Thanks to everyone who joined us at Tuesday’s Women Mean Business Luncheon to benefit the Coalition’s First Step Job Training Program! The event was a major success, bringing together more than 300 New Yorkers, including corporate and civic leaders as well as our accomplished First Step graduates.

New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn presented an inspiring keynote address reminding the guests of how critical the homelessness epidemic has become in our community and underscoring the Coalition’s unique role in creating innovative and effective solutions to the problem. She urged everyone to support the Coalition’s work and to take a stand in favor of rational and humane policies to make affordable housing available for all New Yorkers. A clip of the Speaker’s motivational and inspiring remarks can be found below.

“The Coalition is different because it is both an advocacy, an activist and a service organization at the same time. And they do that together because, I believe, that is the right thing to do. It makes their work more effective.”

                                               –Christine Quinn

Speaker, New York City Council

The event raised $170,000 to go directly towards job training and comprehensive social services for homeless and low-income women. We are truly grateful to our many sponsors. The afternoon could not have been possible without their generous support.

We would also like to thank our corporate honoree Marsh, First Step graduate speakers Rasheedah Boyd and Marvette Allison-Harding, and Diana Mejia for sharing her story in this year’s featured video.

If you were unable to attend, but would like to make a donation to the First Step Job Training Program, you can do so here.