The NYC Workforce Drop with NYCETC’s Gregory J. Morris

Greg sits down with Miquela Craytor, Senior Advisor (former interim Executive Director, Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation (SBIDC), founder of Craytor Strategies, for a conversation about planning, power, environmental justice, industrial policy, and what it takes to build real economic opportunity in New York City.

Miquela reflects on her path from Oregon to New York, from waiting tables and working as a corporate paralegal to becoming a planner, advocate, and economic development leader. She shares lessons from her time at Sustainable South Bronx, NYCEDC, NYC Small Business Services, and her current work supporting climate and industrial-sector clients through Craytor Strategies.

Her work has included environmental justice, the South Bronx Greenway, industrial policy, advanced manufacturing, workforce strategy, stakeholder engagement, and helping legacy businesses connect to emerging opportunities in offshore wind, building electrification, and the green economy.

Greg and Miquela also dig into the complicated work of community engagement: how good ideas can fail when communities are not heard, why trust and truth-telling matter, and how development projects can better connect infrastructure investment to local jobs.

Along the way, they talk about the Bronx, Brooklyn’s working waterfront, green jobs, worker cooperatives, housing, manufacturing, climate resilience, developers, public-sector decision-making, and why environmental justice and economic justice must be understood as deeply connected.

Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network
Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition
Topics: workforce development; economic development; environmental justice; economic justice; green jobs; climate jobs; industrial policy; manufacturing; offshore wind; building electrification; South Bronx; Brooklyn waterfront; community engagement; urban planning; worker cooperatives; New York City; infrastructure; inclusive growth; small business; Craytor Strategies

Andrew Rigie, Executive Director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, joins Greg Morris for a conversation about restaurants, nightlife, small business survival, and what really happens behind the scenes in one of New York City’s most beloved industries.

From hard-to-get reservations to rising labor costs, health inspections, outdoor dining rules, liquor licenses, and the future of nightlife, Andrew breaks down the pressures facing the city’s restaurants and bars, and why the hospitality industry remains such a powerful engine for jobs, culture, and community.

Greg and Andrew also dig into what makes hospitality work so special: the people. Andrew reflects on growing up in his family’s bakery, learning the rhythm and rigor of restaurant work, and why everyone might benefit from spending some time in a kitchen or dining room. Along the way, they talk robots, regulation, workforce training, community boards, 4 a.m. licenses, minimum wage debates, and why New York’s small businesses need policies that help them thrive.

Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition

Topics: hospitality; restaurants; nightlife; small business; workforce development; New York City; economic development; labor costs; regulation; community boards; outdoor dining; liquor licenses; minimum wage; restaurant jobs; small business advocacy

Anthony Barrows, Executive Director of ⁠Lift New York⁠ and longtime advocate for economic justice and systems reform, joins ⁠Greg Morris⁠ for a conversation about poverty, public systems, and the role community plays in helping families thrive.

Drawing on his own experiences growing up in public housing in Boston, navigating foster care, and relying on social support systems as a young person, Anthony reflects on how these experiences have shaped his work and worldview.

Now leading Lift New York, he focuses on helping families build economic mobility through coaching, direct cash support, and community-centered approaches rooted in what Lift calls “Hope, Money, and Love.”

Greg and Anthony discuss the realities of chronic scarcity, the importance of lived experience in shaping policy, and why dignity and trust must be central to anti-poverty work. They also explore the long-term impacts of welfare reform, lessons learned during the pandemic, the challenges facing immigrant and working families in New York City, and what meaningful systems change could look like under a new administration focused on economic justice.

Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition

Topics: economic justice; poverty; foster care; public benefits; workforce development; family support; behavioral science; lived experience; economic mobility; community building; social policy; New York City

Brian Aquart—Vice President of Workforce & Community Education at Northwell Health, host of the Why I Left podcast, and founder of Storyline by Kingswood—joins Greg Morris for a conversation on leadership, resilience, and building clearer pathways into healthcare careers.

From arriving in New York after the 2008 financial crisis and navigating early-career setbacks to leading workforce education initiatives at one of the nation’s largest healthcare systems, Brian reflects on the experiences that shaped his approach to mentorship, storytelling, and opportunity creation. At Northwell, his work focuses on expanding access to healthcare careers through partnerships with NYC Public Schools, FutureReadyNYC, the Northwell School of Health Sciences, and MedVoyage.

Greg and Brian explore the role healthcare systems can play as anchor employers, the importance of early career exposure for young people, and how workforce development can create lasting economic mobility for underserved communities. They also discuss career transitions, failure, and why storytelling matters in helping people see where they belong.

Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition

Topics: workforce development; healthcare careers; economic mobility; public education; leadership; mentorship; storytelling; FutureReadyNYC; Northwell Health; career transitions; New York City

In this special mini episode, Greg Morris and Gary P. Jenkins take a moment to honor the life and legacy of Fred Shack, the longtime CEO of Urban Pathways and a tireless advocate for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.

Fred’s impact on the city—and on the people and colleagues who worked alongside him—was profound. Known for his unwavering commitment, sharp insight, and deep compassion, he helped shape a housing-first approach that changed lives across New York City.

This conversation reflects on Fred’s leadership, his lasting influence on the sector, and the responsibility to carry his work forward.

Gary P. Jenkins—CEO of Urban Pathways and former NYC Department of Social Services Commissioner—joins Greg Morris for a conversation on leadership, resilience, and building systems that actually work for New Yorkers.

From growing up in Fort Greene as the youngest of eight, to navigating early setbacks in college and rising through every level of city government, Jenkins shares the experiences that shaped his commitment to service. Now leading Urban Pathways, he brings that perspective to the frontlines of addressing homelessness, with a focus on housing-first solutions and long-term stability.

Greg and Gary unpack mentorship, failure, and the weight of expectation. Real change takes persistence, and people willing to push systems forward.

Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition

Topics: homelessness; housing; public service; leadership; mentorship; systems change; Urban Pathways; NYC government; resilience; New York City

In Part Two of this two-part conversation, ⁠Aldrin Bonilla⁠, Executive Vice President of the ⁠Fund for the City of New York⁠, joins ⁠Greg Morris⁠ to unpack the findings behind the Fund’s latest “Overlooked and Undercounted” True Cost of Living brief and why it demands urgent attention.

46% of working-age New York City households don’t earn enough to meet the true cost of living. This episode goes beyond the headline to explore what that actually means, who is most affected, and why traditional poverty measures fail to capture the full picture.

Aldrin breaks down how the report redefines economic security, from housing and childcare to transportation, healthcare, and wages, as well as why having a job is no longer enough in today’s economy. The discussion also highlights deep disparities across boroughs, the uneven post-pandemic recovery, and the growing gap between income and essential costs.

Greg and Aldrin dig into what the data reveals and what it demands: targeted policy solutions, smarter investments, and a clearer understanding of what it truly takes for New Yorkers to thrive.

Read the full “Overlooked and Undercounted” True Cost of Living report from the Fund for the City of New York to explore the data behind this conversation: https://www.fcny.org/nyc-true-cost/

Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition

Topics: true cost of living; economic mobility; workforce development; income inequality; public policy; affordability; data and equity; New York City; labor market; systems change

Christine Quinn—President and CEO of Women In Need (WIN), former New York City Council Speaker, and one of the city’s most passionate advocates—joins Greg Morris for a conversation on leadership, housing, and what it takes to make change stick in New York City.

From her early days organizing and cold-calling her way into the room, to breaking barriers as the first woman and first openly gay Speaker of the City Council, Quinn walks through the moments that shaped her and the urgency that still drives her work today. Now leading the largest provider of shelter and supportive housing for families in the city, she brings both policy savvy and frontline perspective to one of New York’s most pressing challenges.

Greg and Chris unpack the myths around homelessness, the reality of raising children in shelter, and the systems that too often keep families cycling instead of stabilizing. They also get into burnout in the human services workforce, the tension between service delivery and advocacy, and why “doing good” isn’t enough if the system itself isn’t working.

Along the way, Quinn shares stories from the height of COVID, navigating crisis after crisis, and what it looks like when an entire sector has to improvise in real time and still deliver. There’s strategy, there’s honesty, and yes, there are a few unforgettable one-liners.

Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition

Topics: homelessness; housing; advocacy; human services; workforce; public leadership; families; policy; WIN; New York City; systems change

Aldrin Bonilla, Executive Vice President of the Fund for the City of New York, joins Greg Morris for a conversation on public service, data, and what it takes to build stronger communities in New York City.

In this first part of a two-part episode, Aldrin reflects on his journey growing up in Washington Heights and the experiences that shaped his commitment to equity, opportunity, and economic mobility. From navigating New York City in the 1970s and 80s to finding his way through community-based organizations and public leadership, Aldrin shares how mentorship, neighborhood, and lived experience influenced his path.

The conversation explores the power of civic engagement—from transforming community board recruitment to leading one of the most successful census efforts in the country. Along the way, Greg and Aldrin dig into the role of data in shaping policy, why measurement matters, and how systems can either reinforce or challenge inequality.

As the episode closes, the conversation turns to a critical question: if nearly half of New Yorkers are struggling to make ends meet, what has to change?

Part Two will dive into the Fund for the City of New York’s “Overlooked and Undercounted” True Cost of Living brief—and what the data reveals about the growing gap between wages and the real cost of living in New York City today. Stay tuned.

Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition

Topics: workforce development; economic mobility; civic engagement; census; data and equity; public policy; community development; New York City; leadership; systems change

Randy Peers, President & CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, joins Greg Morris for a candid and wide-ranging conversation on what it really takes to build a stronger, more inclusive economy in New York City.

From his early days in workforce development to leading one of the city’s most influential business organizations, Randy reflects on the experiences that shaped his leadership and why he believes economic development must come first if workforce systems are going to work at scale.

The episode dives into the realities facing small businesses today: rising costs, regulatory pressure, and the ongoing challenge of accessing talent. Randy shares how the Chamber responded during COVID-19 by reimagining its role: meeting businesses where they are through direct outreach, launching new funding models for underserved entrepreneurs, and creating platforms to help local makers grow.

Along the way, the conversation explores bigger questions about leadership, mentorship, and what it means to build systems that actually empower people.

Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition

Topics: small business; economic development; workforce development; entrepreneurship; COVID-19 recovery; BIPOC businesses; leadership; Brooklyn; public policy; economic mobility