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THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026 THE QUEENS TIMES PAGE 7

Champion of Justice Award Highlights Partnership Joint Hearing Spotlights Urgent
In Community Safety Higher Education Funding Needs

Queens District Attorney, I n New York
Melinda Katz, was honored this
week with the Champion of Jus- Growing Concerns Over Bud-
tice Award from Chaverim of get Reductions
Queens during the organization’s Testimony throughout the
annual Appreciation Dinner, a day underscored the strain that
gathering that celebrated service, recent federal budget cuts have
volunteerism, and community placed on research, innovation,
protection. and student support programs.
Katz said the recognition Leaders warned that without sus-
was especially meaningful com- tained state investment, campuses
ing from a group defined by its could face setbacks in financial
commitment to helping others. aid availability, infrastructure
Chaverim’s volunteers — more improvements, and workforce
than 100 strong — respond around development initiatives.
the clock to residents facing “Our colleges and universities
urgent but everyday challenges, are engines of opportunity that
from flat tires to lockouts to other DA Melinda Katz with Chaverim of Queens volunteers at the open doors for students and fuel
unexpected needs. Their work annual Appreciation Dinner. New York’s economy,” Hyndman
extends throughout Queens and align closely with the mission of The evening underscored Assemblywoman Alicia L. said, emphasizing the need for a
into neighboring communities, the District Attorney’s Office. the essential role of volunteer- Hyndman, Chair of the Assembly budget that protects student aid,
offering assistance without hesita- “Organizations like Chaverim driven organizations in support- modernizes campuses, and sup-
tion or expectation. are valued partners in the efforts ing residents and reinforcing the Committee on Higher Educa-
tion, convened a Joint Legislative ports emerging career pathways.
The Appreciation Dinner of my office to keep the people borough’s culture of mutual aid. Budget Public Hearing to examine “We must ensure that talent
paid tribute to these volunteers, of Queens safe,” Katz said, em- Katz’s recognition highlighted how the proposed 2026–2027 and drive—not financial circum-
whose quick responses and steady phasizing that public safety is the shared commitment to justice, Executive Budget will affect New stance—remain the cornerstone of
presence have made Chaverim strengthened when law enforce- safety, and service that continues York’s colleges and universities. access to New York’s high-quality
a trusted resource for countless ment and community groups work to shape Queens’ community The hearing brought together state institutions of higher education.”
families. Their efforts, Katz noted, hand in hand. landscape. lawmakers, higher education lead- Testimony from State Educa-
CUNY More Than Triples Enrollment in NYC Teaching ers, faculty unions, and student tion Leaders
The hearing featured testimony
advocates for a wide-ranging dis-
Fellows Program cussion on funding, oversight, and from top officials, including:
the future of public and private
University Has Trained Over institutions across the state. (Continued on page 8)
15,000 Teachers for New York
City Public School Classrooms Senator Gillibrand Statement On
Under the Fellows Program Posthumous Medal Of Honor Awarded
Since 2000
To Staff Sergeant Michael H. Ollis
The City University of New
York today announced it more H. Ollis of Staten Island, NY, who
than tripled the number of stu- was posthumously awarded the
dents in this year’s NYC Teach- Medal of Honor for his service in
ing Fellows program, an acceler- Afghanistan:
ated training initiative launched “Staff Sergeant Michael H.
by the New York City Public Ollis represented the very best
Schools to meet the growing de- of our nation and state,” said
mand for educators. CUNY has changing power of the NYC lows serve in New York City Senator Gillibrand. “His bravery,
trained over 15,000 fellows since Teaching Fellows program, be- public schools, and more than valor, and selfless sacrifice will
the program’s launch in 2000, cause I was once a Fellow myself,” 600 fellows have advanced into forever stand as a testament to
including New York City Schools said New York City Public Schools leadership roles as principals, as- U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand the courage of our armed forces
Chancellor Kamar Samuels, Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “As a sistant principals and instructional (D-NY), member of the Senate and the strength of the American
who earned a master’s degree in career changer, I stood in front of administrators. Armed Services Committee, spirit. I will always keep Staff
childhood education at Lehman my first classroom because this The City University of New released the following statement Sergeant Ollis and his family in
College in the Bronx in 2006. program opened the door. The York is the nation’s largest urban honoring Staff Sergeant Michael my prayers.”
In the 2025 cohort, 526 fel- Teaching Fellows model does public university, a transformative
lows enrolled in master’s degree not just fill vacancies. It builds a engine of social mobility that is
programs at CUNY campuses, diverse, mission-driven pipeline a critical component of the life-
more than three times the 164 of educators who reflect our stu- blood of New York City. Founded
enrolled in 2024 as more teachers dents, commit to high-need com- in 1847 as the nation’s first free
are needed to meet new class size munities, and grow into leaders public institution of higher edu-
requirements. across our system. As we strive cation, CUNY today has seven
“CUNY is proud to serve as to strengthen outcomes for every community colleges, 11 senior
New York’s teacher pipeline and child, this partnership with CUNY colleges and eight honors, gradu-
meet the rising need of our New is more important than ever.” ate and professional institutions
York City Public Schools,” said Under the current partnership spread across New York City’s five
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Ma- agreement with NYCPS, CUNY boroughs, serving 247,000 under-
tos Rodríguez. “Our graduates manages 55% of all NYC Teaching graduate and graduate students
often come from NYCPS and are Fellows placements, with partici- and awarding 50,000 degrees
eager to give back to the school pants attending four CUNY col- each year. CUNY’s mix of quality
system that gave them their leges: Hunter College, Brooklyn and affordability propels almost
educational start. It is incredibly College, City College of New York six times as many low-income
rewarding seeing their journey and Lehman College. students into the middle class and
from student to teacher come CUNY prepares more than beyond as all the Ivy League col-
full circle.” one-third of all new New York City leges combined. More than 80 per-
The program recruits career public school teachers and more cent of the University’s graduates
changers and recent college than 40% of the teachers of color stay in New York, contributing to
graduates to teach in high-need in New York State. New teachers all aspects of the city’s economic,
subject areas, including special with CUNY degrees have a 17% civic and cultural life and diver-
education, science, math and higher five-year retention rate than sifying the city’s workforce in
Spanish. Fellows complete a teachers prepared elsewhere. every sector. CUNY’s graduates
seven-week summer training The University plays a criti- and faculty have received many
intensive from June through Au- cal role in addressing statewide prestigious honors, including 13
gust before beginning full-time teacher shortages, strengthening Nobel Prizes and 26 MacArthur
teaching in September. While educator diversity and advancing “genius” grants. The University’s
leading their own classrooms, the state’s and city’s universal historic mission continues to this
Fellows pursue a subsidized child care and early childhood day: provide a first-rate public
master’s degree and earn state initiatives through expanded pro- education to all students, regard-
certification within two to three grams in early childhood leader- less of means or background. To
years. ship and administration. learn more about CUNY, visit
“I know firsthand the life- Today, more than 9,000 Fel- https://www.cuny.edu/.