Advocate

Advocate

Advocate

A group of Grand St. Settlement staff stand outside with signs advocacting for pay equity.

Grand St. Settlement works with our participants, elected officials, government funders, coalition partners, and community advocates to address challenges and support initiatives that have a direct impact on our neighbors. Learn more about the 6 issues below and take action.

Grand St. Settlement works with our participants, elected officials, government funders, coalition partners, and community advocates to address challenges and support initiatives that have a direct impact on our neighbors. Learn more about the 6 issues below and take action.

Protect Head Start

Head Start is a federally funded child care program supporting low-income families with children from birth through kindergarten with free preschool, health screenings, nutritional support, professional development for parents, and much more. Statistics show that this is one of the most successful programs to have come out of the war on poverty in the 1960s, with children who have taken place being more successful in nearly every aspect of life.

Proposed federal funding cuts could wipe out this program that supports nearly 1 million children across the country in urban and rural communities. Doing so would have drastic effects on the children, their families, and communities who rely on them.

Call your representatives today and urge them to do everything they can to protect Head Start!


Access to Representation

Our partners at New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) are working at the state level to ensure that anyone at risk of deportation or navigating immigration proceedings who cannot afford a lawyer will be provided one. 

As deportations increase, it’s vital that individuals receive due process under the law. A major part of that due process is expert legal representation. Without this support, New Yorkers are at risk regardless of their citizenship status. 

NYIC is calling on New Yorkers to contact their representatives using this form - a quick and easy way to make a real difference in your community.

A crowd of people with the image focused on a sign that says "end poverty wages for essential workers"
A crowd of people with the image focused on a sign that says "end poverty wages for essential workers"

#JustPay

Human services workers throughout New York City are operating on poverty wages decided by government contracts. Organizations are rallying to fight for our staff and demand #JustPay. Human Services Council has put together a list of steps the Mayor and City Council must take to pay nonprofit workers a living wage.

  • Fund a 7.8% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for human service workers in FY 2025-2026

  • Establish, fund, and enforce an ongoing, automatic annual COLA on all human services contracts.

  • Establish a Wage Floor for all City and State-contracted human services workers.

  • Create, fund, and incorporate a comprehensive wage and benefits schedule for government-contracted human services workers comparable to the salaries made by City and State employees in the same field.

Sign up here to learn more about the campaign and stay updated on actions or rallies.

Support Afterschool

Afterschool programs at Grand Street serve thousands of children across New York City. These vital activities provide children and teens a safe place to explore their passions before parents get home from work. STEAM activities, social-emotional learning, and mentorship create outlets for young people to express themselves.

As important as these programs are, they're drastically underfunded. Community based organizations are consistently expected to provide quality programs without the investments needed. Current funds barely cover facility maintenance, staffing, and program supplies with very little wiggle room. Often the funding, in fact, doesn't cover the necessities and organizations are either driven into debt or operate at a deficit.

Our partners at United Neighborhood Houses are calling for $322 million to appropriately address the true cost of New York City's publicly funded COMPASS and SONYC programs.

Call your City Council Member and tell them we need a $322 million investment in afterschool to ensure our children stay safe, engaged, and have the opportunities to meet their full potential.

A young child doing arts and crafts in a classroom
A young child doing arts and crafts in a classroom

Universal Child Care

The average cost of Child Care in New York City is $24,000 per year. In comparison, a full year of tuition at City College of New York is around $8,000 per year. When faced with these costs, parents must make difficult choices that may lead to going into debt, leaving a job to stay at home, or leave their children with untrained family members or neighbors.

Universal Child Care is one of the best policies towards curbing child poverty. It allows parents to work, builds a vital foundation of learning for children, and creates opportunity for financial stability for young families.

At the City level, we’re working with the City Council to expand our Universal Pre-K and 3-K programs in neighborhoods of high-need. Bills are also being considered in our State Assembly and Senate that would make programs more affordable and expand access to Universal Child Care.

Stay up to date with the fight for Universal Child Care at the City level by following New Yorkers United for Child Care.


Funding for NORCs

Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) support aging residents who are financially unable to move into assisted living or other retirement facilities. These programs provide case management that supports medical visits, financial assistance, and other vital services to help our neighbors grow older with dignity.

Rising costs in healthcare and a lack of public funding has made these programs more important and while simultaneously less able to meet the needs of our older adults.

We’re working in coalition to urge our elected officials in New York City to add $4 Million to the City budget to strengthen these programs that keep our seniors healthy and connected to their community.

Call your City Council member and tell them you support increasing funding for NORCs by $4 Million!

A group of people and children gathered at a rally for preschool funding.
A group of people and children gathered at a rally for preschool funding.
Two men take a picture in front of the Capital Building in Washington DC
Two men take a picture in front of the Capital Building in Washington DC
A group of people pose for a photo while advocating for increased education funding.
A group of people pose for a photo while advocating for increased education funding.
A group of advocates from United Neighborhood Houses stand on steps at the Capital building in Albany, NY.
A group of advocates from United Neighborhood Houses stand on steps at the Capital building in Albany, NY.

We need your support on these vital initiatives.

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with advocacy actions and help us build power in our communities.

We need your support on these vital initiatives.

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with advocacy actions and help us build power in our communities.

Latest News

A screenshot of the Grand St. Settlement homepage
A screenshot of the Grand St. Settlement homepage

February 14, 2025

Take a tour of our website and check out the new features!

A copy of My First Day the Grand Street Way sitting on a bench
A copy of My First Day the Grand Street Way sitting on a bench

October 16, 2024

Grand Street's new book helps children and parents adjust to starting school for the first time.

October 4, 2024

A look inside the restorative partnership between Dorill Initiative and Grand St. Settlement.

July 16, 2024

Grand Street is expanding in Brooklyn and the Bronx to serve 583 more children.

african american woman
african american woman

February 22, 2024

A recent report from Robin Hood Foundation found 1 in 4 New York City children live in poverty.

January 9, 2024

Grand St. Settlement is proud to honor Raul Russi, President of Acacia Network at Taste of the Lower East Side 2024.

A screenshot of the Grand St. Settlement homepage

February 14, 2025

Take a tour of our website and check out the new features!

A copy of My First Day the Grand Street Way sitting on a bench

October 16, 2024

Grand Street's new book helps children and parents adjust to starting school for the first time.

October 4, 2024

A look inside the restorative partnership between Dorill Initiative and Grand St. Settlement.

July 16, 2024

Grand Street is expanding in Brooklyn and the Bronx to serve 583 more children.

african american woman

February 22, 2024

A recent report from Robin Hood Foundation found 1 in 4 New York City children live in poverty.

2025 Grand Street Settlement. All right reserved.

80 Pitt Street, New York, NY 10002

212-674-1740

Grand St. Settlement is a registered 501(c)(3)

2024 Grand Street Settlement. All right reserved.

80 Pitt Street, New York, NY 10002

212-674-1740

Grand St. Settlement is a registered 501(c)(3)

2024 Grand Street Settlement. All right reserved.

80 Pitt Street, New York, NY 10002

212-674-1740

Grand St. Settlement is a registered 501(c)(3)

2024 Grand Street Settlement. All right reserved.

80 Pitt Street, New York, NY 10002

212-674-1740

Grand St. Settlement is a registered 501(c)(3)