- Target:
- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- www.kafsc.org
As a reflection of the Mayor’s budget FY2012-13, an estimated 172 programs will be lost and nearly 25,000 children will have to find alternative after school programs across New York City. Queens alone will lose 29 programs, dropping by 36% from 81 to 52. We ask you to urge the Mayor about the impact of this funding cut and consider the restoration of the funding and support the community.
Queens is home for many Asian American immigrants. 70% of the Korean American community in Flushing is foreign-born. Although Asians are often perceived as “model minority”, in reality, 1 out of 4 Asian American high school students in New York City does not graduate on time or at all. Further, the community has a high-rate of Limited English Proficiency (LEP), with almost 50% of the adult population speaking English less than very well.
Due to this funding cut, our flagship afterschool program, Hodori (Little Tiger) has been also affected, facing the most difficult time in its history. The Hodori has been serving hundreds of low-income students and families in the community since 1994. Our long time major funder, DYCD (Department of Youth and Community Development) has eliminated its entire 150K level of funding starting from this fall. This means 70 Hodori students will not have a place to go while their parents are at work. This takes a serious toll on many lives of families and the community.
We, the undersigned, urgently ask you to come together to support the restoration of the OST funding for the Hodori Afterschool Program.
We cannot succeed without your endorsement. Please join us in this important campaign by not only signing this petition but also sending emails to the Mayor and talking to district councilmen. Please share the critical needs and impact of the OST Program with them.
Without access to these programs, working Asian American immigrant parents will be forced to make painful choices either quit their jobs or make unsafe and unhealthy arrangements for their children.
Asians are the fastest growing ethnic group in New York City, and this disproportionate funding cut for the OST program which affects many families is not fair. We urge you to restore these devastating cuts and commit to funding the OST and invest in the future of these children.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Hodori OST Afterschool Program Restoration Petition petition to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg was written by Min and is in the category Education at GoPetition.