Community Voices Heard

On July 24th in Newburgh, CVH members from three different chapters came together to tell OTDA Commissioner David Hansell and other State Officials what they need for economic security. Governor Paterson's Economic Security Cabinet held a series of Town Hall meetings around the state to hear poverty-fighting recommendations. CVH members Korrenthea Catts from Poughkeepsie, Johannsis Peralta from Beacon (Dutchess County), and Alya Russell from Yonkers testified about their experiences with Social Services and gave recommendations to the Cabinet members present.

Korrenthea Catts spoke about the need for sanction reform, after her 12 year old daughter's public assistance was cut off for forgetting a form. Johannsis Peralta testified about being a public assistance recipient who can't get access to good training programs or job opportunities, and spoke about the need for statewide transitional jobs and Career Pathways program. Alya Russell, a young mother who was told she would be cut off from public assistance if she attends school full-time, spoke about the need for better access to education.

Korrenthea, Johannsis, and Alya were all mentioned or quoted in the local papers' coverage, which you can read here:

Korrenthea Catts and Alya Russell in the Mid Hudson News article

Johannsis Peralta in the Poughkeepsie Journal article

The CVH members were among the only low income residents to speak at the meeting. Now they are just waiting to hear which of their recommendations make it into the Governor's plans for New York State!