Lobbying for #JustPay in Albany

On March 8th, Riis staff joined hundreds of human services workers from nonprofits across the city for an advocacy day in Albany. The #JustPay campaign, organized by the Human Services Council, advocates for policies to support city-contracted human services workers, including funding an 8.5% cost of living increase and creating a human services wage board. One Riis staff member who attended the event, our bilingual NNORC case manager Jessica Mojica, said: “During our day lobbying at the Capitol, we were able to speak to elected officials about the importance of human services work, and how providing adequate pay to these essential workers can help sustain communities during a public health crisis, as well as any other crisis. We were able to attend a press conference that allowed for a wide range of human services workers that serve diverse communities to come together as one to get our voices heard.” Jessica was able to meet with NYS Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani and NYS Senator Kristen Gonzalez, and share how human services workers at Riis are vital to uplifting the western Queens community and helping our neighbors achieve self-sufficiency. We are so proud of the work that they do every day. Thank you to the Human Services Council and all other attendees for advocating for this important cause.