I grew up in a little bubble of middle- and upper-income families in one of the poorest states in the nation, West Virginia. I was able to attend the best public school in the state and had access to resources that my peers one county over didn’t. My mother was also active in community service, so volunteering was a core part of my childhood. Through these experiences I developed a belief that regardless of the hard work an individual puts in, so much is simply up to chance. I knew I wanted to use my privilege to support others who did not have access to the same resources or opportunities.

How I got to my position is through a mix of support from my network, taking leaps into positions I didn’t feel ready for but trusted I’d figure out, having strong mentors, and not being afraid of striking up a conversation regardless of a person’s position or experience.

The opportunities I’ve had to bring about systemic change that would have material benefits to New Yorkers, specifically advocacy work for the Bring Up Minimum Pay (BUMP) Campaign. This is an anti-poverty campaign advocating for base wages that reflect the true cost of living for nonprofit workers in New York and annual wage adjustments that ensure progress is maintained over time.

Nonprofit employees are systemically paid unlivable wages – contracts set by local, state, and national governments often set rates so low that employees are forced to use the very programs they work for just to stay afloat. Furthermore, the majority of the roughly 1 million human service workers in NY are women and people of color, so it’s impossible to have conversations about reducing the historical gender or racial wage gaps without addressing modern-day poverty wages.

There has been progress in recent years with cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for many state and city nonprofit contracts, but COLAs alone cannot address years of disinvestment in the workforce. This year, Senator Comrie and Assemblymember Reyes introduced Bill S8337/A9082 that would enshrine livable wages for health and welfare service workers. At a time when our social safety net is being eroded, it is more important than ever to invest in our State systems, and if you agree you can give your local rep. a call to let them know you support S8337/A9082.

Think hard about your why and choose an organization that aligns. One of the greatest benefits of working for a mission driven nonprofit is being surrounded by people who are motivated to bring about the same positive impact as you are.

Even though I didn’t grow up here, I’ve had family that have lived here for hundreds of years, so I like to think I’ve always been a New Yorker at heart. (The truth is I still often don’t feel like a New Yorker, but every time I navigate to a new place on the subway without my phone, I get one step closer.)