The NYC Workforce Drop with NYCETC’s Gregory J. Morris

In the final episode of the year of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J Morris sits down with NYS Assembly Member Amanda Septimo (AD-84) for a conversation about leadership rooted in community, workforce equity, and New York’s next political chapter.A lifelong Bronxite, AM Septimo reflects on her path from early organizing and community advocacy to elected office, and how her lived experience continues to inform her approach to policymaking. She shares what it means to lead with accountability to place, bringing the voices, needs, and aspirations of Bronx families directly into Albany, and how that grounding shapes her priorities around affordability, public health, education-to-career pathways, and workforce access for working adults.With Greg, AM Septimo digs into the often-overlooked role state policy plays in shaping New York City’s workforce system, from funding decisions and eligibility rules to the alignment (or misalignment) between city and state priorities. Together, they explore how workforce systems function as economic infrastructure and why access, equity, and mobility must remain central as New York navigates ongoing labor shortages, rising costs of living, and widening opportunity gaps.The conversation also looks ahead. Against the backdrop of a new mayoral administration, a shifting federal landscape, and AM Septimo’s recent announcement to run for Congress, they unpack what this moment of transition means for Bronx communities, city–state coordination, and the responsibility of workforce leaders, advocates, and policymakers to stay engaged as New York defines what comes next.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood NetworkTopics: leadership grounded in community; Bronx-rooted policymaking; workforce equity for working adults; affordability and economic mobility; education-to-career pathways; public health and local economic opportunity; city–state coordination; political transition and future leadership; staying engaged in shaping New York’s next chapter.

In this mini episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, Gregory J. Morris, Stephanie Birmingham, Courtney Granger, and Jennifer Tausig dig into the conference comment cards—what attendees told NYCETC about communications, content, and what the next mayoral administration should prioritize on workforce and economic development.The group reads directly from the cards, surfacing candid, sometimes surprising feedback: calls for new leadership voices inside government, stronger representation from social workers, immigrants, and people with lived experience.They also reflect on recurring themes attendees wanted elevated in future convenings—from alternatives to incarceration and public safety, to thicker pipelines between CUNY and government careers, and a desire for solutions-focused conversations that move beyond diagnosing problems.On the communications side, the conversation covers what people actually want to engage with: podcasts, meetups, infographics with video, walk-and-talks, and more accessible, centralized stages that reach audiences both in-person and online. The episode underscores how attendee feedback directly shaped this year’s conference—and will continue to shape NYCETC’s strategy going forward.The mini pod closes with reflections on the “less swag, more good” initiative, directing conference funds to frontline organizations like the New York Immigration Coalition, and a look ahead to what’s coming next, including a 100-day analysis of the new administration and ideas for 2026.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, Gregory J. Morris, CEO of NYCETC, is joined by Stephanie Birmingham, NYCETC Director of Community & Operations, Courtney Granger, and Jennifer Tausig for a real-time debrief of the 2025 NYCETC Conference—what resonated, what surprised them, and what comes next for the workforce field. Together, they unpack the energy inside (and outside) the rooms: the “workforce prom” reunions, the hard truths about systems that still don’t work for too many New Yorkers, and the conference through-lines—power, coalition-building, and the plumbing of public systems that need more than patchwork fixes.The conversation digs into standout moments and themes, including the push to get more specific—and more honest—about how AI is changing work, the renewed urgency around advocacy, and the case for wraparound supports backed by data and ROI. They also explore why workforce is still treated as an afterthought in economic development and why small businesses, neighborhood health, and “warm handoffs” to employers have to be central to the next chapter.The episode closes with lightning-round reflections, what’s giving each guest hope (and urgency) heading into 2026, and an invitation to stay engaged as NYCETC carries conference momentum forward—through partnerships, metrics that matter, and a clearer story about who gets the job done. Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Greg Morris welcomes Kathy Wylde, outgoing president & CEO of the Partnership for New York City, for a conversation about affordability, power, and the future of New York’s workforce and economy.Kathy reflects on five decades of shaping the city, from her early organizing in Sunset Park to partnering with David Rockefeller to rebuild neighborhoods in the 1980s. She breaks down her idea of “horizontal and vertical networks,” explaining why real progress in housing, workforce, and economic development requires connections from block associations and community boards all the way to corporate leaders, banks, and federal partners.Greg and Kathy discuss priorities for the new administration, including childcare, housing production and preservation, employer engagement, and strengthening the city’s talent pipeline through initiatives like CUNY Beyond. Kathy also offers insights on political power shifts, what surprises business leaders, and the traits that make an effective mayor.The conversation closes with personal reflections on career, legacy, and Kathy’s “pastel life” in Puerto Rico, a contrast to the intensity of New York and a reminder of the perspective needed to lead through change.A thoughtful, high-impact episode on leadership, collaboration, and building a more affordable and economically vibrant city.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

In this Thanksgiving mini-episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, Encore Community Services Executive Director Jeremy Kaplan returns to share what the holiday really looks like inside one of New York City’s most mission-driven older adult organizations. What starts as a simple question — “What’s going on at Encore on Thanksgiving?” — unfolds into a vivid picture of community care at scale.Jeremy walks Greg through the astonishing scope of Encore’s holiday operation: 25,000 meals cooked during the week of Thanksgiving in a small Times Square basement kitchen; 7,000 to 8,000 meals dispatched up to the Bronx each week; and 4,000 special Thanksgiving lunches prepared on the holiday itself. About 300 older adults join Encore in Midtown for a family-style feast complete with live music and full table service, while thousands more receive a home-delivered Thanksgiving meal crafted with all the classics — turkey, yams, collard greens, cranberry sauce, rolls, and more.With well over 100 volunteers supporting the day — from managing the in-person celebration to delivering meals up and down the West Side — Jeremy reflects on how Encore ensures older New Yorkers feel connection, dignity, and warmth on a day that can otherwise magnify loneliness. The work is about making sure every older adult knows someone is thinking of them.Greg and Jeremy close with reflections on gratitude, chosen family, and the joy Jeremy finds in returning home after a full day of service — including to his beloved mini cockapoo, Cody — with a renewed appreciation for togetherness. Their message is simple and powerful: no one in this city should ever feel alone on Thanksgiving, or any day.Subscribe and stay tuned for more conversations with leaders shaping New York’s workforce, care systems, and communities.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

In this special Thanksgiving episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J Morris sits down with Jeremy Kaplan, Executive Director of Encore Community Services, for a warm, funny, and moving conversation about what it means to grow older and to never have to do it alone. From barefoot Florida Thanksgivings and anxiety-inducing “what are you thankful for?” rituals to New York City chosen family traditions, Greg and Jeremy explore how holidays crystallize our deepest fears and hopes about togetherness, aging, and belonging. Jeremy traces his journey from classroom teacher and school founder to head of one of New York City’s largest older adult–serving nonprofits, rooted in the basement of St. Malachy’s “Actors’ Chapel” in the theater district. He shares Encore’s origin story, from a few dozen hot meals to a multi-site hub that now feeds, houses, and connects thousands of older New Yorkers, and breaks down what “community care” really looks like on the ground. Together, Greg and Jeremy zoom out from the holiday table to the systems that shape how we age. They grapple with loneliness as a public health crisis, ageism in hiring, and why older adults are both disproportionately poor and a vastly underestimated economic engine. Along the way, they spotlight NYC Aging’s chronic underfunding, the Human Services Council’s Just Pay campaign, and the paradox of a human services workforce paid poverty wages to fight poverty itself. As listeners prep turkeys, mac and cheese, or a pernil for chosen family, this episode doubles as a love letter to older New Yorkers and a call to action: to value caregiving, invest in human services, and build a city where nobody has to spend the holidays, or any day, in the shadows. Topics: Thanksgiving, family, and chosen family; aging, loneliness, and community care; Encore Community Services and Times Square’s theater roots; older adults as an economic engine; ageism and second-act careers; community schools and wraparound services; LGBTQ+ elders, dignity, and home-based care; human services workforce, Just Pay, and wage justice; NYC Aging and city budget priorities; building a New York where no one ages alone.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris sits down with Wayne Ho, president and CEO of the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, community power, and what it really takes to move policy when the stakes are highest.Wayne traces his journey from being the child of immigrants to leading the nation’s largest Asian American social services organization. With Greg, he unpacks how partnership with his wife and a trusted leadership team makes it possible to juggle family life, night meetings, board service, and crisis response, without losing sight of the people at the center of it all.Together, they revisit SOMOS—FOMOs included—and the shift in mood from last year’s federal anxiety to this year’s post-election optimism. Wayne breaks down how CPC responds when crisis hits, from SNAP cuts and food insecurity to the dual pandemics of COVID and anti-Asian hate. He shares how CPC built a real policy engine, helped win the $30 million AAPI Equity Budget, and sparked parallel victories for Latinx and Black communities, without playing “oppression Olympics” and instead growing the pie for all.The conversation also digs into the nuts and bolts of power-building in human services: funded vs. unfunded mandates, wage justice for frontline workers through Just Pay and Fair Pay for Home Care, and why authentic relationships with government matter when a bad RFP drops or law enforcement shows up at your afterschool program. Looking ahead, Greg asks Wayne for his message to the mayor-elect. Wayne calls for a true reset that treats nonprofits as partners, not vendors; centers the city’s most marginalized residents; and surrounds City Hall with leaders who are deeply rooted in community. And, yes, the episode ends where all serious policy conversations eventually do: professional wrestling, podcasts, and a teaser for a future episode devoted entirely to their shared fandom.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood NetworkTopics: immigrant leadership and family; crisis response and community care; SNAP cuts, food insecurity, and anti-Asian hate; building AAPI, Latinx, and Black equity budgets; human services as civic infrastructure; funded vs. unfunded mandates; wage justice, Just Pay, and Fair Pay for Home Care; coalition-building, disagreement, and trust; nonprofit–government partnership in a new administration; SOMOS, FOMO, and AAPI–Latinx solidarity; joy, wrestling, and staying human in the work.

On a wet, gray Halloween-eve in Manhattan, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris sits down with Dr. Lisa Vollendorf, president of Empire State University (SUNY Empire), for a high-energy conversation about expanding opportunity through high-quality online public education. From her scholarly roots in 16th–17th century women’s cultural history to leading a 98% online SUNY institution serving 17,500 students across every NY county, all 50 states, and 50 countries, Dr. Vollendorf traces how access, design, and partnerships move learners from “some college” to completion.They dig into what “quality” means for asynchronous learning—universal design, a robust digital learning environment, data-driven student supports—and why SUNY Empire’s ecosystem meets learners where they are. The pair also tackles basic needs and policy shocks: SUNY Empire’s virtual food pantry, GI Bill interruptions and emergency scholarships during the shutdown, and anticipated SNAP cutbacks, as well as how colleges, employers, agencies, and philanthropy can blunt the impact.Workforce is the throughline: SUNY Empire builds cohort pathways, evaluates prior learning (up to 93 transfer credits), and stacks certificates toward degrees while meeting urgent employer skill needs (including emerging AI capabilities). The duo drives home the idea that a college degree remains a powerful driver of mobility and community wellbeing, and how business investment plus flexible public higher ed can scale it.Topics: online/asynchronous quality & universal design; digital learning environments & data; prior learning assessment & transfer; apprenticeship/union pathways; basic needs, GI Bill gaps & SNAP cutbacks; employer partnership models; stackable credentials to degrees; reskilling/upskilling for AI-era roles; adult learner completion & social mobility; NYC–state workforce alignment; equity, affordability, and belonging.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

In this mini episode, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris sits down with Stephanie Birmingham, NYCETC’s Director of Community and Operations, to talk about what it really means to make the 2025 NYCETC Conference accessible and inclusive.Drawing from her decade-long experience managing events at the Whitney Museum, Stephanie shares how accessibility planning goes far beyond checking an ADA box, instead, focusing on designing spaces where every attendee can fully participate. She and Greg discuss lessons learned from past conferences and why accessibility must be integrated into every operational detail, from amplified sound and signage to lactation and quiet rooms.The conversation also lifts up the collaborative work happening across City agencies and community partners to raise the bar on inclusion, showing how accessibility, like workforce, is both a commitment and a continuous process of learning and improvement.Mini episodes of The NYC Workforce Drop deliver high-impact insights in under 15 minutes—perfect for leaders on the go who want clear ideas and real strategies to strengthen New York City’s workforce ecosystem.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood NetworkTopics: accessibility, inclusion, event design, workforce equity, universal design, community partnerships, disability inclusion, operational best practices, NYCETC Conference

NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris is joined by Ngozi Okaro, founder and CEO of Custom Collaborative, for a conversation that threads together personal journey, workforce innovation, and a vision for a fairer fashion economy. From a childhood decision to practice law to a purpose-driven pivot into nonprofits (and the late-night sewing sessions that sparked a social enterprise) Ngozi unpacks how values, craft, and systems thinking led to a decade of training and dignified work for New Yorkers.Grounded in real talk (Niagara Falls, corn mazes, and Anchor Bar wings make cameos), Greg and Ngozi dig into what it takes to help people thrive and advance. They cover Custom Collaborative’s model (a free, stipend-supported 15-week training; an incubator for jobs, apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship; and worker-owned co-ops), why childcare is workforce infrastructure, and how wellness and belonging drive outcomes. The pair also look ahead to upskilling for the fashion jobs of tomorrow, from computerized machinery and 3D tools to circularity practices like felting and weaving, and connect the dots between city and state policy, affordability, and employer investment in talent.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood NetworkTopics: ethical and sustainable fashion; stipend-supported training and completion; incubators and worker co-ops; childcare as workforce infrastructure; wellness and retention; upskilling (advanced machinery, 3D tools, circularity); immigrant and women’s economic mobility; NYC–NYS policy alignment; affordability, wages, and wealth building.

In this mini episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris welcomes Grace Bonilla, President and CEO of United Way of New York City, back on the pod to unpack the devastating ripple effects of the federal government shutdown on millions of New Yorkers.As critical safety net programs like SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid face cuts and delays, families are being forced to choose between rent, food, and medicine. Grace shares alarming data from United Way’s network of 400 pantries, where visits have surged 86% since 2019, and underscores how the shutdown deepens an already dire affordability crisis.Greg and Grace explore what’s at stake for working families, the mounting strain on community organizations, and the urgent need for local and corporate leaders to fill the gap left by federal inaction. Mini episodes of The NYC Workforce Drop deliver high-impact insights in under 20 minutes, perfect for leaders on the go who want clear analysis and bold ideas for NYC’s workforce future.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood NetworkTopics: government shutdown, food insecurity, SNAP benefits, Medicaid, safety net, economic equity, community resilience, workforce stability, philanthropy, New York policy

In this special mini episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris sits down with Debbie Roman to share some exciting personal news. After three and a half impactful years at Per Scholas New York, Debbie is joining National Grid to lead workforce development initiatives connecting employers and community-based organizations across New York City and the state.Debbie reflects on her two decades in the nonprofit sector and how her new role at National Grid represents the perfect bridge between employer engagement and community impact. She and Greg discuss how the energy company’s growing commitment to workforce pathways aligns with NYCETC’s mission to create inclusive economic opportunity.Listeners will hear firsthand how Debbie plans to leverage her experience to connect the dots between the corporate and nonprofit sectors: building stronger partnerships, shaping equitable pipelines into energy careers, and driving systemic change across New York’s workforce ecosystem.Mini episodes of The NYC Workforce Drop deliver high-impact insights in under 15 minutes, perfect for leaders on the go who want clear analysis and bold ideas for NYC’s workforce future.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood NetworkTopics: workforce development, employer partnerships, energy sector jobs, career pathways, community engagement, nonprofit leadership, equitable hiring, economic opportunity, corporate social responsibility, New York workforce ecosystem

In this mini episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris dives into the recent New York City mayoral debates and the glaring silence around jobs and workforce development. While candidates sparred over affordability and business incentives, critical conversations about wages, job quality, and equitable access to opportunity barely surfaced.Greg breaks down why workforce development must be central to any serious economic plan, connecting the dots between corporate growth, community benefit, and long-term investment in New Yorkers’ skills. He calls out the missing scaffolding between economic and workforce development and challenges the next mayor to build it.This episode asks one key question: if affordability is the headline issue, how can we afford to ignore the workforce?Mini episodes of The NYC Workforce Drop deliver high-impact insights in under 15 minutes, perfect for leaders on the go who want clear analysis and bold ideas for NYC’s workforce future.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood NetworkTopics: NYC Mayoral debates, affordability, economic development, workforce development, wages, job quality, re-skilling, up-skilling, accountability, New York City workforce

In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris sits down with Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa (District 10) for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about care, courage, and the fight to make New York City work better for working people.From her early years growing up in Upper Manhattan as the daughter of Dominican immigrants to chairing the Council’s Committee on Civil Service and Labor, De La Rosa traces her journey through Catholic church basements, a history-making Assembly win, and the pandemic-era decision to run for City Council while raising her daughter.With Greg, she explores imposter syndrome, how lived experience fuels public service, and what it means to “occupy every room for the people back home.” Together, they dig into the realities facing New York’s workforce, from municipal hiring bottlenecks and nine-month onboarding delays to the two-for-one hiring policy and why frontline city workers are carrying the load of three. CM De La Rosa also spotlights the fights she’s taken on, from SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes to Amazon and Teamsters organizing, from nurses to newsroom workers, using her committee as a platform to demand dignity, safety, and a real seat at the table.Looking ahead, the conversation turns to what’s next: grading the outgoing administration, calling for bold, not whispered, governance on Day One of a new mayoralty, and defining the Council’s role in aligning budgets, plugging federal holes, and centering families, stability, and mobility in the future of New York City.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood NetworkTopics: care and courage in public service; immigrant leadership and representation; workforce systems as civic infrastructure; labor solidarity and worker dignity; civil service reform and hiring equity; wage justice and the Construction Justice Act; family, caregiving, and resilience in leadership; City Hall transitions and future council leadership

In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris sits down with Teresa Gonzalez, partner at Bolton-St. Johns and principal at DalyGonzalez Consulting, for a candid, pragmatic conversation about what it takes to build a healthier, more affordable New York where workforce is the throughline across every policy area.Teresa traces her journey from a Puerto Rican kid growing up in Williamsburg to roles at the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, and into values-aligned government relations work. She opens up about why she prioritizes directness with clients, the power of structure and coalition-building, and how her portfolio keeps her anchored to impact.With Greg, she reframes workforce development as the scaffolding of a city: a cradle-to-later-life system that ties affordability, small business vitality, immigration, arts and culture, and economic mobility together. The two dig into what happens when that scaffolding breaks down, how to make workforce legible to elected officials, and why advocates should help leaders refine agendas rather than just pitch ideas. They also look ahead to City Hall’s next chapter—what an incoming mayor and Council leadership will need, how the New Majority changed representation (and why it matters for policy), and the wins a workforce-first agenda can deliver.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood NetworkTopics: workforce as economic scaffolding; coalition strategy; values-aligned lobbying; arts, immigration, and small business linkages; affordability and mobility; City Hall transitions; New Majority & Council leadership; truth-telling in advocacy; cradle-to-career/later-life training

In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris sits down with Kalilah Moon, Executive Director of Drive Change, and Debbie Roman, Managing Director, New York, at Per Scholas, for a conversation that bridges personal journeys, nonprofit innovation, and systems-level change.Kalilah reflects on her path from Oakland to New York, sharing early career lessons from The Door to leading Drive Change’s culinary training and social enterprise work with justice-involved youth. She opens up about leadership growth, tough decisions, and the power of rebranding a food truck into a broader movement for equity and opportunity.Debbie traces her journey from Puerto Rico to New York’s workforce ecosystem, spotlighting how strategic partnerships and intentional training pathways at Per Scholas are closing gaps in the tech sector for underrepresented communities. Together, they tackle questions of economic mobility, affordability, and how nonprofits can sustain impact in a changing city.Greg, Kalilah, and Debbie also preview NYCETC’s annual conference, “Advancing Affordability Through Jobs, Wages, and Wealth,” discussing why now is the time to align systems, center workforce development in the city’s policy agenda, and hold leadership accountable for tangible change.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood NetworkTopics: nonprofit leadership, culinary and tech training, reentry and workforce, affordability crisis, partnerships and systems alignment, NYC workforce ecosystem, leadership journeys, strategic advocacy.

In this NYC Workforce Drop Mini Pod, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris shares his remarks from the City & State Economic Development & Workforce Summit, where NYCETC served as a co-sponsor alongside leaders from across the city and state.Greg underscores why workforce and economic development cannot be treated as separate conversations. He calls out the persistent gaps—gender and racial wage disparities, unemployment inequities, and the lack of strong on-ramps for local talent into major economic projects—while outlining bold solutions for aligning policy, investment, and accountability.From the urgent need to better serve prime-age workers and public housing residents, to strengthening wraparound supports like childcare and transit, Greg lays out NYCETC’s Workforce Development Agenda as a roadmap for a more equitable, transparent, and opportunity-driven system. He also makes the case for new city structures—such as a deputy mayor for workforce and economic mobility—and a statewide Empire State Workforce Alliance to unite priorities across New York.With rising costs, stagnant wages, and a pivotal election just weeks away, Greg emphasizes that the stakes could not be higher. But with coordinated action, he argues, New York can stop managing scarcity and start building prosperity—delivering dignity, mobility, and opportunity for every New Yorker.Listen now to hear why workforce must be at the center of NYC’s economic future.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood NetworkMini episodes of The NYC Workforce Drop deliver high-impact insights in under 15 minutes, perfect for leaders on the go who want clear analysis and bold ideas for NYC’s workforce future.

In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, host Gregory J. Morris, CEO of NYCETC, sits down with Grace Bonilla, President and CEO of United Way of New York City, for a powerful conversation about equity, leadership, and resilience in New York City’s social safety net.Grace reflects on her journey as the daughter of Ecuadorian immigrants in Queens, where early experiences interpreting for her parents shaped her pursuit of law and public service. She takes us inside her years at the Human Resources Administration (HRA), where she rose from staff attorney to agency leader, navigating moments of crisis like Hurricane Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic. Grace shares candid stories about fighting for immigrant families, implementing emergency food supports like D-SNAP, and the human toll of leading a workforce during unprecedented times.Now at the helm of United Way of New York City, Grace speaks to the urgent challenges facing New Yorkers as federal cuts to SNAP and Medicaid loom. She underscores the pressure on local nonprofits and food pantries, and the collective responsibility to ensure that families remain fed, healthy, and supported. Greg and Grace close by looking ahead to the city’s political future, where she offers clear advice for the next mayor: hire people who know what they’re doing, keep ideology in check, and focus on the basics of health and food security.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood NetworkTopics: immigrant experience, law and public service, HRA and DHS leadership, emergency response (Hurricane Sandy, COVID-19), food insecurity and SNAP, nonprofit resilience, equity in government systems, immigrant rights, United Way’s role in NYC, leadership in times of crisis, lessons for the next mayor

In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, host Gregory J. Morris, CEO of NYCETC, sits down with David Lebenstein Executive Managing Director and Co-Chair of Cushman & Wakefield’s Not-for-Profit Advisory Group, for a deep dive into how real estate decisions shape the future of New York City’s workforce and nonprofit sector.Greg and David explore how questions about buying, selling, or leasing space are far more than financial considerations; they are questions about mission, strategy, and organizational survival. David draws on decades of experience helping nonprofits navigate complex real estate deals, including Manhattan Neighborhood Network’s transformation of its space into a vibrant media hub. He explains why timing is crucial in today’s market, why most nonprofits still lease rather than buy, and how enlightened developers can create win-win solutions for communities.The conversation covers the impact of remote work on space needs, the challenges of making long-term decisions in a moment of uncertainty, and the opportunity for nonprofits to leverage today’s tenant-friendly market. Greg and David also discuss the intersection of workforce development, city planning, and the “City of Yes” rezoning efforts, highlighting the urgent need for thoughtful leadership and public-private collaboration.Topics: nonprofit real estate strategy, leasing vs. buying, endowments and long-term sustainability, COVID-19’s impact on office space, community development, mission-driven decision-making, landlord-tenant dynamics, human services funding, workforce equity, affordable housing, zoning and land use, NYC real estate market trends, leadership in times of change, win-win development strategiesPublished by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

In this mini episode, real estate veteran David Lebenstein, Executive Managing Director, Not For Profit Specialty Practice Group at Cushman & Wakefield, joins The NYC Workforce Drop to share a powerful story about balancing development pressures with the moral imperative to keep vulnerable New Yorkers housed.David walks listeners through two real-world examples where nonprofits faced difficult decisions about selling or renovating Single Room Occupancy (SRO) buildings with residents still living inside. Instead of displacing tenants, David and his partners worked with City Hall to close financial gaps, protect residents, and ensure dignified transitions when relocation was necessary.The conversation highlights the friction between market forces and mission-driven goals, the importance of creative problem-solving, and the human impact of policy choices.Mini episodes of The NYC Workforce Drop deliver high-impact insights in under 15 minutes, perfect for leaders on the go who want clear analysis and bold ideas for NYC’s workforce future.Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood NetworkTopics: affordable housing, nonprofit partnerships, SRO preservation, ethical development, tenant protection, City Hall negotiations, housing policy, displacement prevention, public-private collaboration, NYC real estate