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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Sophia Cohen Smith, Senior Development Manager of PowerPlay NYC
3:48:11
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135 sec
Sophia Cohen Smith from PowerPlay NYC testified about the critical need for timely payments to human service providers. She highlighted how delayed reimbursements from city contracts strain organizations like PowerPlay, which serves over a thousand youth across New York City through sports-based youth development programs.
- PowerPlay has been empowering girls, primarily young women of color from under-resourced communities, for 27 years.
- Delayed payments disrupt their ability to maintain programming, pay staff, and fulfill contractual obligations, potentially leading to service disruptions.
- The organization faces additional challenges due to shrinking funding opportunities for DEI efforts and is expected to do more with less resources.
Sophia Cohen Smith
3:48:11
Good afternoon, chair Juan.
3:48:12
My name is Sophia Cohen Smith, I'm honored to serve as the senior development manager for PowerPlay NYC.
3:48:18
On behalf of our executive team, I wanna express our sincere gratitude for your leadership and continued support of youth serving organizations across the city.
3:48:26
For twenty seven years, PowerPlay has remained steadfast in our mission to empower girls, primarily young women women of color from under resourced communities through sports based youth development.
3:48:36
Every year, we serve over a thousand youth across all five boroughs of New York City, helping them grow stronger physically, emotionally, and academically.
3:48:44
Our programs are completely free, offered in partnership with title one schools and community community based organizations, and serve as lifelines for many young people who would otherwise have no access to safe spaces for physical activity, mentorship, or leadership development.
3:48:58
Today, I urge the city council for support in ensuring timely payments to human service providers like ourselves.
3:49:04
The continued pattern of delayed reimbursements from city contracts places immense strain on organizations that are already navigating an increasingly hostile fiscal landscape, particularly those like Power Play whose work centers on equity and inclusion.
3:49:18
As you know, the national backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion or DEI efforts has intensified.
3:49:25
And with it funding opportunities for community based organizations advancing racial and gender equity are rapidly shrinking.
3:49:31
Compounded with delays in payments to human service providers such as ourselves, we are expected to do more with less.
3:49:38
Less funding, less flexibility, and less time while still meeting the deepening needs of the communities we serve.
3:49:45
In this climate, delayed payments from public agencies are not just inconvenient, they are existential threats.
3:49:50
What's at stake is cash flow crises.
3:49:53
Delayed payments disrupt our ability to maintain programming, rent safe place spaces, pay staff, and fulfill contractual obligations.
3:49:59
Talent recognition, the inconsistent cash flow jeopardizes staff morale and retention, as well as service disruptions, delays risk forcing cancellation of high impact programs for girls and young women who rely on our services for physical activity, mentorship, and leadership development.
3:50:15
It is critical that the city honors its commitments by releasing payments on time so that organizations like Power Play can remain focused on what we do best, serving communities.
3:50:24
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.