Innovative Ideas. Independent Policy.

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  Commentary/Op-Ed - August 2024

  Making It Easier for New Yorkers to Care for Their Parks

  New Yorkers are using parks and open spaces more than ever, and the city can’t keep up with their growing needs. This commentary highlights why and how the city should make it easier for nonprofit organizations and community groups to help care for public parks and open spaces.
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  Report - July 2024

  5 Ideas to Expand Economic Mobility in New York City

  The path out of poverty and into economic security in New York has gotten more difficult in recent decades. The Center for an Urban Future (CUF) lays out five policy ideas that city leaders can implement over the next year to expand pathways into the middle class as a part of CUF's first ever economic opportunity summit.
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  Data - June 2024

  Expanding Access to Advertising Careers in NYC

  To make progress toward a more equitable economy in New York, it will be crucial to expand access to careers in several growing middle- and high-wage industries that employ alarmingly few New Yorkers of color. Advertising is one sector where progress is both needed and possible.
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  Report - May 2024

  Solving the Staffing Crisis Facing NYC’s Human Services Organizations

  Human services nonprofit organizations are critical to New York City’s functioning and well-being, delivering the lion’s share of safety net services to vulnerable New Yorkers. The sector also faces a staffing crisis that directly threatens its ability to deliver these much-needed services. The average human services nonprofit has more than 15 percent of its positions vacant, as well as unsustainably high levels of staff turnover.
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  Report - May 2024

  50 Ideas for a Stronger and More Equitable Queens

  Queens is the city’s largest gateway for immigrants, and is also arguably New York’s most important launchpad to the middle class. Yet, given rising rents, climate change, an aging population and other challenges, Queens has significant work to do to ensure all of its residents can fully participate in the borough’s prosperity. This report presents bold policy ideas from 50 Queens leaders for what city leaders can do to create a stronger, more equitable Queens.
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  Report - May 2024

  Closing NYC’s College Attainment Gap

  Most well-paying jobs in New York City today go to individuals with a postsecondary degree, and studies suggest that this will only accelerate in the decade ahead. But there are still glaring racial, ethnic, and geographic gaps in college attainment rates across New York City.