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

In this mini episode, we return to the urgent question at the heart of nearly every workforce conversation: wages—and whether working New Yorkers can actually afford to live in the city they serve.

Michelle Jackson, Executive Director of the Human Services Council of New York, joins us again for a discussion about the growing number of wage justice campaigns unfolding across the city and state. From #JustPay to Living Wage for All NY, fair pay for home care, childcare, and beyond, the two unpack what it takes to align movements that share the same goal but often move on parallel tracks.

Michelle reflects on the responsibility of coalition leadership in a moment when coordination matters more than ever—why rowing in the same direction (and ideally the same canoe) is essential to building power, avoiding fragmentation, and making real progress toward a true cost-of-living wage. The conversation digs into hard realities, including wage compression, business concerns, subminimum wages for tipped workers, workers with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, and youth, and why those most often left out must be centered in economic justice efforts.

The episode also confronts the often-overlooked benefits cliff—how raises can unintentionally put families at risk of losing essential supports—and why imperfect progress is still progress if the sector is willing to move together.

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)

Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

This episode explores what it means to lead not just an organization, but a broad, values-driven coalition responsible for shaping systems, policy, and power across New York City’s human services sector.

The conversation centers on Michelle Jackson, Executive Director of the Human Services Council, and her leadership journey stewarding collective power at scale. From the early days of large-scale mobilization—most notably the 6,000-person #JustPay rally—to the ongoing responsibility of representing providers, workers, and communities, Michelle reflects on what it takes to responsibly hold power that extends far beyond any single institution.

Together, Greg and Michelle dig into the current moment facing human services and workforce advocates: persistent workforce shortages, compensation challenges, and sustainability concerns, all unfolding amid a transition to a new city administration and evolving state dynamics. Michelle speaks candidly about the emotional and strategic weight of coalition leadership—what feels most urgent, what feels most heavy, and what continues to fuel her commitment to the sector.

Looking ahead, the conversation turns to what’s next. With a new mayoral administration on the horizon and shifting policy priorities at the state level, Michelle outlines where the human services sector needs to go and how HSC helps chart that path—balancing advocacy, partnership, and accountability while translating shared vision into real, measurable action.

This episode is a deep dive into coalition leadership: the joy, the pressure, and the responsibility of building power collectively—and using it to move systems that millions of New Yorkers rely on every day.

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)

Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

Topics: coalition leadership and collective power; human services workforce sustainability; the legacy and lessons of mass mobilization; navigating city and state transitions; advocacy at scale; translating shared vision into policy action; responsibility, resilience, and stewardship in movement leadership.

In the final episode of the year of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J Morris sits down with NYS Assembly Member Amanda Septimo (AD-84) for a conversation about leadership rooted in community, workforce equity, and New York’s next political chapter.

A lifelong Bronxite, AM Septimo reflects on her path from early organizing and community advocacy to elected office, and how her lived experience continues to inform her approach to policymaking. She shares what it means to lead with accountability to place, bringing the voices, needs, and aspirations of Bronx families directly into Albany, and how that grounding shapes her priorities around affordability, public health, education-to-career pathways, and workforce access for working adults.

With Greg, AM Septimo digs into the often-overlooked role state policy plays in shaping New York City’s workforce system, from funding decisions and eligibility rules to the alignment (or misalignment) between city and state priorities. Together, they explore how workforce systems function as economic infrastructure and why access, equity, and mobility must remain central as New York navigates ongoing labor shortages, rising costs of living, and widening opportunity gaps.

The conversation also looks ahead. Against the backdrop of a new mayoral administration, a shifting federal landscape, and AM Septimo’s recent announcement to run for Congress, they unpack what this moment of transition means for Bronx communities, city–state coordination, and the responsibility of workforce leaders, advocates, and policymakers to stay engaged as New York defines what comes next.

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

Topics: leadership grounded in community; Bronx-rooted policymaking; workforce equity for working adults; affordability and economic mobility; education-to-career pathways; public health and local economic opportunity; city–state coordination; political transition and future leadership; staying engaged in shaping New York’s next chapter.

In this mini episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, Gregory J. Morris, Stephanie Birmingham, Courtney Granger, and Jennifer Tausig dig into the conference comment cards—what attendees told NYCETC about communications, content, and what the next mayoral administration should prioritize on workforce and economic development.

The group reads directly from the cards, surfacing candid, sometimes surprising feedback: calls for new leadership voices inside government, stronger representation from social workers, immigrants, and people with lived experience.

They also reflect on recurring themes attendees wanted elevated in future convenings—from alternatives to incarceration and public safety, to thicker pipelines between CUNY and government careers, and a desire for solutions-focused conversations that move beyond diagnosing problems.

On the communications side, the conversation covers what people actually want to engage with: podcasts, meetups, infographics with video, walk-and-talks, and more accessible, centralized stages that reach audiences both in-person and online. The episode underscores how attendee feedback directly shaped this year’s conference—and will continue to shape NYCETC’s strategy going forward.

The mini pod closes with reflections on the “less swag, more good” initiative, directing conference funds to frontline organizations like the New York Immigration Coalition, and a look ahead to what’s coming next, including a 100-day analysis of the new administration and ideas for 2026.

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, Gregory J. Morris, CEO of NYCETC, is joined by Stephanie Birmingham, NYCETC Director of Community & Operations, Courtney Granger, and Jennifer Tausig for a real-time debrief of the 2025 NYCETC Conference—what resonated, what surprised them, and what comes next for the workforce field.

Together, they unpack the energy inside (and outside) the rooms: the “workforce prom” reunions, the hard truths about systems that still don’t work for too many New Yorkers, and the conference through-lines—power, coalition-building, and the plumbing of public systems that need more than patchwork fixes.

The conversation digs into standout moments and themes, including the push to get more specific—and more honest—about how AI is changing work, the renewed urgency around advocacy, and the case for wraparound supports backed by data and ROI. They also explore why workforce is still treated as an afterthought in economic development and why small businesses, neighborhood health, and “warm handoffs” to employers have to be central to the next chapter.

The episode closes with lightning-round reflections, what’s giving each guest hope (and urgency) heading into 2026, and an invitation to stay engaged as NYCETC carries conference momentum forward—through partnerships, metrics that matter, and a clearer story about who gets the job done.

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Greg Morris welcomes Kathy Wylde, outgoing president & CEO of the Partnership for New York City, for a conversation about affordability, power, and the future of New York’s workforce and economy.

Kathy reflects on five decades of shaping the city, from her early organizing in Sunset Park to partnering with David Rockefeller to rebuild neighborhoods in the 1980s. She breaks down her idea of “horizontal and vertical networks,” explaining why real progress in housing, workforce, and economic development requires connections from block associations and community boards all the way to corporate leaders, banks, and federal partners.

Greg and Kathy discuss priorities for the new administration, including childcare, housing production and preservation, employer engagement, and strengthening the city’s talent pipeline through initiatives like CUNY Beyond. Kathy also offers insights on political power shifts, what surprises business leaders, and the traits that make an effective mayor.

The conversation closes with personal reflections on career, legacy, and Kathy’s “pastel life” in Puerto Rico, a contrast to the intensity of New York and a reminder of the perspective needed to lead through change.

A thoughtful, high-impact episode on leadership, collaboration, and building a more affordable and economically vibrant city.

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)

Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

In this Thanksgiving mini-episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, Encore Community Services Executive Director Jeremy Kaplan returns to share what the holiday really looks like inside one of New York City’s most mission-driven older adult organizations. What starts as a simple question — “What’s going on at Encore on Thanksgiving?” — unfolds into a vivid picture of community care at scale.

Jeremy walks Greg through the astonishing scope of Encore’s holiday operation: 25,000 meals cooked during the week of Thanksgiving in a small Times Square basement kitchen; 7,000 to 8,000 meals dispatched up to the Bronx each week; and 4,000 special Thanksgiving lunches prepared on the holiday itself. About 300 older adults join Encore in Midtown for a family-style feast complete with live music and full table service, while thousands more receive a home-delivered Thanksgiving meal crafted with all the classics — turkey, yams, collard greens, cranberry sauce, rolls, and more.

With well over 100 volunteers supporting the day — from managing the in-person celebration to delivering meals up and down the West Side — Jeremy reflects on how Encore ensures older New Yorkers feel connection, dignity, and warmth on a day that can otherwise magnify loneliness. The work is about making sure every older adult knows someone is thinking of them.

Greg and Jeremy close with reflections on gratitude, chosen family, and the joy Jeremy finds in returning home after a full day of service — including to his beloved mini cockapoo, Cody — with a renewed appreciation for togetherness. Their message is simple and powerful: no one in this city should ever feel alone on Thanksgiving, or any day.

Subscribe and stay tuned for more conversations with leaders shaping New York’s workforce, care systems, and communities.

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)

Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

In this special Thanksgiving episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J Morris sits down with Jeremy Kaplan, Executive Director of Encore Community Services, for a warm, funny, and moving conversation about what it means to grow older and to never have to do it alone. From barefoot Florida Thanksgivings and anxiety-inducing “what are you thankful for?” rituals to New York City chosen family traditions, Greg and Jeremy explore how holidays crystallize our deepest fears and hopes about togetherness, aging, and belonging. 

Jeremy traces his journey from classroom teacher and school founder to head of one of New York City’s largest older adult–serving nonprofits, rooted in the basement of St. Malachy’s “Actors’ Chapel” in the theater district. He shares Encore’s origin story, from a few dozen hot meals to a multi-site hub that now feeds, houses, and connects thousands of older New Yorkers, and breaks down what “community care” really looks like on the ground. 

Together, Greg and Jeremy zoom out from the holiday table to the systems that shape how we age. They grapple with loneliness as a public health crisis, ageism in hiring, and why older adults are both disproportionately poor and a vastly underestimated economic engine. 

Along the way, they spotlight NYC Aging’s chronic underfunding, the Human Services Council’s Just Pay campaign, and the paradox of a human services workforce paid poverty wages to fight poverty itself.

As listeners prep turkeys, mac and cheese, or a pernil for chosen family, this episode doubles as a love letter to older New Yorkers and a call to action: to value caregiving, invest in human services, and build a city where nobody has to spend the holidays, or any day, in the shadows. 

Topics: Thanksgiving, family, and chosen family; aging, loneliness, and community care; Encore Community Services and Times Square’s theater roots; older adults as an economic engine; ageism and second-act careers; community schools and wraparound services; LGBTQ+ elders, dignity, and home-based care; human services workforce, Just Pay, and wage justice; NYC Aging and city budget priorities; building a New York where no one ages alone.

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)

Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

In this episode of The NYC Workforce Drop, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris sits down with Wayne Ho, president and CEO of the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, community power, and what it really takes to move policy when the stakes are highest.

Wayne traces his journey from being the child of immigrants to leading the nation’s largest Asian American social services organization. With Greg, he unpacks how partnership with his wife and a trusted leadership team makes it possible to juggle family life, night meetings, board service, and crisis response, without losing sight of the people at the center of it all.

Together, they revisit SOMOS—FOMOs included—and the shift in mood from last year’s federal anxiety to this year’s post-election optimism. Wayne breaks down how CPC responds when crisis hits, from SNAP cuts and food insecurity to the dual pandemics of COVID and anti-Asian hate. He shares how CPC built a real policy engine, helped win the $30 million AAPI Equity Budget, and sparked parallel victories for Latinx and Black communities, without playing “oppression Olympics” and instead growing the pie for all.

The conversation also digs into the nuts and bolts of power-building in human services: funded vs. unfunded mandates, wage justice for frontline workers through Just Pay and Fair Pay for Home Care, and why authentic relationships with government matter when a bad RFP drops or law enforcement shows up at your afterschool program.

Looking ahead, Greg asks Wayne for his message to the mayor-elect. Wayne calls for a true reset that treats nonprofits as partners, not vendors; centers the city’s most marginalized residents; and surrounds City Hall with leaders who are deeply rooted in community. And, yes, the episode ends where all serious policy conversations eventually do: professional wrestling, podcasts, and a teaser for a future episode devoted entirely to their shared fandom.

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)

Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network

Topics: immigrant leadership and family; crisis response and community care; SNAP cuts, food insecurity, and anti-Asian hate; building AAPI, Latinx, and Black equity budgets; human services as civic infrastructure; funded vs. unfunded mandates; wage justice, Just Pay, and Fair Pay for Home Care; coalition-building, disagreement, and trust; nonprofit–government partnership in a new administration; SOMOS, FOMO, and AAPI–Latinx solidarity; joy, wrestling, and staying human in the work.

On a wet, gray Halloween-eve in Manhattan, NYCETC CEO Gregory J. Morris sits down with Dr. Lisa Vollendorf, president of Empire State University (SUNY Empire), for a high-energy conversation about expanding opportunity through high-quality online public education. From her scholarly roots in 16th–17th century women’s cultural history to leading a 98% online SUNY institution serving 17,500 students across every NY county, all 50 states, and 50 countries, Dr. Vollendorf traces how access, design, and partnerships move learners from “some college” to completion.

They dig into what “quality” means for asynchronous learning—universal design, a robust digital learning environment, data-driven student supports—and why SUNY Empire’s ecosystem meets learners where they are. The pair also tackles basic needs and policy shocks: SUNY Empire’s virtual food pantry, GI Bill interruptions and emergency scholarships during the shutdown, and anticipated SNAP cutbacks, as well as how colleges, employers, agencies, and philanthropy can blunt the impact.

Workforce is the throughline: SUNY Empire builds cohort pathways, evaluates prior learning (up to 93 transfer credits), and stacks certificates toward degrees while meeting urgent employer skill needs (including emerging AI capabilities). The duo drives home the idea that a college degree remains a powerful driver of mobility and community wellbeing, and how business investment plus flexible public higher ed can scale it.

Topics: online/asynchronous quality & universal design; digital learning environments & data; prior learning assessment & transfer; apprenticeship/union pathways; basic needs, GI Bill gaps & SNAP cutbacks; employer partnership models; stackable credentials to degrees; reskilling/upskilling for AI-era roles; adult learner completion & social mobility; NYC–state workforce alignment; equity, affordability, and belonging.

Published by: New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)

Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood Network