In this mini episode, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris sits down with Stephanie Birmingham, NYCETC’s Director of Community and Operations, to talk about what it really means to make the 2025 NYCETC Conference accessible and inclusive.
Drawing from her decade-long experience managing events at the Whitney Museum, Stephanie shares how accessibility planning goes far beyond checking an ADA box, instead, focusing on designing spaces where every attendee can fully participate. She and Greg discuss lessons learned from past conferences and why accessibility must be integrated into every operational detail, from amplified sound and signage to lactation and quiet rooms.
The conversation also lifts up the collaborative work happening across City agencies and community partners to raise the bar on inclusion, showing how accessibility, like workforce, is both a commitment and a continuous process of learning and improvement.
Mini episodes of The NYC Workforce Drop deliver high-impact insights in under 15 minutes—perfect for leaders on the go who want clear ideas and real strategies to strengthen New York City’s workforce ecosystem.
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Topics: accessibility, inclusion, event design, workforce equity, universal design, community partnerships, disability inclusion, operational best practices, NYCETC Conference
NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris is joined by Ngozi Okaro, founder and CEO of Custom Collaborative, for a conversation that threads together personal journey, workforce innovation, and a vision for a fairer fashion economy. From a childhood decision to practice law to a purpose-driven pivot into nonprofits (and the late-night sewing sessions that sparked a social enterprise) Ngozi unpacks how values, craft, and systems thinking led to a decade of training and dignified work for New Yorkers.
Grounded in real talk (Niagara Falls, corn mazes, and Anchor Bar wings make cameos), Greg and Ngozi dig into what it takes to help people thrive and advance. They cover Custom Collaborative’s model (a free, stipend-supported 15-week training; an incubator for jobs, apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship; and worker-owned co-ops), why childcare is workforce infrastructure, and how wellness and belonging drive outcomes. The pair also look ahead to upskilling for the fashion jobs of tomorrow, from computerized machinery and 3D tools to circularity practices like felting and weaving, and connect the dots between city and state policy, affordability, and employer investment in talent.
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Topics: ethical and sustainable fashion; stipend-supported training and completion; incubators and worker co-ops; childcare as workforce infrastructure; wellness and retention; upskilling (advanced machinery, 3D tools, circularity); immigrant and women’s economic mobility; NYC–NYS policy alignment; affordability, wages, and wealth building.
In this mini episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris welcomes Grace Bonilla, President and CEO of United Way of New York City, back on the pod to unpack the devastating ripple effects of the federal government shutdown on millions of New Yorkers.
As critical safety net programs like SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid face cuts and delays, families are being forced to choose between rent, food, and medicine. Grace shares alarming data from United Way’s network of 400 pantries, where visits have surged 86% since 2019, and underscores how the shutdown deepens an already dire affordability crisis.
Greg and Grace explore what’s at stake for working families, the mounting strain on community organizations, and the urgent need for local and corporate leaders to fill the gap left by federal inaction.
Mini episodes of The NYC Workforce Drop deliver high-impact insights in under 20 minutes, perfect for leaders on the go who want clear analysis and bold ideas for NYC’s workforce future.
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Topics: government shutdown, food insecurity, SNAP benefits, Medicaid, safety net, economic equity, community resilience, workforce stability, philanthropy, New York policy
In this special mini episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris sits down with Debbie Roman to share some exciting personal news. After three and a half impactful years at Per Scholas New York, Debbie is joining National Grid to lead workforce development initiatives connecting employers and community-based organizations across New York City and the state.
Debbie reflects on her two decades in the nonprofit sector and how her new role at National Grid represents the perfect bridge between employer engagement and community impact. She and Greg discuss how the energy company’s growing commitment to workforce pathways aligns with NYCETC’s mission to create inclusive economic opportunity.
Listeners will hear firsthand how Debbie plans to leverage her experience to connect the dots between the corporate and nonprofit sectors: building stronger partnerships, shaping equitable pipelines into energy careers, and driving systemic change across New York’s workforce ecosystem.
Mini episodes of The NYC Workforce Drop deliver high-impact insights in under 15 minutes, perfect for leaders on the go who want clear analysis and bold ideas for NYC’s workforce future.
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Topics: workforce development, employer partnerships, energy sector jobs, career pathways, community engagement, nonprofit leadership, equitable hiring, economic opportunity, corporate social responsibility, New York workforce ecosystem
In this mini episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris dives into the recent New York City mayoral debates and the glaring silence around jobs and workforce development. While candidates sparred over affordability and business incentives, critical conversations about wages, job quality, and equitable access to opportunity barely surfaced.
Greg breaks down why workforce development must be central to any serious economic plan, connecting the dots between corporate growth, community benefit, and long-term investment in New Yorkers’ skills. He calls out the missing scaffolding between economic and workforce development and challenges the next mayor to build it.
This episode asks one key question: if affordability is the headline issue, how can we afford to ignore the workforce?
Mini episodes of The NYC Workforce Drop deliver high-impact insights in under 15 minutes, perfect for leaders on the go who want clear analysis and bold ideas for NYC’s workforce future.
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Topics: NYC Mayoral debates, affordability, economic development, workforce development, wages, job quality, re-skilling, up-skilling, accountability, New York City workforce
In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris sits down with Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa (District 10) for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about care, courage, and the fight to make New York City work better for working people.
From her early years growing up in Upper Manhattan as the daughter of Dominican immigrants to chairing the Council’s Committee on Civil Service and Labor, De La Rosa traces her journey through Catholic church basements, a history-making Assembly win, and the pandemic-era decision to run for City Council while raising her daughter.
With Greg, she explores imposter syndrome, how lived experience fuels public service, and what it means to “occupy every room for the people back home.” Together, they dig into the realities facing New York’s workforce, from municipal hiring bottlenecks and nine-month onboarding delays to the two-for-one hiring policy and why frontline city workers are carrying the load of three.
CM De La Rosa also spotlights the fights she’s taken on, from SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes to Amazon and Teamsters organizing, from nurses to newsroom workers, using her committee as a platform to demand dignity, safety, and a real seat at the table.
Looking ahead, the conversation turns to what’s next: grading the outgoing administration, calling for bold, not whispered, governance on Day One of a new mayoralty, and defining the Council’s role in aligning budgets, plugging federal holes, and centering families, stability, and mobility in the future of New York City.
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Topics: care and courage in public service; immigrant leadership and representation; workforce systems as civic infrastructure; labor solidarity and worker dignity; civil service reform and hiring equity; wage justice and the Construction Justice Act; family, caregiving, and resilience in leadership; City Hall transitions and future council leadership
In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris sits down with Teresa Gonzalez, partner at Bolton-St. Johns and principal at DalyGonzalez Consulting, for a candid, pragmatic conversation about what it takes to build a healthier, more affordable New York where workforce is the throughline across every policy area.
Teresa traces her journey from a Puerto Rican kid growing up in Williamsburg to roles at the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, and into values-aligned government relations work. She opens up about why she prioritizes directness with clients, the power of structure and coalition-building, and how her portfolio keeps her anchored to impact.
With Greg, she reframes workforce development as the scaffolding of a city: a cradle-to-later-life system that ties affordability, small business vitality, immigration, arts and culture, and economic mobility together. The two dig into what happens when that scaffolding breaks down, how to make workforce legible to elected officials, and why advocates should help leaders refine agendas rather than just pitch ideas. They also look ahead to City Hall’s next chapter—what an incoming mayor and Council leadership will need, how the New Majority changed representation (and why it matters for policy), and the wins a workforce-first agenda can deliver.
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Topics: workforce as economic scaffolding; coalition strategy; values-aligned lobbying; arts, immigration, and small business linkages; affordability and mobility; City Hall transitions; New Majority & Council leadership; truth-telling in advocacy; cradle-to-career/later-life training
In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris sits down with Kalilah Moon, Executive Director of Drive Change, and Debbie Roman, Managing Director, New York, at Per Scholas, for a conversation that bridges personal journeys, nonprofit innovation, and systems-level change.
Kalilah reflects on her path from Oakland to New York, sharing early career lessons from The Door to leading Drive Change’s culinary training and social enterprise work with justice-involved youth. She opens up about leadership growth, tough decisions, and the power of rebranding a food truck into a broader movement for equity and opportunity.
Debbie traces her journey from Puerto Rico to New York’s workforce ecosystem, spotlighting how strategic partnerships and intentional training pathways at Per Scholas are closing gaps in the tech sector for underrepresented communities.
Together, they tackle questions of economic mobility, affordability, and how nonprofits can sustain impact in a changing city.
Greg, Kalilah, and Debbie also preview NYCETC’s annual conference, “Advancing Affordability Through Jobs, Wages, and Wealth,” discussing why now is the time to align systems, center workforce development in the city’s policy agenda, and hold leadership accountable for tangible change.
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Topics: nonprofit leadership, culinary and tech training, reentry and workforce, affordability crisis, partnerships and systems alignment, NYC workforce ecosystem, leadership journeys, strategic advocacy.
In this NYC Workforce Drop Mini Pod, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris shares his remarks from the City & State Economic Development & Workforce Summit, where NYCETC served as a co-sponsor alongside leaders from across the city and state.
Greg underscores why workforce and economic development cannot be treated as separate conversations. He calls out the persistent gaps—gender and racial wage disparities, unemployment inequities, and the lack of strong on-ramps for local talent into major economic projects—while outlining bold solutions for aligning policy, investment, and accountability.
From the urgent need to better serve prime-age workers and public housing residents, to strengthening wraparound supports like childcare and transit, Greg lays out NYCETC’s Workforce Development Agenda as a roadmap for a more equitable, transparent, and opportunity-driven system. He also makes the case for new city structures—such as a deputy mayor for workforce and economic mobility—and a statewide Empire State Workforce Alliance to unite priorities across New York.
With rising costs, stagnant wages, and a pivotal election just weeks away, Greg emphasizes that the stakes could not be higher. But with coordinated action, he argues, New York can stop managing scarcity and start building prosperity—delivering dignity, mobility, and opportunity for every New Yorker.
Listen now to hear why workforce must be at the center of NYC’s economic future.
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Mini episodes of The NYC Workforce Drop deliver high-impact insights in under 15 minutes, perfect for leaders on the go who want clear analysis and bold ideas for NYC’s workforce future.
In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, host Gregory J. Morris, CEO of NYCETC, sits down with Grace Bonilla, President and CEO of United Way of New York City, for a powerful conversation about equity, leadership, and resilience in New York City’s social safety net.
Grace reflects on her journey as the daughter of Ecuadorian immigrants in Queens, where early experiences interpreting for her parents shaped her pursuit of law and public service. She takes us inside her years at the Human Resources Administration (HRA), where she rose from staff attorney to agency leader, navigating moments of crisis like Hurricane Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic. Grace shares candid stories about fighting for immigrant families, implementing emergency food supports like D-SNAP, and the human toll of leading a workforce during unprecedented times.
Now at the helm of United Way of New York City, Grace speaks to the urgent challenges facing New Yorkers as federal cuts to SNAP and Medicaid loom. She underscores the pressure on local nonprofits and food pantries, and the collective responsibility to ensure that families remain fed, healthy, and supported. Greg and Grace close by looking ahead to the city’s political future, where she offers clear advice for the next mayor: hire people who know what they’re doing, keep ideology in check, and focus on the basics of health and food security.
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Topics: immigrant experience, law and public service, HRA and DHS leadership, emergency response (Hurricane Sandy, COVID-19), food insecurity and SNAP, nonprofit resilience, equity in government systems, immigrant rights, United Way’s role in NYC, leadership in times of crisis, lessons for the next mayor
In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, host Gregory J. Morris, CEO of NYCETC, sits down with David Liebenstein, Executive Managing Director and Co-Chair of Cushman & Wakefield’s Not-for-Profit Advisory Group, for a deep dive into how real estate decisions shape the future of New York City’s workforce and nonprofit sector.
Greg and David explore how questions about buying, selling, or leasing space are far more than financial considerations; they are questions about mission, strategy, and organizational survival.
David draws on decades of experience helping nonprofits navigate complex real estate deals, including Manhattan Neighborhood Network’s transformation of its space into a vibrant media hub. He explains why timing is crucial in today’s market, why most nonprofits still lease rather than buy, and how enlightened developers can create win-win solutions for communities.
The conversation covers the impact of remote work on space needs, the challenges of making long-term decisions in a moment of uncertainty, and the opportunity for nonprofits to leverage today’s tenant-friendly market. Greg and David also discuss the intersection of workforce development, city planning, and the “City of Yes” rezoning efforts, highlighting the urgent need for thoughtful leadership and public-private collaboration.
Topics: nonprofit real estate strategy, leasing vs. buying, endowments and long-term sustainability, COVID-19’s impact on office space, community development, mission-driven decision-making, landlord-tenant dynamics, human services funding, workforce equity, affordable housing, zoning and land use, NYC real estate market trends, leadership in times of change, win-win development strategies
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
In this mini episode, real estate veteran David Lebenstein, Executive Managing Director, Not For Profit Specialty Practice Group at Cushman & Wakefield, joins The NYC Workforce Drop to share a powerful story about balancing development pressures with the moral imperative to keep vulnerable New Yorkers housed.
David walks listeners through two real-world examples where nonprofits faced difficult decisions about selling or renovating Single Room Occupancy (SRO) buildings with residents still living inside. Instead of displacing tenants, David and his partners worked with City Hall to close financial gaps, protect residents, and ensure dignified transitions when relocation was necessary.
The conversation highlights the friction between market forces and mission-driven goals, the importance of creative problem-solving, and the human impact of policy choices.
Mini episodes of The NYC Workforce Drop deliver high-impact insights in under 15 minutes, perfect for leaders on the go who want clear analysis and bold ideas for NYC’s workforce future.
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Topics: affordable housing, nonprofit partnerships, SRO preservation, ethical development, tenant protection, City Hall negotiations, housing policy, displacement prevention, public-private collaboration, NYC real estate
In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, host Gregory J Morris, CEO of NYCETC, sits down with Collin Smith, Director at The Information Lab US and the leader of The Data School’s U.S. operations. Together, they explore how innovative apprenticeship models are opening doors to high-demand data careers for New Yorkers from all backgrounds.
Collin shares his personal journey from nonprofit data storytelling to building a pipeline of data professionals through a paid, 24-month, cohort-based program that prioritizes potential over pedigree. He breaks down how the Data School approach removes traditional barriers—such as degree requirements and resume screenings—while equipping participants with in-demand skills in data visualization, analytics, and cloud tools.
The conversation highlights why apprenticeships matter now more than ever: connecting untapped talent with employer demand, fostering economic mobility, and creating more inclusive workforce pipelines. Greg and Collin also discuss how data literacy is becoming a core competency across industries and why scalable models like this could redefine workforce development for NYC.
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Topics: apprenticeships, data careers, potential-based hiring, workforce equity, economic mobility, diversity in tech, data literacy, mentorship, employer demand, training-to-placement models, NYC workforce development, inclusive pipelines, future of work
In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, host Gregory J Morris, CEO of NYCETC, sits down with Grace Rauh, award-winning former NY1 political reporter, founder of the 5Boro Institute, and now Executive Director of Citizens Union.
Together, they trace Grace’s journey from journalism to civic leadership and explore how her work is shaping systemic reform across New York City.
Grace shares why childcare must be viewed as essential civic infrastructure, keeping families rooted in the city and ensuring that parents, especially women, can fully participate in the workforce.
She also breaks down her call to “finish the job” on election reform by expanding access for New York’s 1+ million unaffiliated voters, aligning local elections with higher-turnout years, and protecting the city’s pioneering campaign finance system.
The conversation goes beyond elections to spotlight Citizens Union’s broader push for stronger ethics enforcement, independent oversight, and building public trust in government through transparency and accountability.
Tune in for a thoughtful discussion about the connections between democracy, opportunity, and the systems that make New York work for all.
Topics: Civic reform, Citizens Union, election reform, open primaries, voter participation, campaign finance, childcare as infrastructure, women in the workforce, public trust, government accountability, ethics and oversight, transparency, inclusive democracy, civic leadership, New York City governance
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
In this mini episode, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris and Citizens Union Executive Director Grace Rauh sit down to unpack the latest indictments to drop against seven individuals, including Ingrid Lewis-Martin, and this week's scandal involving Winnie Greco — a longtime ally of Mayor Adams who resigned last year as his Asian community liaison after being the subject of multiple investigations.
Greco has recently re-emerged as a visible presence in the mayor’s re-election campaign and reportedly attempted to hand THE CITY reporter Katie Honan a wad of cash in a red envelope tucked inside an open bag of potato chips.
Greg and Grace share their first impressions of the controversy and discuss what it reveals about public trust and accountability across all levels of government, especially with mayoral elections on the horizon this fall.
Mini episodes of The NYC Workforce Drop deliver high-impact insights in under 15 minutes, perfect for leaders on the go who want clear analysis and bold ideas for NYC’s workforce future.
Topics: scandal, political accountability, mayoral elections, public trust, ethics in government, media and transparency, voter confidence, civic engagement, NYC politics, watchdog journalism, leadership credibility
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Gregory J. Morris sits down with David Fischer, Interim Executive Director of the New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP), for a conversation on the state of New York’s workforce development system and what it will take to unlock true mobility for workers.
Drawing on his decades of leadership across city government, education, philanthropy, and nonprofit advocacy, David reflects on the throughline of his career: building systems that center people. From his early work founding the workforce policy desk at the Center for an Urban Future, to championing CTE innovation at NYC DOE, to launching the Center for Youth Employment, his trajectory underscores the power of aligning policy, philanthropy, and lived experience.
Greg and David unpack the systemic challenges holding back progress: fragmented funding streams, misaligned performance metrics, and a scarcity mindset that leads to short-term fixes rather than durable solutions.
The conversation highlights what’s at stake if New York continues to underinvest in its workforce infrastructure, and what’s possible if policymakers treat workforce equity as essential to the state’s future competitiveness and inclusive growth.
This episode offers a blueprint for moving from “just employment” to real mobility, calling on listeners, advocates, and policymakers alike to help reclaim the ladder of opportunity for New Yorkers too often left behind.
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Topics: Workforce policy reform, NYATEP, systemic alignment, workforce equity, middle-wage jobs, care economy, reskilling pathways, poverty and opportunity, NYCETC, funding fragmentation, long-term investment, career mobility
Gregory J. Morris sits down with Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director of FPWA, for a powerful conversation about purpose-driven leadership, the realities of economic deprivation, and the urgent need to rethink how we measure and achieve economic dignity for New Yorkers.
Jennifer opens up about her personal journey, from growing up as the daughter of civil rights leader Rev. William Augustus Jones Jr. to facing and overcoming a life-threatening battle with leukemia. Through stories of faith, family, and recovery, she shares how these deeply formative experiences shaped her unwavering commitment to service, equity, and systems change.
Greg and Jennifer dig into her career spanning senior city government roles, leading the NYC Racial Justice Commission, and shepherding the groundbreaking “True Cost of Living” ballot measure into law. They unpack the concept of “structural economic deprivation,” revealing how outdated poverty metrics and flawed policy design leave too many working New Yorkers unable to make ends meet.
From low wages and benefits cliffs to inaccessible child care and the often-overlooked toll of trauma, Jennifer makes the case for a new framework, one that treats advocacy, wraparound supports, and trauma-informed care as essential pillars of workforce development.
This conversation moves from the deeply personal to the urgently political, offering both inspiration and a clear-eyed call to action for policymakers, practitioners, and anyone who believes that economic security should be a right, not a privilege.
Stream the full episode and subscribe for future conversations with changemakers, industry leaders, and the voices shaping New York’s workforce future.
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Topics: Purpose-driven leadership, structural economic deprivation, economic dignity, workforce equity, poverty measurement reform, trauma-informed care, advocacy as infrastructure, FPWA, True Cost of Living, NYC public policy, racial equity, systemic change, child care access, wraparound supports, NYCETC
In this mini episode, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris issues an urgent call to action in response to the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and the real-time threats it poses to essential safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP.
Greg reflects on NYCETC’s recent mobilization, where over 100 organizations joined a collective letter opposing the federal government’s push toward economic contraction. He discusses why any effort to reduce access to healthcare and food security is also an attack on economic mobility, equitable job opportunities, and employment growth.
If New York is to remain a place of opportunity, leaders at every level must rethink how we use our dollars, how we collaborate, and how we move forward with collective strength.
Mini episodes of The NYC Workforce Drop deliver high-impact insights in under 15 minutes, perfect for leaders on the go who want clear analysis and bold ideas for NYC’s workforce future.
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Topics: federal policy, Medicaid, SNAP, safety net cuts, economic contraction, workforce stability, family security, public investment, collective action, economic mobility, civic engagement, NYCETC
Gregory J. Morris is joined by Maria Lizardo, Executive Director of NMIC and longtime human services leader, for a powerful and personal conversation about what it takes to lead with heart, humility, and impact in today’s nonprofit sector.
Maria reflects on her journey from organizing in Washington Heights to becoming NMIC’s first Latina Executive Director, sharing how her upbringing, early professional experiences, and personal conviction shaped her values-driven leadership style.
Together, Greg and Maria confront one of the most avoided topics in the nonprofit world: failure. From funder pressures to cultural expectations, Maria lays out the invisible costs of perfectionism and, in particular, the toll it takes on women of color in leadership. They unpack why embracing failure is a critical function of innovation, healing, and sustainable systems change.
As the episode moves through leadership lessons, service delivery challenges, and broader calls to action for city and state leaders, Maria offers wisdom forged through decades of advocacy and organizing. Care is infrastructure, metrics must serve the mission (not the other way around), and systems must make room for truth, risk, and real transformation.
Stream the full episode and subscribe for future conversations with changemakers, industry leaders, and the voices shaping New York’s workforce future.
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Topics: Nonprofit leadership, cultural stigma around failure, women of color in leadership, workforce equity, human services workforce, immigrant communities, Latina leadership, systemic advocacy, care infrastructure, NMIC, NYC public policy, trust-based funding, NYCETC
In this first mini episode, Gregory J. Morris offers a look at what New York City’s 2025 Democratic primary results mean for the future of workers, affordability, and public investment. As general election season heats up, this episode delivers a sharp call to action for incoming leadership: workforce equity and affordability aren’t side issues; they are the foundation of a thriving city.
Greg lays out the stakes: early policy signals from candidates, and the urgent need for real outcomes. He challenges City Hall to embrace workforce providers as strategic partners in building an inclusive and resilient New York City.
This mini episode delivers focused insights on what the primary reveals about voter priorities on jobs, cost of living, and public services; what real leadership requires: smart investments, transparent metrics, and collaboration; why the next administration must treat affordability, equity, and mobility as interconnected
Topics: NYC mayoral primary, workforce equity, affordability, economic mobility, public investment, labor market, NYCETC
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
