I get to see a lot of joyous rooms here at Educational Alliance. Probably one of the most joyous – and one of my favorites – is the sewing and crafts group that gathers every Friday afternoon down the hall from my office.
For years, the women in this group have been coming together at the Manny Cantor Center to improve their sewing skills, to catch up with old friends, and to make some new ones.
You’ll see in the video above that many have a long history with Educational Alliance. Their experiences with us can span their entire lifetimes, from the earliest years of childhood to their older adult years. And as they grow older, we maintain our commitment to helping them age with dignity.
That commitment is part of what makes Educational Alliance so unique and important, and it’s also a sad counterpoint to what often goes on in our city. We live in a society that values what’s new and economically productive. True respect for older adults – defined by real investment in allowing them to flourish – is often sorely lacking.
And that’s why last month, I submitted testimony to the New York City Council’s Committee on Aging, asking the city to support the older adult population. Instead of funding the city’s five-year roadmap for long-term investments in older adult programs, the city has continuously cut funding for services to the point that older adult centers will be forced to close in the coming years unless the city takes action.
In my testimony, we relied on the lived experience of Educational Alliance and our older adults. We know with certainty that dedicated services and programming matter. A sewing circle – or a wide variety of other services – makes a tremendous difference to people who have devoted their lives to their families and to this city, and we owe them our support.
Please take a moment to watch the video above. It’s a powerful testimony to what community and services mean to older adults, and why they’re worth fighting for. And, aside from that message, I guarantee the people you meet in the video will brighten your day.
Best,
Rich Baum
President & CEO, Educational Alliance