Notes from NMIC | August 2019

Hi there,

As summer draws to a close, many families all over New York are getting ready to go back to school. Our August newsletter has information on how you can help families in need as well as updates on the happenings at NMIC. Read on to learn more!

As the summer ends, NMIC is launching a Back-to-School drive to collect supplies for the families we serve. Every year, 5 million children witness domestic violence. School-aged children in this category often do participate in school activities or get good grades and have fewer friends than others.

NMIC’s Domestic Violence Project offers community-based counseling, case management, and legal services for victims and survivors of intimate partner violence.

You, too, can make an impact on a family and ensure that a child has all the tools they’ll need to succeed by filling a backpack from the comfort of your home. With just one click you can purchase items from our Amazon Wishlist. Your package can be addressed to the Domestic Violence Project at 45 Wadsworth Avenue, 1st floor, New York, NY 10033.

We are collecting supplies until August 26. Items can also be dropped off in our lobby. For more information contact Rosanna Montilla-Payano, Director of Development, at rosannamontilla@nmic.org.

Earlier this year, Lovie Martinez found herself unemployed and searching for options at her local Workforce 1 when she saw a flyer for NMIC’s Security Guard Training program.

After enrolling, she received fireguard, customer service and employment readiness training and earned her 8- and 16-hour security credentials. Afterwards, NMIC’s Workforce Solutions staff referred her to Custom Protective Services and she was hired on the spot!

But she didn’t just gain a new job and skills from this program. Lovie believes NMIC’s program gave her confidence, “[When] you have that confidence…it shines through you. I left NMIC with that.”

Click below to find out more about the job readiness programs NMIC has to offer.

NMIC supports its worker cooperative community members as they develop the skills needed to reap financial success while ensuring better working conditions and livable wages. That’s why we helped launch NannyBee in October of 2017.NannyBee is the first worker-owned childcare cooperative in Upper Manhattan.Essentially, it’s an agency for nannies owned by the nannies!

Last month, community member Rosa Peña led an all-day training to prospective new members of NannyBee. Rosa and a few other NannyBee members have been trained to facilitate these workshops through the We Rise Nanny training program, a joint project of the Worker Institute at Cornell ILR and the National Domestic Workers Alliance. This allows them to train other community members who are nannies, as well as new candidate members for NannyBee.

Click below to watch how our co-ops are paving the way to business ownership.

“If I have to leave my home, I’ll die.”

These were the words of 91-year-old Raul* as he faced eviction from his Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Section 8 apartment. Raul hadn’t reported a family member was living with him and lost an administrative hearing. At his advanced age, he was in danger of being evicted from his long-term home and becoming homeless.

We wouldn’t let that happen.

Our Legal Services team launched an advocacy campaign that pulled in directors of different city agencies, like the Director of Leased Housing at HPD, who immediately worked with us to find ways to resolve the issue. A grant from the Human Resources Administration, obtained with the assistance of the Department of Aging, allowed us the resources to contribute the funds ordered by the administrative judge. As a result of our team’s tireless efforts, and without having to commence a case, we were able to keep this 91-year-old resident in his home.

We can’t do this work without your support. Your donations help us serve people like Raul and other community members in crisis.

*We’ve changed the client’s name to protect his privacy.

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