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June 14, 2012 
Advocates Rally for Adult Literacy, GED & English Classes
By
New York Nonproft Press Staff
/ New York Nonprofit Press
Nearly 1,000 students, teachers, and advocates [including Make The Road New York] also rallied outside of City Hall yesterday to urge Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council to restore funding for adult literacy, GED, and English classes. The students and supporters from across the City, joined by numerous City Council members, were brought together by the New York City Coalition of Adult Literacy (NYCCAL), an umbrella advocacy group dedicated to preserving and promoting access to literacy services in the City.
If passed in its current form, say advocates, the Mayor’s budget would eliminate $6.5 million in funding for literacy and immigrant services, ending classes for 7,000 for New Yorkers seeking to improve their English skills and their chances of landing or keeping a job in a tight economy. The proposed cuts come on top of 7,000 seats already lost over the past two years since the Administration eliminated baseline funding for DYCD’s program. The cumulative cuts threaten the loss of 80% of community-based adult literacy program capacity since 2010.
“I have championed the cause of adult literacy for years now chiefly because I have personally witnessed the empowerment that these programs deliver," said Council Member Sara M. González.
González was joined by City Council Immigration Committee Chair Daniel Dromm and Council Member Deborah Rose.
At stake in the budget negotiations are three critical literacy programs: the Department of Youth & Community Development’s (DYCD) Adult Literacy Program, and two popular council initiatives- the Adult Literacy Services Initiative and the Immigrant Opportunities Initiative (IOI). Unless the Mayor or City Council acts to restore the funding, all will receive zero city funding in the coming fiscal year. NYCCAL is calling for the restoration of $5.2 million for DYCD’s program, $1.5 million for the Adult Literacy Services Initiative, and $4.0 million for IO.
“In a city with 1.2 million working adults lacking a high school diploma, and over 3 million foreign born residents, many working day and night to keep NYC running, it is shameful that Mayor Bloomberg has chosen to not include these community based literacy services in the budget," said Kevin Douglas of United Neighborhood Houses (UNH).
“At a time when New York City most needs a skilled workforce and engaged citizenry, it is bad policy to target community-based adult literacy programs with such deep and disproportionate cuts," said Sierra Stoneman-Bell of the Neighborhood Family Services Coalition (NFSC).
For original article, click here.
More on: Public Education 
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 Historic Paid Sick Days Victory in NYC!New York City just became the largest city in the U.S.to win paid sick days! On May 8, 2013, the City Council passed legislation to require paid sick days for one million New Yorkers. Without this critical legal protection, workers risk losing their jobs for taking a sick day. When workers go in to work sick, they put the public and their co-workers at risk of disease.
Starting April 2014, all workers will be protected from being fired if they must take a sick day to care for themselves or a sick family member, and workers at larger employers will receive 5 paid days of sick leave each year.
This major workplace justice and public health victory is the product of a four-year campaign led by courageous workers and small businesses who stood up for what’s right. We thank our partners at the Working Families Party, the NYS Paid Family Leave Coalition, SEIU 32BJ, the Progressive Caucus, Speaker Quinn and Council Members Brewer and Ferreras, for standing with us for NYC’s workers. 
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