Domestic Workers celebrated, by Nathan Weiser

The Care Forward Initiative hosted its first annual Care Hero Awards on June 26 where it honored domestic workers and community allies in the movement for worker justice.

We Rise, which is a domestic worker organizing and empowerment organization founded Care Forward. The pilot site is in the Carroll Gardens and Park Slope area. The Carroll Gardens Association is a member of We Rise.

They honored the critical care and labor of domestic workers and the businesses, elected officials, faith leaders and community based organizations who are committed to transforming the care economy and fighting for worker justice in District 39.

Councilmember Hanif and Assemblywoman Simon were the two politicians at the event. The commissioner of the Dept. of Consumer and Worker Protection, Vilda Vera Mayuga, was also at the event which took place at JJ Bryne Park at the Old Stone House.

Hanif was the first to receive an award.She has been involved with Care Forward since she was a staffer under her predecessor, Brad Lander.

“We are doing something that has never been done before for standards to ensure that there is pay equity and that workers know what their existing rights are and the NYC law,” she said. “It is setting a precedent around ensuring the safety and dignity of care workers here within the 39th district.”

For a long time, the care industry sector has been informal where protections in the workplace were not often recognized.  “Domestic workers have been fighting for pay equity, paid time off, overtime and other protections like when they face discrimination or harassment,” Hanif said. “This is a model where the employers are at the table too, so that conversation led by Carroll Gardens Association and our community partners really ensures accountability and transparency.”

Assemblywoman Simon was next. “I am very excited to be here and be supportive as always of care workers,” she said. “You heard before that domestic workers have not been included in many of the civil rights protections,” Simon said. “As a civil rights lawyer, that is something that I have been fighting for for a long time. I am honored that you guys came together.”

Simon added that she is looking forward to increasing the people involved in Care Forward and staying involved in the future.

Another honoree was Susan Fox from Park Slope Parents. Park Slope Parents provides guidance and best practices for employers looking to hire nannies and house cleaners.

Cheri Kroon from Old First Reformed Church in Park Slope was honored. They have a history of committing to racial and social justice.

Norman Cohen, who is the president of Kane Street Synagogue, was also recognized with an award. The synagogue recently celebrated its 167th anniversary.

Emma’s Torch was recognized with an award for the work it has done to help domestic workers when they are out of the home.

In addition to supporting domestic work, they have English classes and empower refugees, asylees and survivors of human trafficking through culinary education. Emma’s Torch’s partners help them identify refugees, asylees and survivors of human trafficking who would be a good fit for their program.

They have a cafe in Carroll Gardens at 345 Smith St., a cafe at the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza as well as a stand in Citi Field in Queens. 

Emma’s Torch is committed to letting domestic workers gather and feel at home at their Carroll Gardens cafe and that is especially helpful since it’s across the street from Carroll Park.

An issue for domestic workers when they are out with kids at the park or taking them to lessons or countless other things is that it can be hard to find a bathroom and the place where they are might not be welcoming.

Emma’s Torch has said that they can come in and rest and that the domestic workers don’t need to buy anything to use the bathroom. They have held an event for Care Forward, have been supportive and allowed them to relax.

The next Care Hero award went to the children’s librarians at the Park Slope Library.  The Carroll Gardens Library also received a Care Hero award. The library has a story time program and provides a space for care workers.

“It gives me great honor for our staff to provide a safe space for care workers in the neighborhood,” librarian John Leighton said. “I want to thank CGA for putting together this event. It’s the greatest community partner I have ever worked with.”

According to Ariana Schindle, who works with the Cornell Worker Institute to help coordinate We Rise, there were two categories of people and organizations that Care Forward wanted to recognize.

Care Forward wanted to give awards to organizations they knew were pillars in the community like Old First Reformed Church. They also wanted to invite organizations that they believed had the same values as Care Forward.

They wanted to honor organizations and people who had been involved in helping already like Emma’s Torch, the Carroll Gardens Library and council member Hanif, who has fought for legislation for care givers.

“Our hope is that once Care Forward is successful here, we can expand it to other communities around NYC and then statewide,” Schindle said. “We are hoping that here can be the example to show others that it is possible.”