Current Advocacy Council

  • Catharine Murcek

    She/Ella

    Samakaya Yoga

  • Clara Calvo

    She/Ella

    Cooperative Home Care Associates

  • Dalaeja Foreman

    She/They/ Ella/Ellx

    breadfruit cooperative

  • Elizabeth Polanco

    She/Ella

    Radiate Consulting NYC

  • Gale Johnson

    She/Ella

    Hopewell Care - Childcare Cooperative

  • Ruth Lopez

    She/ Ella

    Pa’lante Green Cleaning

  • Ana Rodriguez

    Description goes here

About Advocacy Council’s Work 

At NYC NOWC, we are dedicated to advocating for the policies and resources needed so that worker cooperatives can thrive. To do this, we are committed to nurturing the infrastructure needed for worker-owners to stand in their power as the voices of the worker cooperative movement.

  • Working alongside the Advocacy Council and other cooperative professionals and Legal partners, we have been committed to conducting the thorough research needed for a comprehensive city and state level worker cooperative platform. While the research continues, we are working to build a platform that addresses the following issues:

    • City Procurement & Contracting

    • Removing Tax Barriers & Creating Incentives,

    • Securing Space & Affordable Commercial Rental for Worker Cooperative

    • Direct Financial Support for Worker Cooperatives

    • Revamping NY State Worker Cooperative Incorporation Statutes

    • Securing “Right of First Refusal” for Workers

    • Educational Opportunities & Technical Assistance Support for Worker Cooperatives

    Check out the full platform here

  • As backbone of the Worker Cooperative Business Development Initiative (WCBDI), NYC NOWC continues to play a critical role in coordinating and supporting WCBDI partners in:

    • Increasing discretionary funding from city council over FY18 and FY19. In FY18, we saw an increase from just over $2 million to $3.048 million and in FY19, we saw an increase to $3.6 million.

    • Securing worker-owner leadership in WCBDI. Worker owners have participated in WCBDI meetings since 2017 and received a formal vote in 2019.

  • Through our elected bodies, NYC NOWC’s Board and Advocacy Council, we signed onto and participated officially in various local and state campaigns