Our History & Approach

#DegreesNYC was founded in 2016 by Goddard Riverside Options Center,  Graduate NYC, and Young Invincibles. It is currently led by a small staff and its Youth Council, in close partnership with its core partners, Young Invincibles and the Research Alliance for New York City Schools, and over 50 member organizations. #DegreesNYC has five or more work groups, task forces, and committees at any given time, currently comprising about 150 people from over 100 organizations.​

 

From its inception in May of 2015, #DegreesNYC has engaged hundreds of people to expand access to postsecondary credentials using the following community-driven strategies: 

1. Form an Advisory Task Force to provide strategic leadership

2. Hold borough-based meetings and a community hearing to open dialogue on critical postsecondary issues, disparities, and potential solutions in communities across the city

3. Support cross-sector workgroups to examine and make recommendations on high priority areas identified during the stakeholder meetings and community hearings

4. Host two citywide summits bringing together concerns and ideas to create a new collective action agenda

5. Release a blueprint for collective action to move toward equal opportunity in four priority areas: 

• Postsecondary Education Affordability 

• Higher Education Institutional Policies 

• Support and Accessibility for All 

• Data and Accountability