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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dr. Eduardo Antonetti, Senior Director of Advancement and Advocacy at Internationals Network for Public Schools
8:00:14
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119 sec
Dr. Eduardo Antonetti testifies on behalf of Internationals Network for Public Schools, expressing support for the Affinity Organization's contract and urging increased funding for immigrant family communications. He emphasizes the importance of these initiatives in supporting immigrant and refugee students in New York City public schools.
- Highlights the success of Internationals Network in supporting immigrant and refugee students for over 20 years
- Requests the council to keep the Affinity contract in their response to the mayor's executive budget
- Advocates for increased and baselined funding for the immigrant family communications and outreach initiative
- Emphasizes the need for additional support given the increase in newly arrived immigrant families in New York City
Eduardo Antonetti
8:00:14
As team chair Joseph and chair Brennan, my name is doctor Eduardo Toneti, and I am the senior director of advancement for International's Network.
8:00:21
International's Network is an education nonprofit organization with more than twenty years of success in supporting immigrant and refugee students in New York City public schools.
8:00:31
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
8:00:33
In an earlier hearing in March, I testified in support of the affinity organization's contract, and I was thrilled to now see it included in the mayor's executive budget.
8:00:42
I know chair Joseph has championed the work of the affinity partners in the past, and we wanna thank her for her leadership.
8:00:48
We're hoping the council will keep the Affinity contract in their response to the mayor's executive budget.
8:00:54
The Affinity contract enables International's team of experts to work closely with near city superintendents, district teams, school leaders, teachers, counselors, staff of our schools to ensure that immigrant and refugee students continue to receive the necessary resources and opportunities to succeed.
8:01:12
Internationals invest in our school leaders and staff so they are empowered and supported.
8:01:16
And that is a major reason why we have such strong teacher and principal retention rates.
8:01:21
I also urge the council to increase and baseline the funding for the immigrant family communications and outreach initiative.
8:01:28
This initiative strengthens New York City Public Schools communication with immigrant families, many of whom would otherwise be left without important information, including information about the rights of students with disabilities.
8:01:40
Given the increase in the number of newly arrived immigrant families in New York City, it is critical for this initiative to not only continue but grow stronger.
8:01:48
We strongly urge the city council and the mayor to prioritize and preserve this funding for the affinity organization contracts and the immigrant family communications initiative in the upcoming budget, as well as any additional discretionary funding to support education for multilingual learners and migrant youth.
8:02:06
Thank you for your consideration and for your continued support of our public school system and our newest New Yorkers.
8:02:11
Thank you.