MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK CELEBRATES REMARKABLE YEAR AT ANNUAL GALA HONORING TERENCE M. O'SULLIVAN, JANET MURGUÍA, VINCENT MCGEE, AND LAWRENCE PARK

October 1, 2008

Contact: Debra Wexler, 718.499.1448, debra.wexler@maketheroadny.org

MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK CELEBRATES REMARKABLE YEAR AT ANNUAL GALA HONORING TERENCE M. O'SULLIVAN, JANET MURGUÍA, VINCENT MCGEE,
AND LAWRENCE PARK

Event Marks One-Year Anniversary of Merger between
Make the Road New York and the Latin American Integration Center

WHEN: Wednesday, October 1, 2008 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm.

WHERE: New York City Fire Museum, 278 Spring Street, Manhattan (between Varick and Hudson Streets)

WHO: Staff, members, philanthropists, elected officials, advocates, and supporters of Make the Road New York come together to celebrate Make the Road New York's remarkable achievements during the first year after the merger of Make the Road by Walking and the Latin American Integration Center. Honorees in attendance: Terence M. O'Sullivan, General President, Laborers International Union of North America; Janet Murguía, President and CEO, National Council of La Raza; Lawrence Park, Executive Director, New York State Trial Lawyers Association; and noted activist and philanthropic leader Vincent McGee. Elected officials scheduled to attend include: Congressman Anthony Weiner, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr., New York City Council Member Hiram Monserrate, and New York State Senator Eric Schneiderman.

WHY: Over the past twelve months, Make the Road New York made unprecedented strides in combating injustice, fostering democratic participation, and upholding public accountability for New York's immigrant communities. Noteworthy accomplishments include:

Won a citywide Executive Order requiring all New York City agencies to provide comprehensive translation and interpretation services for the two million New Yorkers who are still learning English;

Expanded our adult literacy program to provide over thirty simultaneous English as a second language, citizenship, Spanish language literacy, and computer classes throughout the City;

Won over $4 million dollars for exploited immigrant workers who had worked in unsafe conditions or for as little as $3 per hour;

Created serious consequences for unscrupulous landlords who unlawfully harass tenants to push them out of rent-regulated housing by passing the Tenant Protection Act, which enables victimized tenants to take their landlords to court for harassment where they face steep fines for lawless behavior; and

Registered over 10,000 new citizens to vote and knocked on over 20,000 doors to facilitate electoral participation by low-income people of color.

**** PHOTO OPPORTUNITY ****

Formal photo opportunity with honorees, Make the Road New York co-Executive Directors and members, and elected officials scheduled for 7:40 p.m. Candid photo opportunities available throughout event. Interviews with honorees and Make the Road New York staff or members available upon request.

Make the Road New York, a 4000 member strong grass-roots organization, works to promote equity, opportunity and democracy for low-income workers and families in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.

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