six years of building safer communities in new york city
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Six Years of Building Safer Communities in New York City. Mission & History RightRides for Women’s Safety (RRWS) builds safer communities by ending gender-based harassment and sexual assault through community organizing and offering direct service, safety education and advocacy programs. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Six Years of Building Safer Communities in New York City
Mission & History RightRides for Women’s Safety (RRWS) builds safer communities by
ending gender-based harassment and sexual assault through community organizing and offering direct service,
safety education and advocacy programs.
RightRides gives safe rides to women and the LGBTQ community on Friday and Saturday nights, in up to 45 neighborhoods across four boroughs.
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“Because Getting Home Safely Shouldn’t Be A Luxury”
New Yorkers for Safe Transit Coalition(NYFST)
► NYFST focuses on raising public awareness, community building, and facilitating policy changes that ensure New Yorkers can get from one location to another safely and securely.
► With funding from NYWF, we formally organized in 2009 with founding members RRWS, Girls for Gender Equity, HollabackNYC. Joined now by NYC’s Anti-Violence Project, Transport Workers Local 100, Ali Forney Center and the Center for Anti-Violence Education.
New Yorkers for Safe Transit Coalition
► NYFST’s guiding vision is: We believe that all individuals should be treated equally and with dignity and respect, recognizing that women, LGBTQ individuals, people of color, youth, and those who live or work in areas with lacking or limited access to public transit face the biggest safety challenges on public transit.
► NYFST’s approach includes:
1) Raise public awareness 2) Organize community members and build the coalition 3) Pursue policy changes
New Yorkers for Safe Transit Coalition
RAISING AWARENESS
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► Print campaign released in late-2008, still seen in many subway cars
► Campaign was replicated for audio announcements in 2009, still heard throughout the network
New Yorkers for Safe Transit Coalition
MOVEMENT BUILDING
► In 2010, NYFST held a series of Survivor Focus Groups, addressing violence experienced in mass transit.
► We’re establishing an Transit Justice Collective, an advisory Board comprised of Survivors
► Alliance building with member organizations , allies and individuals, is key
New Yorkers for Safe Transit Coalition
ADVOCACY
► Collaborating with Assemblyman Brennan and Senator Perkins in support of Bill No. A10444
► Collaborating with Council Member Jessica Lappin in support of Intro 0253-2010
New Yorkers for Safe Transit Coalition
SUCCESSES
► NYFST members and survivors testified at a joint hearing, “Sexual Harassment and Assault on New York City Subways”, and at press conferences.
► Coalition Members TWU won the court hearing in June requiring the MTA re-open and re-staff hundreds of closed station booths.
► NYFST has been featured in New York Times, Metro New York, amNY, Daily News, New York Post, WBAI 99.5 FM, WNBC, WABC, among other media outlets.
New Yorkers for Safe Transit Coalition
CHALLENGES
► Mayor Bloomberg’s office issued a Memo in Opposition to our bills pending at the state level
► MTA budget cuts contribute to an unsafe transit environment.
New Yorkers for Safe Transit Coalition
CONTACT US
► On the Web: www.NYFST.org
► Via Mail: NYFST c/o RRWS 26 Court Street Ste. 505Brooklyn, NY 11242
► Via Phone: 718.522.0822Oraia Reid, Executive Director orMandy Van Deven, Deputy Director