EDITOR'S NOTE:
When you read this you should know that it comes from the office of Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The de Blasio administration today released the NYC Service Legacy Report, showcasing the last eight years of service and volunteer efforts across the five boroughs made possible through partnerships with non-profits, residents, businesses and City agencies. The report illustrates ways NYC Service has deepened and expanded civic engagement through service programs, resource development, and innovative capacity building. During the de Blasio administration, NYC Service has built on its legacy with vital programs, such as a citywide volunteer inventory, emergency funding for nonprofits, a 1,700-member youth leadership council network, and four AmeriCorps programs.
“For the last eight years, my administration has worked tirelessly to lay a solid foundation for our city’s future and build a united New York where all our residents could rise,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The ability of nonprofits, businesses, and City agencies to leverage this growing spirit of service is a testament to New Yorkers showing up for each other when it’s needed most. NYC Service has been at the forefront of this work, providing support and resources to the people who choose to serve our great city.”
“At the heart of NYC Service are countless individuals who work with extraordinary fervor and give generously of their time and energy. They are people who know the power of civic engagement and know that a bright future is only possible if we invest now in our young people and our communities.” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. “I am deeply proud of their work, and the work of nonprofits and businesses, in leveraging the power of partnerships to fight inequities and support vulnerable New Yorkers during the de Blasio administration."
“Over the last eight years, volunteers and AmeriCorps members have played a critical and meaningful role in strengthening our city,” said NYC Chief Service Officer Laura Rog. “One thing has been made clear: people power fuels our City at its core, providing critical support to local communities in the times we need it most. Our deep appreciation goes out to our City agency, nonprofit, and business partners, and especially to our volunteers for their dedication to the residents of NYC.”
Covering nearly a decade, NYC Service’s report displays the importance of volunteerism, the advancement of service participation, prioritization of diversity and inclusion, collaboration amongst partners, and sustainable change driven by residents. NYC Service partnerships and coalitions include over 200 nonprofits, 50 City agencies, 50 businesses, and 40 colleges and universities, with partner networks providing opportunities and support to millions of NYC volunteers each year. Additionally, more than 1,800 AmeriCorps members have served in NYC Service National Service programs since 2013, adding capacity to 35 City agencies and 150 nonprofits.
NYC Service has been at the forefront of volunteerism since its founding in 2009, increasing service opportunities across all five boroughs, and supporting New York City residents with meaningful volunteer and service opportunities, community-based research, and resources.
“The NYC Service’s Legacy Report is a testament to the many ways residents from diverse sectors and communities continue to play an active and essential role in the civic life of our neighborhoods. I congratulate the NYC Service team on their leadership and commitment to connecting, strengthening and promoting a continuum of civic engagement across our city,” said Dr. Sarah Sayeed, Chair & Executive Director, Civic Engagement Commission.
“From text banking New Yorkers encouraging them to make voting plans to observing elections to ensure voters were free to cast their ballots without fear of harassment or intimidation to developing creative content and diverse messaging, our volunteers have done it all and play a crucial role in our voter engagement work,” said Laura Wood, Chief Democracy Officer. “DemocracyNYC is a proud partner of NYC Service and is excited to be a part of a report which highlights the immense impact volunteers have in making voting more accessible in our city.”
“Thanks to NYC Service for its support of our park system during the de Blasio Administration; it has been tremendous over the past eight years,” said NYC Parks Commissioner, Gabrielle Fialkoff. “Core to our agency mission, through NYC Service funding and the City Service Corps, in partnership we have advanced community and volunteer engagement in parks through Shape Up, Stewardship and GreenThumb programming, serving hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers in communities across the city!”
“Our collaboration with NYC Service has empowered New Yorkers to help each other before, during, and after emergencies through volunteerism. NYC Emergency Management and NYC Service also have successfully worked together on the City’s Volunteer Coordination Task Force to coordinate volunteer efforts during emergencies, addressing the City’s greatest needs by providing resources and support to communities in their darkest hour. We look forward to continuing this critical partnership,” said NYC Emergency Management Acting Commissioner Andrew D’Amora.
“This report highlights the critical role volunteers have played during this past administration, especially helping our City recover from the pandemic,” said Raquel Batista, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. “Our partnership with NYC Service, specifically the Americorps members, has helped expand and deepen our volunteer programs and in turn has extended our agency’s reach. These volunteers reflect the communities we serve, helping to educate and inform of city resources, programs, and services. We thank past and current volunteers for their dedication and contributions.”
“YLC gives youth a voice, because youth voices matter,” said Tischelle George, Deputy Director of Resident Engagement at the NYC Housing Authority. “Through YLC, young people get a chance to advocate for the issues they are passionate about.”
“The Department for the Aging has been a proud, longtime recipient of NYC Service funding to support our volunteer programs and efforts. Volunteers are at the heart of our work at DFTA and key to helping achieve our mission. Our partnership with NYC Service has helped to expand our volunteer base and offer additional support for our programs and services to older adults citywide,” Said Edgar Yu, Assistant Commissioner for External Affairs
“New York Cares has been proud to partner with NYC Service throughout the years, especially at the height of the pandemic. We worked with NYC Service on their Volunteer Coordination Taskforce to centralize and coordinate volunteers across the five boroughs,” said Gary Bagley, Executive Director of New York Cares. “Thanks to NYC Service’s support, we deployed thousands of dedicated volunteers to provide critical services to meet pressing community needs, such as delivering millions of meals to residents experiencing food insecurity and connecting isolated New Yorkers to essential services.”
“Receiving support from NYC Service through NYC Civic Corps provided The Bronx is Blooming the ability to reach beyond our capacity and find talented people to help our communities preserve and enhance their local environment,” said Jennifer Beaugrand, Executive Director of The Bronx is Blooming. “As a small non-profit working with communities to conserve their local environment, the NYC Civic Corps AmeriCorps members have helped with everything from running afterschool programming to building us a new website to better engage our constituents. NYC Civic Corps amplifies our impact, better engages our volunteers, provides organizational capacity to support better and more in-depth programming. NYC Civic Corps has provided The Bronx is Blooming expanded capacity, which has in turn facilitated our growth, allowing us to expand our footprint and our team.”
“Being a NYC Civic Corps member from 2018-2019 jump started my career in a way I could have never projected,” said Aaliyah Cardenas, AmeriCorps Alum. It was an opportunity for me to build on myself, while impacting and building a stronger community in New York City. Each and every day spent at my host site was a day where I knew I would be able to put a smile on someone’s face by helping them the way others had helped my family and I when I was growing up. Almost three years later, my experience as a Civic Corps member has come full circle: I’m not only helping New Yorkers who are facing food insecurity, but also mentoring Civic Corps members who are looking for the same opportunity that I was in 2018.”
“Our food and PPE distribution is necessary to keep our Sunset Park community safe and nourished, and NYC Service has allowed us to maintain a strong volunteer base that keeps this operation running. The majority of our food distribution attendees rely on our food distribution as a source of fresh fruits and vegetables especially with the hike in fresh produce prices in supermarkets. Our PPE distribution is also a reminder to our community that the pandemic continues and that we must take the necessary precautions to keep ourselves and our neighbors safe and healthy,” said Estela Cohetero, Manager of Community Health at the Academy of Medical and Public Health Services.
“The support of NYC Service makes it possible for me to help my community. Through AMPHS, our work has positively impacted the lives of my neighbors, and our dedication continues to the help vulnerable immigrant population of Sunset Park,” said Joseph Lara, Volunteer for Academy of Medical and Public Health Services.
