Julio Cesar Herrera (Hispanic Federation) testifies on PATH initiative impact
Julio Cesar Herrera of Hispanic Federation describes HF's role as a PATH anchor organization since 2021, reaching millions of New Yorkers through sub-grantees providing anti-bias education across five boroughs. He warns that without sustained investment, many CBOs will be forced to scale back or suspend services.
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon.
I'd like to extend my thanks to the chair, Yusef-Salaam, and for the Committee to Combat Hate.
My name is Julio Cesar Herrera.
I serve as a government operations director for Hispanic Federation.
A nonprofit dedicated to empowering Latina communities through programs and advocacy.
Our testimony reflects the collective insights and experiences of HF and more than 100 of New York City community-based partners involved in the city's Partners Against the Hate Forward initiative.
HF has proudly served as an anchor organization for PATH in partnership with the Mayor's Office of Prevention of Hate Crimes.
Since 2021, this initiative has allowed us to fund, convene, and work alongside trusted CBOs that are helping New Yorkers understand, report, and prevent hate crimes and bias incidents.
Through PATH, Hispanic Federation and its partners have reached out to residents who are too often vulnerable to harassment, discrimination, and targeted violence.
Our partners consist of CBOs who intimately engage their own communities through
culturally responsive, anti-bias, anti-discrimination, anti-hate education across the five boroughs.
To date, through this work, Hispanic Federation and our sub-grantees have reached millions of individuals across New York City, and that reach reflects thousands of moments where community members were able to learn their rights, ask questions,
better understand available resources, and feel less alone.
Despite the reach and measured deliverables of the PATH initiative, this endeavor remains deeply vulnerable without sustained investment.
If support is reduced or eliminated, many of our subgrantees carrying out this work will be forced to scale back programming, limit outreach, or suspend services altogether.
For those organizations who already operate with limited resources,
Even a modest disruption in funding could have significant consequences.
Hispanic Federation adamantly believes that combating hate is both a public safety responsibility and a statement of who we are as a city.
We are deeply grateful to the council for its continued leadership and for understanding how imperative PATH is to bolster the voices of the most marginalized members of our communities.
We urge the council to continue supporting this critical initiative and the community-based organizations who are the bedrock of this initiative and on the front lines of preventing hate, supporting victims, and building a safer, more inclusive New York City.
Thank you for this opportunity to testify and for your ongoing commitment.