As a New York City Council Member, I am often required to address converging crises. Today, many of them relate to COVID-19, and the racial and economic disparities it brought to light. This is especially true in communities like the one I represent in Bed-Stuy. These disparities can be traced to systemic failures that are painfully visible as homelessness and mass incarceration.
We can all agree that our society excludes and devalues certain people. People that happen to look a lot like me and my constituents.
But over 30 years ago, The Doe Fund made a major investment in Bed-Stuy and in its residents. It opened its first transitional facility right on Gates Avenue, and since then it has transformed the lives of thousands of my constituents. The Doe Fund and the people it serves have been my partners; together, we have been able to advance economic justice, and in doing so, move the needle on racial equity.
I’ll tell you what Ready, Willing & Able means on-the-ground in Bed-Stuy. It of course means clean streets. But it also means safer streets. The presence of the Men in Blue throughout the neighborhood has a transformative effect on the larger community. Their troubles, and their extraordinary success in overcoming them, make these men leaders and resources for people at risk of becoming homeless or justice-involved. Their presence improves public safety.
The Ready, Willing & Able facility at Gates Avenue is a beacon. As a program located within the community, it represents a successful alternative to costly, ineffective institutions like our jails and prisons. I worked at Rikers Island and in the NYC jail system, so I know firsthand just how difficult it is to move someone from those inhumane conditions back into mainstream society. We need programs that prevent marginalizing people even more than they already are.
The strength of our city, our country, and our society depends on creating pathways to success for every single human being. That was George’s vision. It is what Harriet and The Doe Fund’s current leadership are making possible. And not just in my community, but in six others across the United States where this program has been replicated.
I’m proud that a program born in my district and that I’ve supported for years represents a national solution to homelessness and recidivism. This solution works in my backyard and in communities throughout America, from big cities to suburbs and even rural areas. Ready, Willing & Able is a bridge to reach, prepare, support, and stabilize people so they can contribute to an inclusive recovery. The return on investment, both socially and financially, is massive.
My term as City Council Member ends on December 31st. I believe that with Eric Adams as Mayor, New York will not just return to glory, but reach new levels of greatness. And The Doe Fund will help that happen.
On my end, I pledge to continue advocating for public and private investment in this model and in our most valuable resource—our people. Harnessing this potential will break intergenerational cycles of poverty and transform communities. Ready, Willing & Able does this here in NYC, and with your continued support, it will continue to do so for generations of Americans to come.