Fort Greene/Propect Heights/Crown Heights City Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo joined with members of the Council’s Brooklyn delegation today to announce a $2.2 million allocation for programming, facility and technology upgrades at Medgar Evers College.
“Forty-five years ago, Medgar Evers College was founded with the brilliance and strategic idea of its founding members to provide an institution of higher education that would benefit its local community. Through the vision and leadership of Dr. Rudy Crew, the College has grown at an exponential rate to increase student access to resources and opportunities for personal and professional success. Today’s announcement of a $2.2 million City Council allocation is a critical investment in the Crown Heights community, the students here at Medgar Evers College, and the legacy of this institution,” said Cumbo, in whose district the College currently resides.
The $2.2 million allocation will help enhance the child development center; parent academy workshops; the Center for Black Literature, Center for Law and Social Justice, Center for Cognitive Development. Lastly, the Center for Women’s Development will provide temporary relief to assist students facing homelessness, displacement due to domestic violence, intimate partner violence, or joblessness.
“The announcement today at storied Medgar Evers College underscores a victory that the Brooklyn Delegation and the New York City Council scored on behalf of New York’s students and families. I’d like to personally thank Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, the entire Brooklyn Delegation, Council Member Laurie Cumbo, and the chair of the Higher Education Committee, Inez Barron, for their championing of this issue and making sure that Medgar Evers College is on the map in terms of our city budget. I’d also like to give thanks to Dr. Rudy Crew, the president of Medgar Evers College, for being an education visionary who believes in teaching to the whole child, from the early years all the way through adulthood. His advocacy was also very instrumental in making this great news possible,” said Coney Island Council Member Mark Treyger, Brooklyn Delegation Co-Chair.
“As Chair of the Committee on Higher Education, I am pleased to see an increase in funding for Medgar Evers College. Medgar Evers College was born out of the efforts and struggles of community activists to establish an institution of higher education. The advocacy for the creation of Medgar Evers College was modeled after the struggle waged by Medgar Wylie Evers, who fought for equity for African Americans. For many years, Medgar Evers College was not funded appropriately. This year’s allocations are a continuation along the path to bring Medgar Evers College to par with her sister institutions. I am pleased to be a part of those efforts and commit to continue in that regard,” said East New York Council Member Inez Barron.
“Medgar Evers is an important institution and I’m pleased to offer my continued support to this community cornerstone. Investing in education is the most important thing we can do for our children and our community,” said Flatbush Council Member Mathieu Eugene. “It’s an honor to join my colleagues Council Member Laurie Cumbo, Council Member Inez Barron, and Council Member Mark Treyger and the faculty and students at Medgar Evers as we take another step towards a brighter future for all New Yorkers. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in the Brooklyn Delegation to make sure that Medgar Evers receives the funding it needs to succeed. “
“I thank the New York City Council’s Brooklyn delegation for working to strengthen Medgar Evers College, a beacon of opportunity for students across our borough and a resource for all Brooklynites. I am excited about the future at Medgar Evers, a future that will engage young people with a high-quality academic experience that prepares them for success in Brooklyn and beyond,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams.
“We greatly appreciate the work and support of the entire elected delegation – both state and local. We have been in conversation long enough to know and understand this is about the future of education and Medgar Evers College. This allows us to be a K-16 community, which really makes us quite unique as an education model throughout the country,” said Dr. Rudy Crew, president, Medgar Evers College.
Under the tenure of Dr. Rudy Crew, Medgar Evers College has seen an increase in student enrollment, celebrated award-winning students and faculty members, launched new degree programs, secured millions in public and private grants.
The sustainability of Medgar Evers College requires the collaboration of the legislative bodies for New York City and State. With the partnership of Senator Jesse Hamilton and Assembly Member Walter T. Mosley in Albany, the College has received funding from New York State to support its ongoing development.
“I am proud to stand with my fellow colleagues in government who have provided crucial support to Medgar Evers College, an institution that provides pathways to higher education and the middle-class for thousands of hardworking members of a historically under-served community,” said Fort Green/Prospect Heights Assembly Member Walter T. Mosley.
“Devoted to important research initiatives, college-community links, and student support, the NYC Council funding for Medgar Evers College will strengthen a key education institution in our community. I salute NYC Council Member Laurie Cumbo for her leadership in securing these funds and all the colleagues who helped secure the funding increase including Council Speaker Mark-Viverito, Council Members Barron, Cornegy, Eugene, and Williams, and the entire NYC Council Black, Latino & Asian Caucus,” said Flatbush State Senator Jesse Hamilton
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