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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jibal Ahmed, Senior Program Director at Good Shepherd Services
5:56:02
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150 sec
Jibal Ahmed, Senior Program Director at Good Shepherd Services, testified about the challenges faced by the Beacon MS45 Community Center in the Bronx due to inadequate staff pay and lack of incentives. He emphasized the need for increased investment in after-school programs to maintain quality services and retain skilled professionals.
- The Beacon MS45 Community Center has been serving the community for over 30 years, offering holistic development programs for youth.
- Low wages have led to high staff turnover, disrupting program continuity and quality.
- Ahmed urged for immediate investment in higher pay and better incentives for staff, describing it as an investment in the city's future.
Jibal Ahmed
5:56:02
All right.
5:56:03
Good afternoon, everybody.
5:56:04
Thank you again for having us.
5:56:06
I really enjoy listening to all of you guys.
5:56:08
Thank you, chair Stevens and members of the Children and Youth Committee for hosting this hearing to the mayor's executive budget related to DYCD and ACS.
5:56:18
My name is Jubbal Ahmed.
5:56:20
I'm the senior program director at the Beacon MS forty five Community Center operated under Good Shepherd Services located in the Bronx.
5:56:27
Our community center has been beached, beacon of hope and opportunity for thirty plus years.
5:56:32
My testimony will focus on the critical challenges we face in sustaining our program programs due to lack of, competitive pay and incentives for our staff.
5:56:42
At Beacon MS45, we strive to create a nurturing environment where young people are not only encouraged to succeed academically, but also supported socially and emotionally.
5:56:52
Our programs prioritize holistic development, offering academic support, sports and fitness activities, leadership opportunities and emotional guidance.
5:57:02
Despite the incredible work being done, we face significant challenges in attracting, hiring and retaining skilled and passionate professionals due to the low base pay and lack of incentives for our staff.
5:57:16
The individuals who dedicate their time and energy to our programs are motivated by their desire to serve the community, but this dedication alone cannot sustain them in the face of financial insecurity.
5:57:30
The reality is that low wages create a culture of instability and low commitment.
5:57:35
Many talented staff members are forced to leave the better paying opportunities elsewhere, leaving us with a revolving door of employees.
5:57:43
This high turnover rate disrupts the continuity and quality of our programs, making it harder to provide consistent, long term support our youth deserves.
5:57:53
Without addressing the issues of an inadequate pay, we risk losing not only our most dedicated professionals, but also the trust and engagement of the young people and families who rely on us.
5:58:05
Quality programming requires quality staff.
Christopher Lewis
5:58:07
Thank you for your testimony.
5:58:09
Time has expired.
Jibal Ahmed
5:58:10
Conversation.
5:58:11
Our urge is to consider a critical role that centers like Beacon MS Fort Worth have played in lives of children and their families and the broader community to invest in after school system.
5:58:20
The sector cannot wait until an RFP is released.
5:58:23
Investing higher pay and bearing incentives for our staff is not just investment on the individuals working on the frontline.
5:58:29
It is a investment in the future of our city.