Hundreds Rally to End Child Poverty at New York State Capitol

State Senator, women and family advocate, Samra Brouk, was among the speakers at the Albany rally.

Hundreds of advocates, families, and community leaders gathered at the New York State Capitol today, calling on lawmakers to take urgent action to combat child poverty across the state. The rally, organized by a coalition of anti-poverty organizations, including the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative, urged elected officials to fully implement the New York State Child Poverty Reduction Act and allocate critical funding to programs supporting low-income families.

Demonstrators, carrying signs that read “No Child Should Go Hungry” and “Invest in Our Kids,” filled the West Capitol Park steps, demanding bold legislative measures to lift children out of poverty. Many shared personal testimonies about the devastating impact of financial insecurity on their families, highlighting the urgent need for expanded child tax credits, affordable housing, and increased access to early childhood education and nutrition programs.

“We cannot accept that one in five children in New York lives in poverty,” said Maria Lopez, an advocate and single mother from Rochester. “We are here today because we know change is possible. We need our leaders to act now.”

The rally comes as New York lawmakers debate the state budget, with proposals on the table that could impact funding for social services. Advocates are pushing for the full implementation of the Child Poverty Reduction Act, which was passed in 2021 with the goal of cutting child poverty by 50% over the next decade. However, many say progress has been slow and that additional resources are necessary to meet the law’s ambitious targets.

“It is imperative that leaders in New York State take immediate actions to correct historic injustice of poverty,” said Aqua Y. Porter, RMAPI Executive Director. “While we have seen a decline in total poverty rates and child poverty across the state and here in Rochester, the rates remain stubbornly high and threaten the future of our community’s most vulnerable members.

“I’m here in full support of every single proposal that we have put forth to end child poverty,” noted State Senator Samra Brouk. “Poverty is a poverty choice. Every year we come to Albany and we make decisions that can either help eradicate poverty or perpetuate poverty. And that is the illness that we carry with us.”

“We have the tools to reduce child poverty—we just need the political will to use them,” said Senator Rachel Carter, a longtime champion for economic justice. “Investing in our children is not just the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do for our economy and our future.”

Advocates say they will continue to pressure lawmakers in the coming weeks, as budget negotiations heat up in Albany. They are calling for an increase in the state Earned Income Tax Credit, more investment in housing assistance, and an expansion of free school meals for all students.

“We won’t stop fighting until every child in New York has the support they need to thrive,” said Rev. Michael Harris of the New York Coalition Against Poverty. “This is not just a budget issue; it’s a moral issue.”

With the budget deadline approaching on April 1, advocates say they will be watching closely to see whether lawmakers take meaningful action to prioritize children and families.