♪ [THEME MUSIC] ♪
>> HELLO.
I AM RONNIE ELDRIDGE.
WE SHOULD KNOW OUR COUNTRY IS AT
ITS BEST WHEN PEOPLE CARE ABOUT
EACH OTHER, ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE PUBLIC
GOOD.
NEW YORK CARES WAS STARTED IN
1987 TO HELP NEW YORKERS DO JUST
THAT.
GARY BAGLEY HAS MANY THOUGHTS
ABOUT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, SERVICE,
AND I'M PLEASED HE IS MY GUESTS
TODAY SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS.
>> IT IS GOOD TO BE HERE.
>> TELL ME WHAT NEW YORK
CARES IS.
>> NEW YORK CARES IS THE
CITY'S LARGEST NETWORK OF
VOLUNTEERS.
WE ACTIVELY PUT 65,000
VOLUNTEERS INTO THE COMMUNITY
LAST YEAR, JUST THE FIVE
BOROUGHS.
WE WORK IN EDUCATION.
THAT IS ALMOST HALF OF OUR WORK.
SCHOOL PROGRAMS.
WE DO EVERYTHING FROM TUTORING
PROGRAMS WITH ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS, PARENT ENGAGEMENT
PROGRAMS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
WE ARE A PROVIDER OF CITIZENSHIP
PREPARATION SERVICES SUPPORTING
OUR NONPROFIT WORKERS.
>> DO YOU MENTOR KIDS?
>> WE ARE THE CITY'S LARGEST
TUITION-FREE SAT PREP PROGRAM.
WE HAVE 400 VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE
BEEN TRAINED TO PREPARE
STUDENTS.
THEY ARE HELPING ABOUT 1100
STUDENTS PREPARE THIS YEAR.
IN PAST YEARS WE'VE HAD SCORE
INCREASES ON AVERAGE AS HIGH AS
200.
>> HOW WELL DO THE CHILDREN
DO?
>> THEY ARE GREAT.
WE REALLY HAVE OVER THE LAST
YEAR AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO
THIS MORE AND MORE INTENTIONALLY
IS FOCUSED ON THOSE STUDENTS WHO
ARE IN MOST NEED OF SERVICES.
THE GAP BETWEEN -- ESPECIALLY IN
COLLEGE, THE KIND OF COLLEGE
THEY MIGHT GO TO, OFTEN IS THE
TEST.
NOT EVERYONE BELIEVES IN TESTING
BUT IT IS STILL THE RIGHT OF
PASSAGE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE FIND, AND
THIS HAPPENS THROUGHOUT THE
EDUCATIONAL PROCESS IS WE ARE
STARTING NOW IN MOST SCHOOLS
WITH A PROGRAM CALLED SOPHOMORE
SKILLS.
THAT IS BASIC TUTORING TO MAKE
SURE BY JUNIOR YEAR THE STUDENTS
ARE READY TO PREPARE FOR THE
SAT.
IF WE START IN OCTOBER AND NOW
THE TEST IS IN MARCH AND THE
STUDENT IS COMING IN BEHIND
WHERE THEY SHOULD BE IN THE
11TH GRADE, THE HOPE OF GOOD
PERFORMANCE IS DIFFICULT.
WE WANT TO START A LITTLE
EARLIER.
IT BECOMES A QUESTION OF EQUITY.
PARENTS IN THE CITY, IT IS
SEVENTH-GRADE AND THEY ARE
TALKING ABOUT THE SAT AND ABOUT
COLLEGE AND ABOUT TEST FOR
SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS, AND
THEN THERE IS ANOTHER GROUP OF
STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT BE
PREPARING BUT COULD BE CAPABLE
OF GOING TO A SPECIALIZED HIGH
SCHOOL, GOING TO ANY OF A NUMBER
OF COLLEGES, BUT THE ADDED
SUPPORT BY THEIR SCHOOLS THAT
ARE TOO CASH-STRAPPED TO PROVIDE
IT, PARENTS MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN
TO START.
>> DO YOU ALSO DO JUNIOR
HIGH SCHOOLS?
>> WE ARE STARTING TO WORK
WITH JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
ONE PROGRAM WE DON'T HAVE YET
AND WHEN WE ARE GETTING THE MOST
REQUESTS FOR IS PREPARING FOR
THE SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL
TESTS.
THERE IS A HUGE IMBALANCE.
THE SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS
WANT TO BE SERVING THE CITY AND
REALLY REFLECT THE POPULATION OF
THE CITY.
THEY ARE AWARE THEY DO NOT.
AGAIN, THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF
THIS THAT IS THE ABILITY TO
PREPARE FOR TESTS.
WE HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY AWARE
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS
THAT AS DIVERSE CITY AS NEW
YORK CITY IS, OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ARE NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED.
THEY ARE NOT AS DIVERSE IN THE
SCHOOL.
LAST WEEK WE HAD OUR BIG DAY OF
SERVICE FOR SCHOOLS CALLED NEW
YORK CARES DAY.
WE HAD 3000 VOLUNTEERS OUT IN
ABOUT 35 PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THAT IS A DAY WE FOCUS ON
LAUNCHING A YEAR OF EDUCATION
PROGRAMS.
WE WERE GARDENING, PAINTING
MURALS, GETTING VOLUNTEERS INTO
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND HOPING
TO HOOK THEM SO THEY UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTS ARE LIKE.
>> IF I HEARD THAT YOU WERE
GOING TO PAINT SOME CLASSROOMS
IN A SCHOOL ON MY CORNER.
CAN I JOIN IN THE EFFORT THAT
DAY?
>> WE DO ASK YOU TO SIGN UP
EARLY.
THERE IS A BIT OF A PROCESS.
WE WERE FOUNDED TO MAKE IT AS
EASY AS POSSIBLE.
THERE IS A MOMENT WHERE MOST
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES THAT
DISAPPOINT US, IT IS EITHER
THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE, TOO
FEW PEOPLE, THE SUPPLIES WERE
NOT THERE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF LOGISTICAL
CONCERNS.
WE HAVE TRIED TO EXPLAIN IF
WE ARE PLANNING AN EVENT FOR 50
PEOPLE, IT NEEDS 50 PEOPLE.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO
DO, ALSO FOR OUR PARTNERS.
IF WE DO GET DROPPED BYs, WE
SIGN THEM UP FOR NEXT WEEKEND.
STARTING WITH NEW YORK CARES,
FOR ANYBODY WHO DOES NOT KNOW,
IT IS EASY.
A VOLUNTEER GOES TO ONE
ONE-HOUR ORIENTATION.
ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR
ORIENTATIONS ARE OFFERED
THROUGH DIGITAL.
WHETHER YOU CAN COME TO OUR
OFFICES, SIT IN ON A WEBINAR,
AFTER THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO
ALMOST 1700 PROJECTS HAPPENING
ACROSS THE FIVE BOROUGHS EVERY
MONTH.
EVERY MONTH AROUND 11,000 PEOPLE
GET OFF THE COUCH OR UP FROM
BEHIND THEIR DESKS, SHOW UP
SOMEWHERE IN THE FIVE BOROUGHS
TO HELP.
WHETHER YOU NEED CURRICULUM FOR
CITIZENSHIP PROGRAMS, GLITTER
FOR YOUR ART ACTIVITIES, SNACKS
FOR YOUR ACTIVITIES PROGRAM,
WE SUPPLY ALL OF THAT.
THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS AS A
VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION SOMEBODY
WILL SAY, WHY DOES THIS COST
ANYTHING?
THE MOMENT THE VOLUNTEER GIVES
BACK IS DONE FREE.
THE PREPARATION OF MAKING SURE
THE NONPROFIT OR PUBLIC SCHOOL
IS READY, THAT WE DIAGNOSE THEIR
NEEDS, ORDER SUPPLIES FOR
THEIR CURRICULUM, IT IS A LOT.
>> IT IS A 21ST CENTURY
OPERATION.
WHAT OTHER MAJOR AREAS?
>> THE OTHER MAJOR AREAS ARE
IMMEDIATE NEEDS.
HUNGER PROGRAMMING, WORKING AT
FOOD PANTRIES AND
SOUP KITCHENS, AND VISITING
SENIORS WHICH IS ONE OF THE
BIGGEST GROWING PROGRAMS WE
HAVE.
POVERTY AMONGST SENIOR CITIZENS
IS GROWING.
ON TOP OF IT THERE IS A LOT OF
LANGUAGE ISSUES,
FOR ACCESS TO BENEFITS.
THIS YEAR WE ARE EXCITED.
WE WILL PILOT A PROGRAM.
WE JUST GOT A GRANT WE ARE
THRILLED AT WHERE WE WILL BE
WORKING TO BRING BILINGUAL
VOLUNTEERS INTO SENIOR
CENTERS, HOPING TO BRING MORE
SENIORS INTO THE CENTER WHO
MIGHT HAVE FELT A LACK OF
LANGUAGE, THE ABILITY TO SPEAK
THE LANGUAGE WAS A BARRIER.
WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS
WHO ARE BILINGUAL AND EAGER TO
PUT THAT SKILL TO USE.
WE ALL WANT TO BE USEFUL.
THE LAST BIT OF OUR WORK, WHICH
IS PROBABLY WHAT PEOPLE
WOULD THINK OF US FIRST IS WHAT
WE CALL PUBLIC SPACES.
THAT IS THE PAINTING, THE
GARDENING.
WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF VOLUNTEERS,
THEY THINK OF PAINT AND RAKES.
THAT IS JUST UNDER 10% OF THE
WORK.
THE BULK OF THE WORK IS
EDUCATION AND IMMEDIATE NEEDS.
THE THING WE ARE KNOWN FOR IS
THE ANNUAL COAT DRIVE.
>> WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT
IN A MINUTE.
THE UNDERLINE BASIS IS REALLY,
IT WAS FORMED BY --
>> VOLUNTEERS.
>> WHAT KIND OF VOLUNTEERS?
>> WE WERE FOUNDED BY A GROUP
OF FRIENDS WHO ARE UNABLE TO
VOLUNTEER FOR A COUPLE OF
REASONS.
AND THEY WERE EMPLOYED.
THEY WERE TWENTYSOMETHINGS,
STARTING THEIR CAREERS.
THEIR CAREERS EITHER DID NOT
PERMIT THEM TO GO OUT DURING THE
DAY OR TO MAKE SOME OF THE KIND
OF COMMITMENT LEVELS THEY WERE
BEING ASKED AND THEY KNEW THEY
CANNOT MAKE IN GOOD CONSCIENCE.
THE OTHER SIDE OF IT WAS
HOMELESS SHELTERS.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS DID NOT HAVE
VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS.
ANY TIME THEY DID TRY TO
HAVE A VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE,
THEY WERE OFTEN DISAPPOINTED.
THEY FOUND "NEW YORK CARES."
THEY TRIED TO FIGURE IT OUT FOR
A COUPLE OF YEARS AND FINALLY
ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF OUR GROUP
SAID THERE SHOULD BE AN
ORGANIZATION.
PEOPLE ASK WHAT WE DO.
EVERYTHING THAT IS HARD ABOUT
VOLUNTEERING, THAT IS WHAT WE
ARE DOING AT THE OFFICE.
>> DO THEY STILL COME
AROUND?
>> ONE OF THE FOUNDERS IS
STILL ON THE BOARD,
JEANNE STRAUS.
SHE REMAINS COMMITTED.
YOU WOULD THINK SHE JOINED THE
BOARD LAST YEAR.
SHE HAS THAT ENERGY AND VIGOR.
>> SHE COMES FROM A FAMILY
THAT WAS ALWAYS VERY COMMUNITY
EVERYTHING INVOLVED.
DO YOU FIND A LOT OF YOUR
VOLUNTEERS COME FROM THAT KIND
OF FAMILY?
>> FOLKS ARE MOTIVATED IN A
VARIETY OF WAYS.
>> DO THEY REALIZE THEY
HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY?
I GREW UP BELIEVING I HAD A
RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTRIBUTE.
>> WE STILL SEE THAT.
WE HAVE PERIODICALLY SURVEY
VOLUNTEERS ABOUT
WHY THEY STARTED.
WHY DID YOU CONTINUE?
FOR THOSE THAT ARE LESS ACTIVE,
WHY DID IT DROP OFF?
WHEN THE MOTIVATION IS THE
HIGHER PURPOSE -- THE NUMBER ONE
RESPONSE FOR US IS MAKING NEW
YORK CITY A BETTER PLACE
TO LIVE.
FOLKS ATTACH IT TO THE CITY, A
SENSE OF IMPROVING THE CITY.
THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON
FOLKS CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
>> DOES THAT MEAN THEY FACE
INJUSTICES YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT
BEFORE?
>> FOLKS ARE MORE AWARE OF
POLITICAL ISSUES, SOCIALLY
AWARE.
ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF OUR
VOLUNTEERS ARE BETWEEN 18 AND
34.
OUR MODEL APPEALS TO THE YOUNG
NEW YORKER WHO IS LOOKING FOR
ACCESS BUT DON'T HAVE ALL THE
DAY TO LOOK FOR THE VOLUNTEER
PROGRAM.
NEW YORK CARES IS TAKING CARE OF
-- THERE IS GOOD CONTENT AND
EXPERIENCES FOR YOU TO ACCESS
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND FIVE
HOURS FIGURING IT OUT.
WE SPEND THAT FIVE HOURS.
INCREASINGLY, THE MILLENNIAL
GENERATION THAT A LOT OF FOLKS
HAVE TALKED SO MUCH ABOUT, ONE
OF THE WONDERFUL ASPECTS IS
THERE IS A DESIRE NOT ONLY TO DO
SERVICE BUT TO LEARN FROM THAT
EXPERIENCE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS WE CAN
REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
20 YEARS AGO, WE WOULD'VE LOVED
TO EDUCATE YOU ON ISSUES BUT A
LOT OF FOLKS WOULD LIKE LET ME
GO AND DO MY THING AND THEN I
WILL GO HOME.
NOW FOLKS ARE READING THINGS
IN THE PAPER,
SEEING THINGS ON TWITTER,
INSTAGRAM, EVERYWHERE.
VOLUNTEERISM IS A WAY FOR US
EACH TO MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGE
THAT WE CAN GRASP IN WHAT IS A
HUGE ENVIRONMENT WE ARE BEING
BOMBARDED WITH EVERY DAY.
ONE QUICK EXAMPLE.
AFTER THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION WE SAW OVER A 200%
INCREASE IN FOLKS SIGNING UP TO
BE ORIENTED, TO GET OUT AND
VOLUNTEER.
INTERESTINGLY WE DO SEE AN
UPTICK AFTER EVERY ELECTION.
TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, THERE IS
A MOMENT WHEN WE VOTE,
WHERE WE SORT OF GO, OH,
I CLICKED THAT ONE LITTLE LEVER.
IF THE ELECTION DOES NOT GO MY
WAY, HOW ELSE DO I LIVE MY
VALUES AND VOLUNTEERISM -- THERE
IS A GREATER GOOD.
I CAN EXPRESS MY VALUES AND LIVE
THEM EVERYDAY IN THE WAY I HELP
OTHERS.
>> THAT WAS A VERY
IMPORTANT TURNING POINT IN THE
EARLY STAGES OF THE WOMEN'S
MOVEMENT.
A LOT OF WOMEN WERE SUPERB
VOLUNTEERS.
THEY GATHERED INCREDIBLE
EXPERIENCES.
WHEN IT CAME TO WRITING A
RESUME, THEY WERE RELUCTANT TO
APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE
OF THEIR EXPERIENCE.
>> ONE THING I TELL PEOPLE IS
OCCASIONALLY I GET A CALL FROM
SOMEBODY I KNOW AT A COMPANY.
THEY MIGHT BE A SPONSOR AND THEY
SAY, DO YOU KNOW SO-AND-SO?
I WILL LOOK UP IN OUR DATABASE
BECAUSE I'M ASHAMED I DON'T KNOW
ALL 65,000 PEOPLE BY NAME.
A LITTLE SHORTCOMING, BUT PEOPLE
ARE PUTTING ON THE RESUMES THEY
ARE A VOLUNTEER TEAM LEADER.
WE HAVE LEADERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES.
ONE OTHER WAY WE ENABLE THE
NONPROFITS TO HAVE OUR PROGRAMS
IS EACH OF THEM IS LED BY A
VOLUNTEER TEAM LEADER.
THAT IS A PERSON WHO IS AN
UNPAID VOLUNTEER.
THEY GO THROUGH ADDITIONAL
TRAINING WITH US AND WE PROVIDE
ONGOING TRAINING ON HOW TO LEAD
OTHERS IN VOLUNTEERING, MANAGE
PROJECTS, WORKING WITH CHILDREN,
ETC.
THESE FOLKS OUT OF THE GOODNESS
OF THEIR HEARTS SHOW UP AT THE
SCHOOL, THEY ARE COORDINATING
WITH THE TEACHER, THE PRINCIPAL,
COORDINATING BACK TO US.
WE GET DATA ON THE NUMBER OF
VOLUNTEERS, THE NUMBER OF KIDS
ALL COMING OUT OF THEIR PHONES.
THEY ARE WILLING TO ORGANIZE
OTHERS.
THOSE 1300 PEOPLE WE HAVE, AT
THE END OF THE DAY THEY MOBILIZE
ANOTHER 25,000 PEOPLE.
>> YOU CAN'T LOBBY?
>> WE ARE A 501(C)(3).
WE ARE LIMITED IN THE LEVEL OF
LOBBYING WE CAN DO.
>> DO ANY OF YOUR PEOPLE
WANT TO BEGIN TO LOBBY?
>> I THINK THERE ARE TWO
ROUTES THAT HAPPENED FOR
VOLUNTEERS AND OUR STAFF AND ME
PERSONALLY.
SOME ARE DRAWN BY THE SOCIAL
SERVICES ASPECT.
THEY GO DEEPER INTO IT.
WE HAVE STORIES OF AN ACCOUNTANT
BECOMING A SCHOOLTEACHER.
THOSE ARE INCREDIBLY MEANINGFUL.
ONE THING I AM ALWAYS FASCINATED
BY IS WHEN I AM OUT AND I'M
MEETING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND THEIR STAFF OR IF
I'M UP IN ALBANY DOING THE SAME
WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, I'M
ALWAYS AMAZED HOW MANY PEOPLE
SAY I ALREADY VOLUNTEER FOR YOU.
>> WHAT DO YOU ASK WHEN YOU GO
TO SEE THESE PEOPLE?
>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
THINGS IMPORTANT TO NEW YORK
CARES.
ONE OF THE REASONS WE WERE
FUNDED IS THE INVESTMENT IN A
VOLUNTEER INFRASTRUCTURE IS SO
SMALL.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT ESTIMATES
BUT WELL OVER HALF OF THE
WORKFORCE FOR NONPROFITS IS
VOLUNTARY.
THERE IS SO LITTLE MONEY FOR
HUMAN RESOURCES PERIOD IN THE
NONPROFIT SECTOR, AND VOLUNTEER
MANAGEMENT IS ALL BUT IGNORED,
IN BIG POLICY QUESTIONS.
>> YOU'RE UNDER SCRUTINY.
PEOPLE WANT TO GIVE -- THEY
LOOK HOW MUCH THE OVERHEAD IS.
>> EXACTLY.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT EXISTS,
THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND
COMMUNITY SERVICE IN WASHINGTON,
THERE ARE STATE COMMISSIONS AS
PART OF THE FOUNDING LEGISLATION
BACK IN THE CLINTON ERA.
THERE ARE STATE COMMISSIONS AND
THE NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION
CAN SUPPORT PROGRAMS LIKE
AMERICORPS, WHERE --
>> AND YOU ARE CONNECTED
WITH THEM?
>> WE BOTH USE AMERICORPS
MEMBERS AND ON THE STATE
COMMISSION.
HERE IN NEW YORK CITY WE HAVE
THE NYC SERVICE, WHICH WAS
STARTED IN THE BLOOMBERG
ADMINISTRATION AND CONTINUES
INTO THIS ADMINISTRATION.
THEIR CHIEF SERVICE OFFICER
PROMOTES VOLUNTEERISM.
BUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT
GOES INTO THOSE TWO AREAS PALES
IN COMPARISON TO JUST ABOUT ANY
OTHER WORK HAPPENING.
>> YOU WERE DEPENDENT NOT
ONLY ON GRANTS BUT ON THE
CONTRACTS?
>> OUR ACTUAL GOVERNMENT
CONTRACTS ARE VERY SMALL.
THE ONES WE DO HAVE -- THE THINK
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IS WE
TRAIN NONPROFITS IN HOW TO
MANAGE THEIR VOLUNTEERS.
BOTH AT THE CITY AND STATE
LEVEL, AND EVEN IN EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT THERE IS THE
RECOGNITION THAT THE SKILLS AND
THE MANAGEMENT KNOWLEDGE WE
BRING IS UNIQUE IN THE SECTOR.
THERE ARE A FEW THINGS WE ALWAYS
HAVE TO ADVOCATE FOR.
THE COST OF RUNNING A BACKGROUND
CHECK IN OUR CITY IS OVER $100.
WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND
EVERYBODY WOULD LIKE EVERY
VOLUNTEER TO BE BACKGROUND
CHECKED.
I'M NOT SURE THAT IS THE SAFEST
THING ANYBODY CAN DO.
ONE OF THE REASONS WE EMPLOY A
GROUP-BASED MODEL IS I BELIEVE
IT IS SAFER.
A GROUP IS BETTER THAN
INDIVIDUALS IN ONE-ON-ONE.
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE VOLUNTEERISM
MORE AFFORDABLE -- HALF OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS WE WORK WITH HAVE
LESS THAN $1 MILLION BUDGETS, OR
THEY ARE A PUBLIC SCHOOL.
THEY DON'T HAVE $20,000
TO BACKGROUND CHECK THE PEOPLE
WHO WILL BE COMING INTO THEIR
ORGANIZATION AND BE THEIR
CHILDREN.
THERE ARE COSTS AND THEN THERE
IS THE INVESTMENT INTO VOLUNTEER
MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
WINTER COMING AND THE COATS.
IT IS A MAJOR PROJECT.
>> MAJOR, AND A MAJOR
MILESTONE.
WE'RE CELEBRATING THE 30TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE COAT DRIVE.
I WAS NOT THERE FOR IT BUT IT
REALLY CHANGED THE FACE OF HOW
PEOPLE SAW WINTER IN NEW YORK
CITY.
FOR FOLKS WHO LIVE IN NEW YORK,
THERE IS AN ICONIC IMAGE OF THE
SHIVERING STATUE OF LIBERTY THAT
PEOPLE WILL SEE THROUGH THE END
OF THE YEAR.
A YOUNG UPSTART NONPROFIT WAS
APPROACHED BY A WOMAN NAMED
SUZANNE DAVIS WHO HEARD ABOUT A
SIMILAR COAT DRIVE IN DENVER.
YOU TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING, SHE WAS TALKING TO
HER FRIEND MARY.
SHE SAID IT'S SUCH A GREAT IDEA
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO
WITH IT.
MARY SAID I HEARD ABOUT YOUNG
PEOPLE CALLED NEW YORK CARES AND
THEY WANT TO HELP.
THEY PROBABLY HAVE THE ENERGY
FOR THIS, OR SOMETHING TO THAT
EFFECT.
THE YOUNG -- OUR FIRST FULL-TIME
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KENNETH
ADAMS, WHO IS IN THE CUNY SYSTEM
NOW, A GREAT GUY, WORKED WITH
THE BOARD AND TOOK IT ON.
>> HOW MANY COATS DID YOU
DISTRIBUTE LAST YEAR?
>> LAST YEAR WE GOT TO
105,000.
THIS YEAR WE ARE KICKING OFF THE
DRIVE WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF
TWO MILLION COAT.
ONE OF THE SMARTEST MOVES THAT
WAS MADE EARLY ON AND THIS
CONTINUES TO BE THE CASE IS ONE
OF OUR STRONGEST PARTNERS IS THE
NYPD.
A NEW YORKER CAN WALK INTO ANY
POLICE PRECINCT IN THE FIVE
BOROUGHS THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 24
HOURS A DAY AND DROP OFF A COAT.
WE ORGANIZE TO PICK UP THERE.
WE ARE STILL COLLECTING DURING
MORNING RUSH AT GRAND CENTRAL
AND PENN STATION.
AT NEW YORK CARES WE HAVE A MAP.
WE HAVE MANY COLLECTION SITES
ACROSS THE CITY.
YOU TALK ABOUT CIVIC LIFE--
>> YOU LOOK AT IT ONLINE
AND FIND IT?
>> YOU CAN FIND THE LOCATION
NEAREST YOU WITH THE MAPPING
FUNCTION.
THE OTHER THING THAT IS
FASCINATING TO ME IS ABOUT 1300
FOLKS STEP UP AND RUN A COAT
DRIVE AT THEIR OFFICE, THEIR
APARTMENT BUILDING, AT THEIR
SCHOOL, GIRL SCOUT TROOP, BOY
SCOUTS --
IT'S AMAZING TO SEE.
>> IF THEY GET A LOT OF
COATS?
>> WE HAVE A WAREHOUSE THAT
IS DONATED TO US ON 31ST AND
7TH.
GROUPS CAN DROP THEM OFF.
WE HAVE DROP-OFF HOURS.
WE RUN UP TO THE STREET AND MEET
YOU BECAUSE WE KNOW IT IS NOT
EASY TO STOP AT 31ST AND 7TH AND
DROP YOUR COATS OFF.
>> OR YOU CAN TAKE THEM TO
A MAJOR DISTRIBUTOR?
>> OR YOU CAN TAKE THEM TO
ONE OF THE MAJOR SITES.
>> WHO GETS THE COATS?
>> LAST YEAR WE HAD 600
ORGANIZATIONS APPLY TO GET
COATS.
>> YOU DISTRIBUTE THEM
THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION?
>> YES.
WHEN THEY COME TO THE WAREHOUSE,
VOLUNTEERS SORT THEM.
BAGS OF FIVE.
THAT IS IN MIDTOWN.
WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS THERE
8-10 HOURS A DAY, SORTING.
THEN ORGANIZATIONS HAVE APPLIED
TO GET THE COATS.
BASICALLY IT IS
FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED.
>> AND THEY COME TO 31ST STREET?
I'M CONFUSED BECAUSE I WAS
LOOKING FOR JOBS ON YOUR
WEBSITE AND I THOUGHT THE
WAREHOUSE WAS IN THE BRONX.
>> THE WAREHOUSE IS HERE.
ONE THING WE DO IS -- THAT'S OK.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE A JOB AT THE
WAREHOUSE, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO
CALL.
WE HAVE TO BRING YOU IN FOR AN
INTERVIEW.
WE HAVE A WAREHOUSE THAT IS PART
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING
THIS YEAR THERE ARE TWO
THINGS WE ARE LOOKING TO
PUSH THIS COAT NUMBER HIGHER.
WE ARE PROUD OF 100,000 COATS --
>> IT WOULD BE NICE IF
MOVIE THEATERS AND BROADWAY
COLLECTED.
>> WE HAVE CASTS FROM
BROADWAY SHOWS THAT WILL DO
COLLECTIONS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT
NEW YORK CARES IS IF YOU GO TO
OUR WEBSITE, PLUGGING IN AND
SAYING I WOULD LIKE TO START A
COAT COLLECTION IN MY APARTMENT
BUILDING, WE MAKE IT VERY EASY.
MATERIALS, ALL THE INFORMATION
YOU NEED.
AT OUR GALA LAST NIGHT WE
WERE ABLE TO CELEBRATE TWO
YOUNG, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO TOOK ON
AN INITIATIVE TO COLLECT COATS
THREE YEARS RUNNING AT THEIR
SCHOOLS AND COLLECTED HUNDREDS
OF COATS.
ONE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE SURE FOLKS KNOW ABOUT --
ONE THING WE'RE DOING IS CALLED
CASH FOR COATS.
IF YOU TEXT "COAT" TO 41444
YOU'LL GET A LINK AND JUST $20
PUTS A BRAND-NEW COAT
ON THE BACK OF A NEW YORKER
WHO NEEDS IT.
LAST YEAR, 35,000 WERE BRAND-NEW
COATS THEY CAME THROUGH
DONATIONS.
>> IF I HOLD MY CHILDREN'S
CLOTHES BECAUSE IT IS
SENTIMENTAL, YOU REALLY THINK IT
IS TIME TO GIVE THOSE AWAY AND
MAKE THEM USEFUL,
YOU FEEL BETTER WHEN
YOU'RE GIVING IT IF YOU KNOW IT
IS GOING TO SOMEBODY WHO NEEDS
IT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE'RE WORKING WITH ANOTHER GREAT
ORGANIZATION CALLED HELP--
SOME OF THE CLOTHING BINS AT
MALLS, THE PARKING LOTS, THEY GO
AROUND AND COLLECT THEM AND
FIGURE OUT HOW TO REPURPOSE
THEM BEST.
SOME MIGHT GO TO
THE THRIFT SHOPS.
THERE IS A PARTNERSHIP THIS YEAR
WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM, AND
THEY WILL DELIVER AN ADDITIONAL
30,000 COATS, ESPECIALLY TO KIDS
IN THE CITY.
WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT EVEN FOR
A FRACTION OF A $20 FOR A
BRAND-NEW COAT.
LOTS OF WAYS WE CAN PUSH THIS
HIGHER.
>> WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO
TALK ABOUT.
NO WONDER YOU HAVE A MASTERS
DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.
>> I DO.
>> IT IS A MAJOR INDUSTRY
YOU ARE MANAGING.
>> IT IS FUNNY.
IT IS A RATHER COMPLEX SET OF
LOGISTICS AND A WONDERFUL THING
TO BE IN THE CENTER OF.
>> IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING
FOR ME TO LEARN THIS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT YOUR WEBSITE
AND GET ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS,
ALL THE COMMUNICATION AND CAN
CONTACT YOU OR THE ORGANIZATION
AND FIND THEMSELVES ENRICHING
THEIR LIVES.
>> WE ARE HERE TO MAKE IT
EASY.
>> THANK YOU.
♪ [THEME MUSIC] ♪
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