
I also know that you have a particular focus on young people and we've recently rolled out a lot of initiatives that are very focused on young New Yorkers and would love to engage you in that and just work more closely.
0:28:03
So I would be gladly reach out to your office and figure out ways concrete ways that we can do work together.
Althea V. Stevens
0:28:08
Absolutely, thank you so much.
0:28:10
And I guess the other question I had and I'm sure Doctor.
0:28:12
Woods is going to get to it, but just thinking about with the threat of a lot of the issues around the federal government, DEI being under attack, and just thinking about how that's going to impact your work, can you talk about a little bit of like how you've been preparing for that and then what's the status of what's going on with your office currently?
Sideya Sherman
0:28:28
Sure, so you know our values in New York City remain.
0:28:33
This is a city that embraces diversity.
0:28:35
We believe strongly in equity right and fairness and inclusion and the work that we do particularly as outlined in the charter continues.
0:28:43
And so we are steadfast in continuing to do this work.
0:28:46
Obviously we're monitoring what's happening at the national level and even prior right this work was certainly being challenged and threatened prior to even this administration.
0:28:56
And so we're doing what we need to do to ensure that we safeguard the work, right, but still pushing it forward so that we're meeting the commitment that we've made to New Yorkers and improving the lives of New Yorkers.
Althea V. Stevens
0:29:09
Yes, thank you so much.
0:29:10
I know I know it's difficult times that it makes work that you guys are doing harder, which means we have to give you guys some more support and more staff and more funding because I think more than ever this the work that you're doing is necessary and important.
0:29:23
So thank you chair who's always championed this work and really has pushed to the forefront the importance of the work and how the things that we're doing on the council is supported by your work and we need to make sure we're supporting it as well.
0:29:34
So thank you so much for being here and I look forward to talking offline and meeting and working with you in the future.
0:29:39
You council