You have a long list of accomplishments during your tenure at CCCNY– co-leader of Raise The Age NY Campaign, lead architect of Campaign for Children which informed universal Pre-K and universal after school, as well as the Securing Every Birthright Campaign, which contributed to NYC’s earned income tax credit, and improvements in healthy food access, establishing the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy and Green Cart legislation. What are the key cornerstones of a successful advocacy campaign?

The ability to collaborate is fundamental. You need diverse voices at a table – upstate and down, direct server, advocate, recipients of service. People-partners at the table. Best case scenario, you are well resourced – public relations firm, lobbying firm, data analytics. You need real content and a way to get your message out. Campaigns can take years – you need the resources to maintain a steady drum beat of information and activities and to keep the pressure on. Philanthropy is critical – donors and foundations that are willing to invest in advocacy campaigns.

You recently joined colleagues to launch a campaign to raise minimum pay for the human services workforce. What is your motivation behind the BUMP advocacy campaign?

BUMP is a campaign that is introducing New York State legislation to bring up minimum pay for nonprofit human services workers. It is critical that we acknowledge the fundamental and important roles the human service sector plays in society –housing, clothing, feeding, educating, supporting health, and creating social connections. While these roles underpin our social fabric and the wellbeing of all New Yorkers, far too many workers within the sector earn poverty level wages and women in the sector – mainly women of color – face unacceptable wage disparities. BUMP is an opportunity to address wages that are inadequate and inequitable by establishing a wage floor below which no worker within the sector would fall. Ultimately, this benefits the individual workers, their families, and the local and state economy at large. Taking this step, advancing BUMP legislation would promote needed economic recovery and vitality.

Looking back over your years of advocacy, how has the field changed?

Advocacy was much wonkier back in the day. Over time, we have understood that the ability to analyze and articulate from a policy, budgetary and legislative perspective is half the story. Today, there is much more qualitative work, grassroots efforts, and leadership within campaigns by people directly impacted by the systems we seek to change and services we seekto improve or expand access too. There is more of a bottom-up approach.

At CCC, we developed the database Keeping Track of New York City’s Children, which offers the most comprehensive compilation of data on NYC children. These data are the foundation of our fact-based advocacy and public education efforts. It is most effective when paired with qualitative research, giving impacted individuals a voice in identifying needs and advancing solutions within communities, and at a citywide and statewide level.

You have been a leader in the field for decades – sometimes out front, but often quietly moving issues and making impact. What are your perspectives on effective leadership?

I have been really lucky to work in environments where leaders are invested in the success of their teams and partners. I think you demonstrate leadership by helping others come into their own. A hallmark of good leadership is when you create an environment where everyone can be their best – democratically doing the work, sharing the spotlight, and the accolades.With greater investment in collective work, you can move issues faster and further. We have an obligation to support and cultivate young professionals and community leaders to provide leadership opportunities that are small and large and work together – true collaboration is essential if you want to make change in society.

With a front row seat at nearly every NYC budget negotiation for the past 30 years, and serving in leadership roles with NYC Council’s Finance Division, what can you share about how budget deals are made and lost?

Success requires an inside and an outside game. On the outside, you want to draw the largest amount of attention to the most critical issues. You really need toraise awareness and engage in developing and supporting champions – community members, direct service providers, funders, elected leaders – broadly. On the inside, you seek to honestly inform decisions and to understand when compromise is required and progress, even incremental progress, is possible. You want to be transparent on aspirations, but open to exploring all options to move the issue forward. Aspirations cannot impede pragmatic advances or in other words, the pursuit of the perfect must not defeat the achievement of what is good. This is requires years of honest dialogue and building trust.

What do you see as the key issues for childhood advocacy in the coming years?

More inclusive settings for young people – infants, toddlers, three- and four-year-olds. Children with developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs should be in the same educational settings as other children. Research has shown that inclusive environments are better for all children. Parents and children need support more than ever post-pandemic. And, schools and early childhood providers and centers need to be resourced and staffed appropriately to support inclusivity.

For students in K-12, prioritizing civic engagement and creating opportunities to not only learn about how government functions but take advantage of opportunities to identify needs and solutions locally. Children do not vote, or lobby and their voice is often absent from political debates. So, it is more and more important to educate, engage, and develop youth leadership –citywide surveys, youth led participatory research, youth councils can be used to ensure youth voices are not only heard but that youth and adult and parent allies can mobilize around solutions that youth identify. This effort is essential as youth, frankly, are the future.

As you prepare to depart CCCNY at the end of the year, what’s next for you?

I will always be committed to mission driven work. I want to continue to make a difference in the city and state where I live, work and have raised my daughter. But for right now, I am focused on the upcoming holidays – time to rest, reflect and start the New Year refreshed.