Nilbia Coyote
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Good afternoon, Chair Aviles, Chair Ronald and members of the City Council Immigration and Finance Committees, and fellow New Yorkers.
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My name is Nibia Coyote.
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I am the executive director of NICE New Immigrant Community Empowerment, a community based organization in Queens that is dedicated to nurturing the spiritual immigrants and supporting the power and potential of immigrant workers.
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New New Yorkers and longstanding members of our city who are too often left behind.
6:03:59
I am here today to speak about the essential role of our pre apprenticeship for life and work program and to urge the city to continue and straighten its commitment to organizations like NICE through stable and timely contract funding, particularly the workforce development initiatives such as the Day Labor Workforce Initiative, Immigrant Gender Equity, Construction Site Safety Initiative, Adult Literacy Pilot Project, welcome n one c, and legal services such as low wage worker support among many others.
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Our pre apprenticeship for life and work provides immigrant New Yorkers with what they need most, real access to opportunity.
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We prepare individual, most of them low wage workers and often excluded from traditional warfare systems for union apprenticeship, skill certifications, and career pathways in growing industries like construction, green jobs, and building maintenance.
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We do this in a cultural responsive linguistically appropriate and worker centered way.
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But this program is not just about skills.
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It's about dignity, mobility, and survival.
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Every week, I meet with participants who are navigating multiple barriers, language, immigration status, lack of health, health services options, discrimination, and economic hardship.
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There are newly arrived immigrants, day laborers, domestic workers, and job seekers.
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People who keep the city running but who are constantly fighting to stay afloat.
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Because beyond job training, we equip our participants with critical life skills that are essential for surviving and thriving in the city.
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These are the things that we don't talk about yet that determine whether a person can fully participate in society.
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Understanding how to navigate the transportation system, access health services and insurance, manage finances, and open a bank account, etcetera.
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In addition to workforce and life skills development, NICE provides critical legal education and support services to help our community members navigate an increasingly hostile environment.
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Everyday we offer Know Your Rights workshops to ensure immigrants understand the protection on their labor immigration and criminal justice systems.
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Decisions are not theoretical.
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They are tools for survival.
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Whether it's a worker facing wage theft of someone targeted by immigration enforcement, our legal empowerment works helps them recognize abuse, assert their rights, and access support.
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In this moment when immigrant communities are under extreme harm, these legal services are essential to protect lives, prevent exploitation, and build collective power.
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For them, NICE is a lifeline, and the pre apportition for life and work is often their first step toward a more stable future.
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We are deeply proud of our of the impact of our program.
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However, I must be honest, our ability to continue delivering these results is under threat.
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We call on the city council to ensure full and continue funding for immigrant service, workforce programs, language access, welcoming new immigrants, legal services, health services, etcetera.
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In total, over 1,000,000 for NICE in different awards.
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Expedite reimbursements and budget approvals so that nonprofits are not forced to carry the cost of city services.
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And center immigrant and worker led organizations in the design and funding of workforce development initiatives, particularly those that serve undocumented and low income New Yorkers.
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On behalf of NICE and the immigrant workers we serve, I thank you for your time and your leadership.
