HEOP Students Take Part in Virtual 2021 Advocacy Day with New York Legislators

February 19, 2021

MMC Higher Education Opportunity Program students met with New York State legislators to demand expanded financial support as part of Advocacy Day, hosted by The New York Student Aid Alliance.

On February 9 and 10, MMC students within the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) met with various New York State legislators and representatives to advocate for an increase in the State’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), continued funding for HEOP, and for the Direct Institutional “Bundy” Aid program to be restored as part of the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling’s annual Legislative Advocacy Day.

Nearly a dozen MMC students spent Tuesday, February 9 and Wednesday, February 10 with fellow HEOP Griffins and peers from across the State in a cohesive front to demand expanded funding and support for crucial assistive programs.

Congratulations to the follow HEOP students from MMC for their efforts:

Anaya Bond ’24 discusses funding expansion with peers in one of the numerous Advocacy Day meetings on February 10.Anaya Bond ’24
Ibrahim Bah ’24
Nereida Alvarez ’24
Emely Abrigo ’24
Amy Fernandez ’23
Stephanie Galvez ’23
Fahima Degia ’21
Darlene Castillo ’23
Zaheraa Ramsahoye-Khan ’23
Lisbeth Green ’23

The students met and discussed funding with Assembly members Michael Reilly, Robert Rodriguez, Rebecca Seawright, and Joanne Simon, as well as with State Senator Liz Krueger.

HEOP Director Harmony Cross also participated on a panel led by the New York State Associate for College Admission Counseling (NYSACAC) and the College Access Consortium of New York (CACNY) to discuss the impact of HEOP. The President of the Commission of Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) Susan Nesbit Perez and NYS Assembly Member Alicia Hyndman also offered sentiments on the importance of an increase in state aid.

Congratulations, all!

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