In February 2021, the New York City Employment and Training Coalition, Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development, and Regional Plan Association established the NYC Inclusive Growth Initiative Steering Committee to develop a plan for inclusive economic growth in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several months later, the committee produced a blueprint with over 50 recommendations for NYC’s next Mayor and the incoming City Council to prioritize future economic development, workforce development, and affordable housing.
ICD is incredibly proud of our Employment Specialist, Carl Callender, who served as a workforce development expert on the Steering Committee and contributed to this blueprint.
In the press release, Mr. Callender said,
“As a Black Veteran, an advocate for individuals with disabilities, a workforce development professional and a lifelong New Yorker, the invitation to work with the NYC Inclusive Growth Steering Committee represented to me the possibility of a new day for New York City. The Inclusive Growth Blueprint we have prepared for our next Mayor is a visionary pathway to greater economic mobility and a more ethical, inclusive and diverse workforce for all.”
The Inclusive Growth Blueprint is a new framework for changing how decisions are made and improving how growth and development happen in New York City. City leaders have an opportunity to provide all New Yorkers with access to good jobs, affordable housing, and economic opportunity if they utilize this blueprint that centers the communities who are routinely left behind, including the disability community.