On Staten Island Tonight: $30 Million Funding Opportunity For Local Grassroots Organizations Uplifting Underserved Communities Across NYS: Black Legislative Task Force Presentation

New York State Black Legislative Task Force to Host Staten Island Listening Session as Part of Statewide Tour to Gather Feedback on $30 Million Funding Opportunity

Editor’s note: In the New York State legislature last year, new district maps were drawn in a move condemned by some community groups as being a clear case of gerrymandering, diluting the vote of minority voters by splitting their communities across districts and thus minimizing their voice.  This is similar to the recent passage in Texas of an outright and plainly stated attempt at gerrymandering that no one was trying to hide.  Texas democrats fled the state to bring the attention of the American public to the issue at hand, though this had no effect on the passage of the new maps.  This particular case will soon be challenged in the court system in Texas.  With more demand at food banks than ever before at the same time that many of the grants supporting such programs have been halted or challenged, the amount of food insecurity in underserved communities around the region as well as the country at large is likely to become apparent in the next year or so.  According to Rep. AOC, a number of the most severe changes to Medicare and Medicaid are set to take effect in late 2026, after the midterm elections for Senate and House.  However, changes to SNAP eligibility and work requirements, including requiring veterans, former foster youth, and unhoused people will also be subject to 80 hours per month.  The event tonight seeks to bring together leaders of small, community-based organizations along with other interested parties in order to learn about grant funding opportunities for such groups.  

STATEN ISLAND, NY — On Thursday, August 28, 2025 members of the New York State Black Legislative Task Force, under the leadership of Chair Assembly Member Chantel Jackson, will host an event at Pavilion on the Terrace as part of the Task Force’s Statewide Listening Tour. The tour aims to bring together elected officials, community-based organizations, and constituents to engage around a $30 million funding opportunity dedicated to supporting programs that uplift underserved communities across New York State.

Task Force Member, Assembly Member Charles Fall, alongside non-profit organizations serving as fiscal conduits for the funding, will share information, answer questions, and most importantly, listen directly to the community about how a portion of this funding can be used to support and strengthen the community.

Listening Tour: Staten Island Event Summary
Date Thursday, August 28, 2025
Time 6PM – 8PM
Location Pavilion on the Terrace
Address 404 Richmond Ter, Staten Island, NY 10301

BACKGROUND:
During the 2025 legislative session, the New York State Black Legislative Task Force successfully advocated for $30 million in the state budget to support programs in housing, economic development, health, education, civic engagement, cultural preservation, criminal justice reform, and capacity building to uplift underserved communities across the state. To ensure this historic funding is guided by the voices of the community, the Task Force launched a Statewide Listening Tour.

The tour began on Thursday, July 24 in Long Island, followed by stops in Brooklyn on July 31, Manhattan on August 7, Queens on August 13, and Syracuse on August 21. It will continue in Staten Island, the Bronx, and four major upstate cities: Buffalo, Binghamton, Albany, and Rochester. This tour empowers community stakeholders to guide how the funding is used

Banner Image: Black Legislative Task Force. Image Credit – NYSBLTF