In New York and across the country, rising rents and evictions are displacing working families, not only pushing them out of their homes but also disrupting their access to schools and child care.
Black families are more likely to face mortgage denials, bear heavy rent burdens, and struggle to stay in the neighborhoods they helped build. Policies like redlining, discriminatory zoning, and the denial of mortgages to Black families were intentionally designed to block communities' access to homeownership and opportunity, further fueling this housing crisis. Educators and child care providers from these communities often face this same displacement, further destabilizing the networks that families and children depend on. As housing costs rise and families are priced out of their homes, the effects ripple through education and child care systems. Children lose access to the educators who understand them, and teachers and providers, many of whom are also struggling with housing instability, are displaced as well.
Racial justice in housing, education, and child care are inseparable, and solutions must address these problems together.
As we reflect on Black August, we are reminded that the struggle for justice is deeply rooted in the fight for housing, education, and child care. For the ability to live in stable housing, access a high quality education, and care for one another at every turn. At AQE, we are building toward a future where families and children are neither uprooted by greed nor punished by poverty. Let's continue to show up for each other, as we fight for the world we know is possible.
Here's how you can take action now:
Sign this petition urging New York lawmakers to protect child care funding from federal cuts like those in the HR 1 bill. New York cannot build a strong child care system or economy without a well-compensated workforce.
Take this quiz to reflect on what role you can play in building a child care system that works for everyone. We all have a part to play in this movement, and this quiz will help you think about where you can make an impact.
If you're in NYC, join us this Wednesday, August 13 at 11 AM at Foley Square for a rally demanding immediate action from Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature. We're calling for a Special Session to fund our healthcare system, make New York affordable by making sure the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share, and protect immigrant communities through the New York for All and Dignity in Detention Acts.
In solidarity,
Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari and Marina Marcou-O'Malley
Co-Executive Directors, Alliance for Quality Education
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