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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Barry Pinckney, Senior Project Manager of Working World New York City
2:59:02
ยท
151 sec
Barry Pinckney from Working World New York City testified in support of continued funding for the Worker Cooperative Business Development Initiative (WCBDI), requesting an allocation of $5,097,082. He emphasized the importance of worker cooperatives in creating pathways to shared wealth, economic stability, and community power.
- Highlighted the success of Bright Learning Stars, a worker cooperative daycare in Brooklyn, as an example of the initiative's impact.
- Explained how the funding allows Working World NYC to provide non-extractive capital and technical business assistance to worker-owned cooperatives.
- Stressed the potential to change the lives of thousands of New York City workers by giving them a voice in their workplace and sharing community profits.
Barry Pinckney
2:59:02
Good afternoon, chairman Feliz and members of the small business committee.
2:59:06
Thank you for allowing me to testify here today.
2:59:08
Again, my name is Barry Pinkney.
2:59:10
I'm a senior project manager at the Working World New York City, a community development financial institution that provides non extractive capital and technical business assistance to worker owned coops.
2:59:22
Today, I'm here because building a strong, inclusive economy through worker ownership is not just a vision, it's the work that we do every day.
2:59:30
Worker coops create pathways to share wealth, economic stability, and community power.
2:59:36
That's why I ask you to continue to support the initiative with an allocation of $5,097,082.
2:59:44
The funding will allow us to deepen our impact and grow the worker co op economy right here in New York City with the focus on neighborhoods that need it most.
2:59:53
Because of funding from the initiative, I get the privilege of working with working class people every day in New York City who have decided together to own a business collectively.
3:00:04
As co op members, these folks work together to make decisions and sharing the profits of their business resulting in better work environments and higher incomes.
3:00:13
An example of this is Bright Learning Stars, a worker co op cooperative daycare in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn established in 02/2018.
3:00:22
They were formed through collaboration between the parents and the day care workers following the sudden closure of the neighborhood day care.
3:00:31
Bright Learning Stars offers attentive child care services for children ages six weeks to 12 years old, including after school programs.
3:00:40
Each member of the team is CPR trained and possess years of experience as day care providers.
3:00:45
This creates a nurturing environment for the children to learn and grow.
3:00:49
The working world specifically supported the founding members in developing a business plan, identifying a suitable location, and obtaining their license.
3:00:58
Since the opening of Bright Learning Stars, they have experienced Your time has expired.
3:01:04
Nearly doubling its sales and expanding its roster.
3:01:07
There are countless businesses like Bright Learning Stars, and we want to ensure we can continue to provide the financial assistance and support needed for them to succeed with the support of the WBCDI of $5,097,082, we can continue to build our local cooperative economy and change the lives of thousands of New York City Workers, giving them new voice in their workplace and then sharing their community profits.
3:01:33
Thank you.