For Immediate Release
YONKERS, NY — Yesterday, Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16) visited the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Yonkers’ Workforce Development Program, which is launching a new initiative funded by the $690,000 in community project funding that his office secured for the organization. Rep. Bowman met with YWCA leadership, program staff, and participants, about how the funding will serve the community. The new initiative will serve approximately 200 Yonkers residents with services including job skill assessments, work readiness workshops, postsecondary education preparation and placement, career guidance, child care, and transportation for participants.
“Everyone deserves to have the resources and support they need to reach their full potential,” said Congressman Jamaal Bowman Ed.D. (NY-16). “But so many of our youth are held back by a lack of financial resources to invest in themselves and their careers, which perpetuates the cycle of intergenerational poverty. When we invest in our young people, it makes an incredible difference, not just for the individuals, but for the entire community. That’s why I’m so proud that we were able to secure over $690,000 for the YWCA of Yonkers’ Workforce Development Program. They’re already doing incredible work and I can’t wait to see their impact on the community expand with this new funding.”
“The $690,000 that Congressman Bowman advocated for us to get is going to go a long, long way,” said YWCA CEO Charlie Knight. “We’re going to be able to expand our program to include different career paths and reach a lot more people. This is one of our most important programs at the YWCA because it’s focused on helping low-income people out of poverty by supporting them to advance in their careers and find stable, well-paying jobs. That’s where we want to see our participants go, and we’ve had a very high success rate so far. This new funding means that we’ll get to support even more people in the community. ”
“People in this program haven’t had the same opportunities in life as others,” said Sonya Wynn, a participant of the program. “Most of these doors were closed to us financially, but now they’re open because of Congressman Bowman, and that’s amazing for us.”
“This program has made a big difference for a lot of people,” said Program Coordinator Star Hendricks. “I stay in touch with former participants and they are really successful and moving up. The program opens their eyes to different things and shows them new paths, while also giving them a community to lean on for support. I’m really happy that we’re able to do so much with a job readiness program and I think it makes a big difference in people’s lives.”
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