Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dohini Sompura, Director of Government Affairs at American Museum of Natural History
5:45:04
ยท
140 sec
Dohini Sompura from the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) testified about the importance of cultural institutions and the need for increased funding. She emphasized AMNH's role as a CIG member, its pay-as-you-wish admission policy, and the critical need for $75 million in baseline funding for DCLA to support cultural institutions.
- AMNH proposed a new initiative called "STEM to City" to connect STEM talent with NYC agency careers.
- The museum plans to expand its education experience program to include high school students, promoting earlier exposure to museum careers.
- Sompura stressed the importance of investing in culture as an investment in New York City itself.
Dohini Sompura
5:45:04
Good afternoon Chair Rivera.
5:45:06
My name is Doheny Sampoura and I'm Director of Government Affairs at the American Museum of Natural History.
5:45:11
AMNH is one of 34 esteemed cultural institutions that make up the New York City's Cultural Institution Groups or SIGs.
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At a time when cultural institutions face growing financial challenges, AMNH remains one of the few museums in New York City that continues to offer pay as you wish admissions for New Yorkers.
5:45:27
Institutions like AMNH serve an essential community of resources, investing in cultural means investing in safe public spaces accessible to all.
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Furthermore, as public funding for the sciences face increasing uncertainty, sig institutions reaffirm New York City's leadership as a global cultural hub and institutions like AMNH, their science focus, a science pioneer in education and STEM education.
5:45:52
As you've heard many times today through a public testimony with my fellow SIC colleagues, AMNH is requesting $75,000,000 in baseline funding to DCLA.
5:46:01
The investment will help stabilize arts and cultural funding, secure essential operational support, and address long standing shortfalls in DCLA's budget.
5:46:09
For far for far too long, DCLA's baseline funding has remained stagnant, failing to keep pace with inflation and rising operational costs, including union wages and benefit escalation.
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It is time to protect the future of the city of city's cultural institutions because when we invest in culture, we invest in the heart of New York City itself.
5:46:28
With my remaining time, I would like to talk about a new initiative that AMNH is proposing around cultural workforce.
5:46:34
AMNH would like to expand the scope of our workforce development programs and build connections between city agencies and use by facilitating career exploration opportunities for future employment in New York City agencies.
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City jobs offer not only financial security through competitive wages and benefits, but also opportunities for long term professional growth, skill development, and advancement within sectors.
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Our STEM to City proposal, which connects STEM talent to NYC careers, will span one year with a focus on cultivating strong partnerships with city agencies.
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The program will culminate in a career fair designed to connect youth with hiring managers.
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In addition, AMNH would like to expand our current museum education experience program, which is currently serving college age students for high school students so they're exposed to museum careers at an earlier age, Thus, exposing them to the cultural workforce as an opportunity for employment in the future.