Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation To Hold Community Rally To Protest Loss of State Education Funding
Over 500 community residents will gather on Thursday June 13th at 5:50pm
to address the $1 million dollars cut NMIC is facing from New York State education funds
Washington Heights, NY-Hundreds will rally tomorrow at 76 Wadsworth Avenue at 5:50 PM to draw attention to the massive loss of funding to the agency's Adult Education program. The rally is being co-facilitated by NYS Senator Adriano Espaillat, NYC Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, and NYS Assembly Member Gabriela Rosa.
Despite exceptionally strong performance - in fiscal years 2011 and 2012, NMIC's Adult Education program was in the top 1% of all NYS Adult Education programs, ranking as the #1 community-based organization in FY 2012 - the agency's most recent application for New York State education funds (which dictates funding for a five-year period) resulted in $1,000,000 loss of support.
What: Rally to Continue Funding the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation's Adult Education, Literacy and GED Programs
Who: Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation Adult Students and Faculty, Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, State Senator Adriano Espaillat, Assembly Member Gabriela Rosa
When: Thursday, June 13th, 2013. 5:50 PM
Where: Front of Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation, 76 Wadsworth Ave. (Corner of Wadsworth and 176th St.), Manhattan, New York
Dr. Michael Perrone, NMIC's Director of Adult Education, described the impact of the funding cuts as crippling. "The loss of this funding will mean that, annually, over 2,000 community residents will not receive adult education services and more than 1,500 learners will not have the opportunity to study English."
NMIC Executive Director Barbara Lowry expects that hundreds of residents of Washington Heights and Inwood will attend to the rally to express their concerns. "NMIC's main office is directly across the street from the office of Council Member Rodriquez, so it's an opportunity for us to powerfully mobilize the residents we are dedicated to serve and give them a chance to have their voices heard."
"The State Education Department's decision to deny critical funding for a vital community organization like NMIC is a heartless and shortsighted move," said State Senator Adriano Espaillat. "I've been a proud supporter of NMIC, and I've worked with them to save tenants from eviction, help low-income families qualify for Medicaid, and offer much needed education programming to our community. NMIC is a crucial pillar of our community, and we're going to ensure it stays that way."
"Northern Manhattan stands united behind NMIC and the students of the Adult Literacy, ESL and GED classes in saying these are crucial programs that help to empower our community, and they must be restored," said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. "Thousands of students have and continue to use these great programs and the results can be seen across the area. In a time where we are in the process of recovering from a devastating recession, our community cannot afford to cut programs that help so many progress in their jobs and careers."
"Our community will suffer immensely if the State Education Department does not grant funding for the adult education program at NMIC," said Assembly Member Gabriela Rosa. "I have been a long-time supporter of their important community programs and am proud to partner with them for a range of needs, including domestic violence services and legal support for housing matters. I will do everything within my power to advocate for NMIC to receive this funding, and I will not be satisfied until they do."
Over the past 14 years, NMIC's Adult Education program has served over 11,000 low income students in upper Manhattan and the Bronx with critical services in the areas of Adult Basic Education (ABE), GED, Basic Education in the Native Language (BENL), Citizenship, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) instruction, and computer and financial literacy.
For the local community, where nearly 40% of residents speak little or no English and one in three adults over the age of 25 lack a high school diploma or equivalency, NMIC's Adult Education program has made a huge impact, as graduates are able to access better employment, move on to college, and connect with career training programs.
# # #
