University Settlement Society of New York

Our Communications Director Dave Hughes has an op-ed in NYN Media today calling on NYC government and philanthropists to invest in settlement houses as a way of effectively welcoming immigrants: "From English literacy, to pre-school, to food assistance, to housing advocacy, settlement houses are a comprehensive solution for setting immigrants up for success. With increased strategic investment, we stand ready to build the next New York.” Read more https://buff.ly/3XU5W23

Check out these shots from the recent Rally for Mental Health at City Hall, where Marilus Castellanos, our Senior Program Director of Early Childhood Mental Health and Family Wellness, delivered a powerful speech as community members demanded mental health funding be restored to FY23 levels: “We are grateful for the City Council’s Children Under 5 Initiative, which supports Butterflies, and we call for a full restoration of funds to FY23 levels. For all children to thrive, they need to be in safe, nurturing, and predictable relationships. These are the basis for future learning and social emotional well-being. Our community needs more. We currently have a waitlist. With a major clinic closing in Brownsville, our program in East New York will be one of the very few that serves families with young children. We know the Council understands the vital work that CBOs do. Please fully fund our programs so we can continue this work.” Read Marilus's full remarks at https://lnkd.in/enBdMdEk #MentalHealth #EarlyChildhood #NYCisUS

We’re delighted to share our Annual Report for 2023! As a member of the University Settlement family, we want you to hear about the remarkable impact your support makes on the great work of our participants, staff, and neighbors across our 30+ program sites in Lower Manhattan and in Brooklyn. Everyone should have the opportunity to be the architect of their own life. Forging connections with our neighbors to build stronger communities is Our Blueprint for a stronger NYC. Check it out at https://lnkd.in/eWT_yxf #AnnualReport #OurBlueprint #NYCisUS

We're celebrating our class of graduating @ladders4leaders interns - check out our new video here: https://buff.ly/3KSDXs6 Ladders for Leaders connects NYC high school and college students (16-24 years old) with paid internships and valuable pre-employment training. In the 2023-24 school year, University Settlement's youth + community programs hosted 20 interns across our program sites, many of whom you'll hear from in the video. 100% (!!) of our interns said they enjoyed the program and would like to continue in similar programs or job placements for summer. Intern Devin Joaquin said "I feel like [my internship] has made me better as a person, and more of an adult." #internwithimpact

📣 Attention NYC seniors and caregivers! 📣 Help shape the future for the older adults of NYC! Your feedback on the NYC Department for the Aging's service needs assessment will guide essential programs and advocacy. Plus, you could win a $50 prize! Fill out the survey now at https://buff.ly/3X3YJw5 #NYCisUS

In observation of #Juneteenth, University Settlement is closed today. Dakim Duncan, who leads our Beacon at East Side Community School, shared this context with his after-school students: "Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and celebrates the resilience, achievements, and cultural heritage of African Americans. It's an occasion for us to reflect on our history, honor the progress we've made, and continue advocating for equality and justice." Juneteenth was first celebrated on June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved people in the United States were informed of their freedom. More than two years had passed since the Emancipation Proclamation was issued – and it took another 156 years for Juneteenth to be recognized as a national holiday. Juneteenth has been called the “longest-running African-American holiday” and "America's second Independence Day". We encourage everyone to reflect on the history of this important day, and what it means today. To learn more about Juneteenth, visit https://buff.ly/3wdbp3p

Happy Pride 🌈, everyone! Steven Portericker, University Settlement’s Chief Program and Equity Officer, shared this message: “For me, Pride is a time to celebrate my journey, including the ways I’ve fought for self-love, and the communities who have supported me along the way. Why celebrate Pride? Let me count the ways. - Pride is the moments when young people I’ve worked with have thanked me privately for creating safe spaces and modeling self-acceptance - Pride is my ability to get engaged to my partner as a same-gender loving Black man - Pride is the excitement my 10-year-old niece displayed when I told her I was engaged - Pride is knowing that your grandmother, who was born in 1929, is proud of you and supported you always - Pride is the opportunities today’s young people and future generations will have to be their authentic selves, regardless of the letter they represent in the LGBTQIA+ 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ - Pride is my responsibility and opportunity to strategically lead University Settlement’s efforts to become more equitable for our teams and the communities we serve” #Pride #NYCisUS

#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth is over, but the conversation around mental health isn’t! Reflecting on Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Barbara DiGangi, LMSW, SIFI – our Director of Community Wellness Initiatives at University Settlement – has written an article on the complexities of promoting mental health. She discusses the impact of socioeconomic factors and the challenges of accessing mental health services, highlighting that while individual self-care is a good thing, there is still a critical need for systemic change to address broader issues of equity in mental healthcare. Curious about how we can promote community care and mental health equity? Read the full article at https://buff.ly/3RgUR70 #NYCisUS

Did you see US in the news today? 📰🗞️ University Settlement is featured in a Gothamist article discussing the critical disparities in pay and conditions for NYC childcare workers. In the article, our very own Bridget O'Rourke, Associate Executive Director of Early Childhood Education, details the tough realities faced by educators at community-based programs like ours, who earn significantly less than their DOE counterparts, despite the heavy demands of their roles. We want to express our gratitude to the educators in our early childhood programs and at settlement houses across the city who are making personal sacrifices every day to bring high quality education to the children in our communities – we see you, and we are calling on the city to invest in you properly! Read the full article at https://buff.ly/3Vcu798 #InTheNews #NYCisUS

United Neighborhood Houses has released a new brief by Irene Lew exploring the effects of NYC's 60-day shelter limit on asylum-seeking families and their access to early childhood education programs. With over 180,000 asylum seekers arriving in NYC in the past two years, the policy has disrupted the stability and education of many young children. This policy forces frequent relocations, making it challenging for children to remain in consistent educational settings. For University Settlement, supporting stable, high-quality early childhood education is essential. The brief underscores the urgent need for additional funding and resources to help these families and ensure all children have the opportunity to thrive. “Stable, nurturing relationships are the foundation of high-quality Early Childhood Education,” says Bridget O’Rourke, Associate Executive Director of Early Childhood Education at University Settlement. “All children, especially those who are experiencing housing instability, deserve to stay and grow in their Early Childhood setting. Our programs are working hard to provide continuity and support for asylum-seeking families at University Settlement, but we need additional resources to continue to do this important work.” Read more at https://lnkd.in/gaVNETZZ #NYCisUS (Photo by Spencer Platt for Getty Images, used in non-commercial context)