Timeline
From August 2011 - March 2012, Cynthia Tobar conducted interviews documenting the Welfare Rights Initiative (WRI), a grassroots student activist and community leadership training organization located at Hunter College.
This timeline was adapted from the document "WRI’s Welfare and Access to Education Policy Timeline--Impact and Recommendations," Welfare Rights Initiative, accessed in April 2011.
New York Coalition for Welfare Rights is formed.
Elena Georgiou, a researcher from the Hunter College Center for the Study of Family Policy, writes a report based on oral history interviews documenting the formation of this coalition, and future WRI co-founders Mimi Abramovitz and Jan Poppendieck contribute a forward and epilogue to the piece.
"Stumbling Until We Get It Right. We Need To Unite": A Diary of the Formation of the New York Coalition for Welfare Rights
WRI Created
Welfare Rights Initiative is created by Mimi Abramovitz, Ruth Sidel and Jan Poppendieck as part of Hunter College's Center for Family and Social Policy.
"Mobilizing Students for Welfare Rights" by Janet E. Poppendieck, February 13, 1995.
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) is passed.
PRWORA repeals Aid to Family with Dependent Children and replaces it with Temporary Aid to Needy Families.
PRWORA establishes a lifetime limit of five years on benefits paid by federal funds, as well as block grants to states.
Economic Justice Project Formed WRI's joint collaboration with the CUNY School of Law. WRI Annual Report 1996-1997
Punitive impact on CUNY students as a result of Work Experience Program (WEP) in New York City.
Building broad base support for Work Study Internship Bill in New York City and New York State.
The Work Study and Internship Law is initiated and passed.
Senator Meier returns to New York City to discuss the implementation of the Work Study & Internship law.
Renewal of Work Study and Internship Law.
1,900 WRI students connect to the Economic Justice Project.
Cohort 9 led second renewal of the Work Study and Internship Law. Education Taskforce created.
WRI celebrates its 10th anniversary
Deficit Reduction Act is passed.
Over 3000 students continue college studies with the help of WRI and the Economic Justice Project.
Education Task Force Forum is held at Hunter College.
Permanency campaign for Work Study & Internship Law, which will allow 4-year college students and 2-year college students on public assistance to count work-study, internships and externships as work activity for people receiving welfare, begins. 20 hour work rule created. Mobilization to increase vocational education percentage.
S5846 bill initiated.
Fourth renewal of Work Study and Internship Law.
New York State law changed with college language.
WRI celebrates its 15th anniversary.
New York Governor George Paterson signs the Work Study Internship Law. (HRA P.D #02-07-EMP), which is made permanent.