Morano asks about borough partnership networks
Morano asks about borough-level partnership network differences. Mata discusses the uniqueness of each borough and the need to better reach non-veteran-designated nonprofits. Nicole highlights staff borough representation as key to forging local relationships.
Are there boroughs where partnership networks are stronger than others?
Obviously, you alluded to the cultural differences of being a veteran and seeking assistance or seeking programs in a place like Staten Island versus Brooklyn or Queens.
Well, we do know Staten Island is a veteran-friendly borough and does provide a welcoming atmosphere to many veterans.
What we are seeing is that every borough is unique and does provide, like the services are there.
There's so many services available, one to veterans, but also many nonprofits that perhaps feel that because they're not veteran designated that they should not support veterans per se or may not have the cultural competency.
So again, every borough does provide that support and services to veterans.
However, I do want to bring it back to DVS that we do need to do a better job on.
On reaching out to those nonprofits that perhaps have never been involved with veterans but can and further highlight the services that are available to veterans in each borough.
So that's going to be an ongoing effort.
But again, when it comes to being a welcoming borough for veterans, I do know that Staten Island is one of them.
But our goal is to do better,
provide better services to veterans by showing them what, if they go to, for example, Brooklyn or Queens, like what kind of service there is available for them there.
And in general, every borough.