Aldrin Bonilla on Washington Heights, Community, and Economic Opportunity (Part 1)

Aldrin Bonilla, Executive Vice President of the Fund for the City of New York, joins Greg Morris for a conversation on public service, data, and what it takes to build stronger communities in New York City.In this first part of a two-part episode, Aldrin reflects on his journey growing up in Washington Heights and the experiences that shaped his commitment to equity, opportunity, and economic mobility. From navigating New York City in the 1970s and 80s to finding his way through community-based organizations and public leadership, Aldrin shares how mentorship, neighborhood, and lived experience influenced his path.The conversation explores the power of civic engagement—from transforming community board recruitment to leading one of the most successful census efforts in the country. Along the way, Greg and Aldrin dig into the role of data in shaping policy, why measurement matters, and how systems can either reinforce or challenge inequality.As the episode closes, the conversation turns to a critical question: if nearly half of New Yorkers are struggling to make ends meet, what has to change?Part Two will dive into the Fund for the City of New York’s “Overlooked and Undercounted” True Cost of Living brief—and what the data reveals about the growing gap between wages and the real cost of living in New York City today. Stay tuned.Produced by: Manhattan Neighborhood NetworkPublished by: New York City Employment and Training CoalitionTopics: workforce development; economic mobility; civic engagement; census; data and equity; public policy; community development; New York City; leadership; systems change