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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Sabrina Hargrave, Vice President of Programs at Brooklyn Org, on Federal Funding Cuts Impact
2:38:43
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138 sec
Sabrina Hargrave from Brooklyn Org testifies about the impact of federal funding cuts on Brooklyn's nonprofits and the need for the city to support these organizations. She emphasizes the critical role nonprofits play in providing essential services and the challenges they face due to funding volatility.
- Brooklyn's nonprofit sector is shouldering responsibilities that belong to the government while facing dwindling resources.
- The current political climate has led to alarming consequences, including increased demand for mental health services and vulnerable communities missing out on critical support.
- Hargrave calls for the city to recognize nonprofits as essential collaborators and provide sustainable funding to ensure their financial stability.
Sabrina Hargrave
2:38:43
Now I can.
2:38:44
Hi.
2:38:45
Hi.
2:38:45
Good morning or afternoon.
2:38:47
We're in the afternoon.
2:38:48
Good good afternoon, chairs Brandon Ressler, members of the committees of finance and government operations.
2:38:52
My name is Sabrina Hargrave, and I'm vice president of programs at Brooklyn org, no doubt, a partner and platform for local philanthropy supporting Brooklyn's nonprofits by giving everyone a part to play in creating change from the ground up.
2:39:05
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
2:39:08
Brooklyn's rich diversity makes it a true microcosm of New York City and thus a powerful lens through which to understand the impacts already being felt our communities by an arbitrary halt of federal funding to the city's nonprofits.
2:39:21
From legal aid providers safeguarding constitutional due process rights to community organizers supporting our most vulnerable neighbors, Brooklyn's nonprofit sector has increasingly shoulder responsibilities that fundamentally belong to government while being forced to do more with ever dwindling resources.
2:39:37
As you've heard today, we're witnessing alarming consequences of the current political climate.
2:39:41
Surging demands from mental health services, vulnerable community members too fearful to collect weekly groceries from food pantry, residents missing critical medical appointments, and children withdrawing from supportive youth programs that provide essential stability.
2:39:54
As federal funding faces unprecedented volatility, our city must recognize that when we outsource essential public services to nonprofits, we inherit an obligation to ensure their financial stability.
2:40:06
When New York City delegates its fundamental duties to community organizations, it must follow through with sustainable funding, not as charity, but as fundamental of its core responsibility to the residents of Brooklyn and beyond.
2:40:17
Today, nonprofits need reassurance that they will have the resources to operate.
2:40:22
Our role at Brooklyn Org is to stand firm, provide stability, and mobilize greater support in this moment crisis.
2:40:28
We are committed to working relentlessly to serve as a counterweight to the chaos.
2:40:32
We will work to galvanize donors and stakeholders to increase their giving and funding nonprofits at higher levels to close the gaps that the federal government creates.
2:40:41
However, this cannot be our burden alone.
2:40:43
The city must embrace its role as a true partner matching our commitment with meaningful fiscal support and policy action that recognizes nonprofits not as vendors, but as essential collaborators in meeting our shared obligation to our communities.
2:40:57
Again, I thank committee chairs and members of the opportunity to stand here before you today.