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Q&A

Brewer questions DYCD on benchmarks for academic and enrichment programming

New York City Council · Jun 23, 2026 · starts 0:55:59 · 1 min 59 sec

Brewer asks about benchmarks for the right mixture of academics and fun in Beacon programs. Asherall explains the 2017 RFP was designed for flexibility, with DYCD now analyzing common activities and high-demand areas like workforce to inform future RFP language.

Gale A. Brewer

How are you also, my other question quickly is, how are you dealing with, like, benchmarks for the future?

Gale A. Brewer

Are there different benchmarks about what is the right mixture of academics and fun and so on?

Gale A. Brewer

How are you measuring those sorts of things?

Gale A. Brewer

And is it changing for the future?

Gale A. Brewer

I don't know.

Wanda Asherall

Yeah, well, the unique thing, as you know, about Beacon Community Centers is that we've designed the previous RFP in 2017 so that the CBOs could be flexible in their services.

Wanda Asherall

Because every community is different and every need is different.

Wanda Asherall

And so we are intentional about that.

Wanda Asherall

And so we want to look at all the different...

Wanda Asherall

Like, what are the common activities that are being offered?

Wanda Asherall

Where do we see a high demand across the board?

Wanda Asherall

So that we can, when we're starting to think and engage our stakeholders and our partners, we can have data that says we're seeing a high demand of workforce.

Wanda Asherall

And so we can then think about strategically infusing language in the RFP that speaks specifically to workforce.

Wanda Asherall

Because there's data that shows across the system that workforce is one area of need.

Wanda Asherall

And so we are taking that time now to look at all of the services.

Wanda Asherall

But every activity is different, right?

Wanda Asherall

And every provider provides different types of services.

Wanda Asherall

But we are looking at those pieces currently.

Gale A. Brewer

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Gale A. Brewer

So I really, will you get back to the chair about interim possibilities?

Gale A. Brewer

for those that are overcrowded.

Gale A. Brewer

I'm sure there are others.

Gale A. Brewer

I don't think we're the only one.

Gale A. Brewer

So I'd love to see.

Gale A. Brewer

I really am.

Gale A. Brewer

We can't wait another year.

Gale A. Brewer

I'm just saying.

Gale A. Brewer

They cannot be in people's offices for another year.

Gale A. Brewer

I would really like to see some interim measure.

Althea V. Stevens

I was going to say, if we can work with you guys, maybe we can get a list of all the sites across the city that have a wait list and try it so we can start to look at that because also that also some funding questions too.

Althea V. Stevens

And just for clarity, Beacon and Cornerstone?

Althea V. Stevens

Yes.

Althea V. Stevens

Yes, both.

Althea V. Stevens

Councilmember Joseph?