Come Join Us at WRI’s OPEN HOUSE WEEK!

Posted on September 9, 2011 by admin

WHEN? Tuesday, September 13 – Thursday, September 15, 1PM-3PM

WHERE? Hunter College, Thomas Hunter Building, Room 207

WHY?

  • To learn how WRI works to secure access to education for all students, including students receiving public assistance.
  • To learn how you can become a more effective student leader.
  • To learn how students changed NYS law to allow work study and internship to count as approved work for students receiving public assistance.
  • To meet new friends and enrich your Hunter College experience.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Can you find yourself in this 2006 retreat picture?

Posted on September 9, 2011 by admin

If not, make sure you reserve Friday, September 16 – Sunday, September 18 for our Alumni Leadership Retreat in Bedford, NY!

Did you miss the 2006, 10th anniversary retreat? Well, this is your opportunity to be a part of something amazing– WRI’s 17th Year Retreat!

Our generous donor, Abby Disney, has agreed to allow WRI to use her Bedford, New York family house again for our retreat. We would be honored to have you join us.

We have the date, space, and funding confirmed. We need a “head count” to make sure we have a realistic budget for out retreat so please contact WRI to let us know that we can count you IN!

Summary of Confirmed Retreat Logistics:
1. Departure Date:  Friday, September 16th (after work around 7pm)
2. Return to NYC Date:  Sunday, September 18th (around 12noon after breakfast and a refreshing swim)
3. Location:  Bedford, New York (upstate)
4. WRI will cover ALL RETREAT EXPENSES

Your Next Steps:
1. Check your calendar to see if the dates work
2. Secure your baby sitter/child care provider for the weekend
3. Respond to this email to confirm that you can join us
4. Help us spread the word–are you in close contact with a fellow alumnus from your cohort year?  Please make sure he or she knows about the retreat.

We are thrilled to have this retreat opportunity and look forward to hearing from you all this week. Contact Dillonna Lewis at dillonna@wri-ny.org or (212) 650-3569 to RSVP!

Posted in Alumni | 1 Comment

One of WRI’s founders- Janet Poppendieck- selected as an inaugural recipient of the James Beard Leadership Award.

Posted on August 31, 2011 by admin

Hunter Professor of Sociology Jan Poppendieck

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Hurricane Irene Food Stamp Replacement

Posted on August 31, 2011 by admin

Click here for more information and forms to download.

Posted in LegalAdvocacy | Leave a comment

WRI Cohort 16 Alumnae featured in City Limits

Posted on July 28, 2011 by admin

“More Americans are poor than ever before, and the national poverty rate is at its highest level since 1994. Meanwhile, one in five New Yorkers lives in poverty. But poverty is absent from our civic discourse. Everyone is tired of talking about poverty, it seems, except poor people. Perhaps that’s because the rhetoric around the topic has rarely resembled reality. The latest issue of City Limits explores that lives of four low-income New Yorkers, including Sharon Jones.” – Neil deMause

Read the entire article by Neil deMause here.

Posted in CommunityLeadershipClass | 4 Comments

WRI Cohort 15 Alum Hirah Mir Testifies At NYC Council Hearing

Posted on June 24, 2011 by admin

On Wednesday, June 22, 2011, WRI cohort 15 alum Hirah Mir testified in front of the NYC Council General Welfare Committee on access to education and training for NYC youth.

“Since the moment I turned 18, the HRA-call in process has placed so many obstacles in my way to prevent me from going to college. Pursuing a college degree is the only way I can improve my financial situation and it is the only way I can accomplish my goals. Expanding access to benefits for young adults is an excellent idea; however they will still have to choose between their benefits and higher education, as I did.”

City Council Testimony- June 22, 2011 General Welfare Committee Hearing

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

May 4th Speak Out and Call to Action

Posted on May 3, 2011 by admin

WELFARE RIGHTS

INITIATIVE


Speak Out


FOR ACCESS TO EDUCATION FOR ALL

WEDNESDAY May 4th 10 am -3 pm

HUNTER COLLEGE 3RD FLOOR WEST

(NEAR THE CAFETERIA)

 

JOIN WRI STUDENT LEADERS AT THE MAY 4TH

SPEAK OUT…

  • LEARN ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION
  • MEET COHORT 16 STUDENTS AS THEY SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES
  • WATCH A ROLE PLAY
  • FIND OUT ABOUT OUR  7-CREDIT PROGRAM FOR FALL 2011-SPRING 2012
  • PLAY OUR “WHEEL OF ACCESS” GAME & WIN FUN PRIZES

ENTER TO WIN GRAND DRAWING TO WIN MORE PRIZES

 

CALL TO ACTION


Sign on to support S2323 by sending letters to NYS Social Services Chairmen Pat Gallivan!

Call to Action Letter- S2323

More Information On How to TAKE ACTION

 

WHO REPRESENTS YOU?

Ask your NYS Senator to support S2323

Posted in CommunityLeadershipClass, Legislation, Policy | 2 Comments

WRI’s 16th Anniversary Leadership Awards

Posted on April 8, 2011 by admin

Welfare Rights Initiative (WRI) is celebrating 16 years of leadership development, community-building, and participant-driven organizing for social change.  This year’s honorees are:

Jay Hershenson, Senior Vice-Chancellor of the City University of New York

Liz Krueger, New York State Senator, District 26

Cohort 16, Fall 2010-Spring 2011 Community Leadership Program


SAVE THE DATE

Posted in CommunityLeadershipClass, Fundraising | Leave a comment

A Modest Law with Great Potential

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Maureen Lane, Co-Executive Director

From the Drum Major Institute Blog

By WRI Co-Executive Director Maureen Lane

Recently, New York Governor Paterson signed the Work Study Internship Law, which counts work-study, internships and externships as work activity for people receiving welfare. Since its original passage in 2000, it has had to be renewed every two years.

Continue reading →

Posted in Legislation | 2 Comments

WRI’s Testimony Posted on the HR Ways and Means Committee Website

Posted on December 1, 2009 by admin

The Statement of Welfare Rights Initiative (WRI) Students, Staff and Alums as submitted October 22, 2009 to the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support is now on the Committee’s website.

Read the testimony.

WRI remains hopeful that greater access to education and training will be included in TANF Reauthorization 2010. We’ll need everyone to be involved to make this happen.

We will keep you posted on actions you can take.

Posted in Legislation | 5 Comments