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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ofelia Salgado, Cooperative Business Developer at Sunset Park Center for Family Life
2:20:00
ยท
127 sec
Ofelia Salgado from Sunset Park Center for Family Life testified to request continued support for the Worker Cooperative Business Development Initiative, asking for $5,100,000 in funding for fiscal year 2026. She highlighted the organization's success in incubating cooperative businesses, particularly in domestic work, and their impact on empowering women and improving working conditions.
- Since 2014, CFL has incubated 27 cooperative businesses, empowering over 600 women
- Their online platform, Up and Go, has generated over $3,000,000 benefiting more than 100 families since 2017
- Cooperative members now earn $33 an hour, more than double the typical rate for domestic work in NYC
Ofelia Salgado
2:20:00
Hi.
2:20:00
Good afternoon, and thank you for your time today, chair Amanda Farias and distinguished members of the New York City Council, on economic development.
2:20:08
My name is Ophelia Salgado.
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I am a corporate business developer at Sunset Park Center for Family Life.
2:20:15
We are a 47 old social service organization committed to helping low income Brooklyn families to build sustainable futures.
2:20:23
I'm here today to respectfully request that city council continued support for worker cooperative business development initiative, as, again, my colleague, Milan, already mentioned, by allocating $5,100,000 to the fiscal year 2026.
2:20:38
Since joining WCBDI in 2014, CFL has incubated 27 cooperative business businesses and domestic work, empowering over 600 women to control their economic future.
2:20:52
Each year, we train over 400 participants in business management and cooperative leadership and provide over 250 business consultations, ensuring the stability and the growth of the existing cooperatives.
2:21:05
With your support, we've expanded our impact and now reach every corner of New York City, so we're not limited to Brooklyn.
2:21:11
And notably, we launched Up and Go, an online platform where clients book services from worker owned cooperatives.
2:21:19
Since 2017, Up
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:21:21
and
Ofelia Salgado
2:21:21
Go has generated over $3,000,000 directly benefiting more than hundred families.
2:21:26
So cooperative members now earn $33 an hour.
2:21:29
That's more than double the typical $16 an hour for domestic work on New York City.
2:21:35
And importantly, very important, the complete it has completely eliminated any wage theft, ensuring safe and equitable working conditions.
2:21:44
These achievements are possible only with the continued support of the New York City Council.
2:21:49
Your investment in worker co owned cooperatives is crucial in, in combating economic inequality and building resilient communities.
2:21:57
On behalf of Central for Family Life, thank you for your commitment to economic equity, and we look forward Anytime.
2:22:04
Happy to here.
2:22:05
Support.
2:22:06
Thank you.