Six Years of Building Safer Communities in New York City
Mission & History
RightRides for Women’s Safety (RRWS) builds safer communities by
ending gender-based harassment and sexual assault through
community organizing and offering direct service,
safety education and advocacy programs.
“Because Getting Home Safely Shouldn’t Be A Luxury”
► RightRides gives safe rides to
women and the LGBTQ community
on Friday and Saturday nights, in
up to 45 neighborhoods across
four boroughs.
New Yorkers for Safe
Transit Coalition
(NYFST)
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NYFST focuses on raising public awareness, community building, and facilitating policy
changes that ensure New Yorkers can get from one location to another safely and
securely.
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With funding from NYWF, we formally organized in 2009 with founding members
RRWS, Girls for Gender Equity, HollabackNYC. Joined now by NYC’s Anti-Violence
Project, Transport Workers Local 100, Ali Forney Center and the Center for AntiViolence Education.
New Yorkers for Safe
Transit Coalition
►
NYFST’s guiding vision is: We believe that all individuals should be treated equally
and with dignity and respect, recognizing that women, LGBTQ individuals, people of
color, youth, and those who live or work in areas with lacking or limited access to
public transit face the biggest safety challenges on public transit.
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NYFST’s approach includes:
1) Raise public awareness
2) Organize community members and build the coalition
3) Pursue policy changes
New Yorkers for Safe
Transit Coalition
RAISING AWARENESS
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Print campaign released in late-2008, still seen in many subway cars
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Campaign was replicated for audio announcements in 2009, still heard throughout
the network
New Yorkers for Safe
Transit Coalition
MOVEMENT BUILDING
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In 2010, NYFST held a series of Survivor Focus Groups, addressing violence
experienced in mass transit.
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We’re establishing an Transit Justice Collective, an advisory Board comprised of
Survivors
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Alliance building with member organizations , allies and individuals, is key
New Yorkers for Safe
Transit Coalition
ADVOCACY
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Collaborating with Assemblyman Brennan and Senator Perkins in support of
Bill No. A10444
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Collaborating with Council Member Jessica Lappin in support of Intro 0253-2010
New Yorkers for Safe
Transit Coalition
SUCCESSES
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NYFST members and survivors testified at a joint hearing, “Sexual Harassment and
Assault on New York City Subways”, and at press conferences.
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Coalition Members TWU won the court hearing in June requiring the MTA re-open
and re-staff hundreds of closed station booths.
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NYFST has been featured in New York Times, Metro New York, amNY, Daily News, New
York Post, WBAI 99.5 FM, WNBC, WABC, among other media outlets.
New Yorkers for Safe
Transit Coalition
CHALLENGES
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Mayor Bloomberg’s office issued a Memo in Opposition to our bills pending at the
state level
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MTA budget cuts contribute to an unsafe transit environment.
New Yorkers for Safe
Transit Coalition
CONTACT US
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On the Web: www.NYFST.org
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Via Mail:
NYFST c/o RRWS
26 Court Street Ste. 505
Brooklyn, NY 11242
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Via Phone: 718.522.0822
Oraia Reid, Executive Director or
Mandy Van Deven, Deputy Director