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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Daniel Lam, Compliance Officer from New York Edge
8:02:25
·
98 sec
Daniel Lam, representing New York Edge, requests increased funding for after-school enrichment and social-emotional support programs. He emphasizes the organization's growth, its impact on 33,000 students across New York City, and the need for additional resources to meet increasing demands and overcome challenges.
- New York Edge is seeking $1,200,000 for after-school enrichment and $250,000 for social-emotional supports.
- The organization serves 33,000 students in over 130 schools across 37 council districts, offering various programs including Beacon Centers, community schools, and food pantries.
- Lam stresses that funding has remained stagnant for 15 years despite tripling in size, and increased support is vital for continued operations and growth.
Daniel Lam
8:02:25
Good evening, chairs Brennan and Joseph.
8:02:27
Am Daniel Lam speaking on behalf of our CEO, Rachel Gazdick.
8:02:30
I am here today to ask that you prioritize New York Edge's FY '26 citywide funding request.
8:02:35
We are seeking $1,200,000 under this council's after school enrichment initiative and 250,000 under the council's social emotional supports for students initiative.
8:02:45
After school enrichment funding has enabled us to enrich and expand our school year and summer programs and has allowed us to develop and implement new, unique, and engaging programs.
8:02:53
Our funding, has remained at $1,000,000 for the past fifteen years despite the fact that we have tripled in size and have significantly increased the number of children served.
8:03:02
Increased funding will reflect our growth and will help mitigate some of the challenges which have occurred as a result of the city's passport system and the resulting contract registration and payment delays.
8:03:12
Social emotional supports for students funding will enable us to support our current SEL programming, providing high quality evidence based social and emotional learning assessments curriculum and resources for all of our partner schools, our students, and their families.
8:03:26
New York Edge is the city's largest provider of after school and summer programming, serving 33,000 students across more than 30 schools and 37 of the 51 council districts, including four Beacon Centers, 20 one community schools, and four food pantries.
8:03:39
We proudly offer culturally responsive programming rooted in academic enrichment, sports, health and wellness, visual and performing arts, STEM, leadership and college, and career readiness with social emotional learning intentionally woven throughout everything we do.
8:03:53
New York Edge, its students, and families are extraordinarily grateful for the past thirty three years of support from New York City Council.
8:03:59
The time has come, however, where increased funding is vitally needed.
8:04:03
Thank you.