Combating Discrimination, Promoting Equal Access
Make the Road New York has demonstrated strong leadership in both documenting
and combating national origin discrimination within the administration of
New York City public schools and government agencies.
As a result, New York City’s government is significantly closer to
ensuring equal access to vital government services, like Medicaid, Food Stamps
and public assistance, by providing language assistance services to the twenty-five
percent of New Yorkers who are still in the difficult process of learning
English.
Building an active, politically conscious voting base
Make the Road New York’s Voter Education and Mobilization Project provides
our members and community residents with effective outreach skills to educate
their neighbors about critical issues and make sure that infrequent voters
get out and vote. We are also a founding member of NY VOTE, a citywide coalition
of community groups and labor unions that focuses on voter turnout in neighborhoods
with historically low voter participation.
In 2006, Make the Road New York knocked on close to 10,000 doors during
the primary and general elections, and spoke with over 2,700 progressive
voters who committed to going to the polls, effectively ensuring a stronger
role for low-income voters in Brooklyn and Queens.
Additionally, throughout our organization’s history, we have supported over 13,000 immigrants in becoming citizens of the United States.
Defending the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth
and Adults
GLOBE (Gays and Lesbians of Bushwick Empowered) started as an-all volunteer
project at Make the Road New York in 1999. It was, and still is, the only
LGBT advocacy and support group in Eastern Brooklyn and Western Queens. GLOBE
founder and current full-time organizer Dee Perez says," Giving Bushwick
a safe space for myself and the LGBT community here was a dream of mine and
now it’s become a reality. But we still have a lot of work to do."
In February, 2006, life became exceedingly difficult for transgendered Helena
Stone, a veteran Verizon employee who worked in Grand Central Terminal. Police
from the Metropolitan Transit Authority subjected her to repeated arrest
for using the women’s bathroom, verbal abuse, and physical harassment,
all because she is transgendered.
GLOBE sprang into action and organized a rally in support of Helena Stone.
Quoted widely in the media, Dee said, "I know my rights, but this could
happen to me." She is hopeful that attention brought to the issue will
result in sensitivity training for police officers on transgender issues.
All charges against Helena Stone were dropped, and the MTA is reviewing
policies related to this incident. Ms. Stone also recently won a lawsuit
against the MTA.
Closer to home, GLOBE staff and members worked with three area high schools
to implement comprehensive anti-homophobia programs through its Safe Schools
Campaign, helping to ensure that LGBT students have the same rights and security
in schools as all other students.
With GLOBE’s help, Bushwick Community High School has added a policy
against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity
into its new student handbook. Every student signed a pledge to refrain from
name-calling and using homophobic language–a major accomplishment. Collaborating
with students and faculty, GLOBE continues to push for similar policies at
other high schools.
Expanding Civil Rights | Promoting Health | Improving Housing | Winning Workplace Justice | Improving Public Education
