Earlier in April, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio released his latest proposal for the city’s budget — with serious cuts proposed to CUNY. On Tuesday, May 25, Young Invincibles’ New York submitted testimony to New York City Council, urging the Council’s Committee on Finance to invest in New York’s students in the Fiscal Year 2022 budget. Here’s what our YI-NY team had to say to the Council:

• Nikaury Urena, a LaGuardia Community College student, urged the City to invest in programs like the Summer Youth Employment Program and CUNY Service Corps.
• Lia Guzman Genao, another YI advocate, testified about the need for more inclusive mental health counseling on her campus at CUNY’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and increasing funding for CUNY ASAP and campus food programs.
• Melanie Kruvelis, YI-NY’s Senior Manager of Policy and Advocacy, also submitted testimony, urging serious investment in mental health counseling, SNAP outreach and enrollment, and youth employment programs

Check out our testimonies here.