Van Auken introduces Civic Engagement Commission, NYC Service, and PEU leaders
Van Auken introduces CEC Chair Dr. Sarah Saeed, noting 134,000 New Yorkers participated in participatory budgeting with 26,000 non-English ballots; Chief Service Officer Laura Rogg of NYC Service supporting 900,000 people; and Deputy Commissioner De La Cruz of the Public Engagement Unit.
The OME umbrella also includes a few incredible offices whose leadership will be available for questions.
The Civic Engagement Commission, and we have CEC Chair Dr.
Sarah Saeed over here, which stewards participatory budgeting and language support at poll sites.
Over 134,000 New Yorkers made their voice heard in the People's Money Participatory Budgeting Program in 2026, with over 26,000 ballots in a language other than English.
New York City Service, and we have Chief Service Officer Laura Rogg over here.
New York City service, which seeds a spirit of volunteerism across the city, bringing people together to support each other and our city.
New York City.
Service envisions a city where New Yorkers are united by service, building a culture where neighbors uplift one another and take shared responsibility for the success of our city.
This year, New York City Service has supported over 900,000 people through its service-based programs and partnerships with over 50,000 people engaged in service.
The Public Engagement Unit, and we have Deputy Commissioner De La Cruz right here, which connects New Yorkers to benefits.
Their staff has highly skilled outreach specialists who knock on doors, make calls, send peer-to-peer texts, and much more.
For example, when the federal government passed new work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP,
putting thousands of people at risk of losing their benefits, PEU mobilized to inform SNAP recipients who were highest risk of losing their benefits as a result of the federal government policy changes.
By knocking on more than 10,000 doors and making more than 40,000 person-to-person phone calls, we reached 11,000 New Yorkers to help them keep their SNAP benefits.
OME's goal is to foster a spirit of civic engagement across the city, and we welcome opportunities to partner with the council and council members to better serve New Yorkers.