May 12th is the National Day without Childcare, an occasion to boldly show support for a robust and comprehensive childcare support system. To celebrate the occasion our team headed to New York City’s City Hall Park, joining childcare providers and parents to demand that Mayor Adams step up to solve the voucher crisis that could leave 62,000 kids without child care assistance. Coming into this year’s New York State budget negotiations there was a large funding gap for the state-funded Child Care Assistance Program. Last week after significant pressure from progressive groups including many being supported by The Action Lab, Governor Hochul made a concession of $350 million. However, this is a fraction of the overall need and would still leave tens of thousands of working class families without necessary support. Our Worker Power Initiative team will continue to pressure our leaders to get serious about fully funding the program and protecting the futures of our city’s young people.
National Day Without Childcare
On May 12th - National Day without Childcare - we joined parents and advocates to call for fully funding childcare in NYS.
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Solidarity Organizing Initiative
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As we head into the new year, we are welcoming the Solidarity Organizing Initiative staff to The Action Lab staff team to take this work to the next level.
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2025 has been a jam-packed year at The Action Lab! To learn more about our year of sparking imaginations and driving change, check out our 2025 End of Year Report.
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Rally for Universal Child Care
Rally for Universal Child Care
On Thursday, November 20, the Empire State Campaign for Child Care, a partner of The Action Lab, held a press conference and rally on the steps of City Hall to release key recommendations for making Universal Child Care a reality in New York State.
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Making NYC Affordable: Housing
Making NYC Affordable: Housing
This October we worked with our partners at the Law and Political Economy Project NYC to organize the first session of a new series about what it means to make NYC affordable.
Who We Are
Who We Are
In this video, produced for our concert announcing Common as our 2025 Belafonte Fellow, we explore The Action Lab's history, mission, and vision for the future of movement and culture.
Social Housing Around the World - The Full Series
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The Action Lab's Zoom series with global housing experts explores local solutions to inform the U.S. social housing crisis.
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Grammy-nominated musician John Forté, 50, has been found dead at his home
Grammy-nominated musician John Forté, 50, has been found dead at his home
Grammy-nominated musician John Forté, who was best known for his work with the Fugees and Wyclef Jean, has died. He also served on our Advisory Board and was a beloved collaborator and ally.
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Dennis Leroy Kingalee’s Play Takes on New Life
Dennis Leroy Kingalee’s Play Takes on New Life
The Kangalee Arts Ensemble, led by our Advisory Board member and Artists in Action fellow Dennis Leroy Kangalee, was recently awarded an artist initiative grant from the Venturous Theater Fund for: My Dying City Vol. II (The Social Justice Suicide Hour).
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2026 Law and Organizing Academy Application is Open!
2026 Law and Organizing Academy Application is Open!
We invite current law students from New York-area law schools or with New York-area summer internships to apply to our fourth annual Law & Organizing Academy (LOA)
Rios do Cuidado | Encontro Comunitário - Belém, Pará
Rios do Cuidado | Encontro Comunitário - Belém, Pará
Rivers of Care was a community gathering held in Belém, Pará, that brought together Indigenous leaders, environmental defenders, cultural workers, community communicators, and organizers from across the Americas.
Solidarity Organizing Initiative
Solidarity Organizing Initiative
As we head into the new year, we are welcoming the Solidarity Organizing Initiative staff to The Action Lab staff team to take this work to the next level.
My Dying City Vol. II
My Dying City Vol. II
A new stage work by Dennis Leroy Kangalee, an Action Lab Artist in Action, explores grief, activism, and movement fracture under rising authoritarianism, using theater as a space to wrestle with the emotional and political costs of long-term organizing.
Join The Action Lab
Be part of the movement. Join The Action Lab’s network of artists, organizers, and community leaders working to create lasting change. Sign up to get updates, event invitations, and opportunities to take action.
