Nonprofit sues Macy's over employment policies

Wide-shot of Macy's flagship store in midtown Manhattan.

Wide-shot of Macy's flagship store in midtown Manhattan. Shutterstock

The Fortune Society wants Macy’s to rethink its attitude toward hiring previously incarcerated job applicants. A lawsuit filed by the nonprofit this week against the retailing giant alleges that Macy’s illegally rejects applicants, rescinds job offers, and fires employees based on their criminal histories. The Fortune Society seeks changes to the company’s policies across its more than 800 stores nationwide as well as statutory and punitive damages, according to the lawsuit.

 

Project Renewal is getting some media attention for Marsha’s House. “MetroFocus,” a public television show in New York City, aired an episode on June 24 that tells the story of how a young man navigates the shelter system and ended up at Marsha’s House, a facility run by the nonprofit that serves LGBTQ young adults. See the episode here

 

How do federal funds make their way to human services nonprofits? A new video shows how to use FPWA’s Federal Funds Tracker to understand how dozens of federal grant programs affect the bottom line at the New York City Administration for Children’s Services, Department of Social Services, Department of Youth and Community Development and the Department for the Aging.

 

There are new board co-chairs at the New York Women’s Foundation. Grainne McNamara and Yvonne Moore were recently elected to serve jointly in that role, and Michèle Penzer was elected as vice chair and treasurer. Joining them are five new board members, according to a June 26 press release:

  • Mary Baglivo is the founder and CEO of The Baglivo Group, a consultancy firm.
  • Noorain Khan works as the director of the Ford Foundation’s Office of the President, where she oversees grantmaking, strategic projects and initiatives. 
  • Tomasita Luz Sherer serves in the litigation, arbitration and investigations practice group at DLA Piper.
  • Haydee Morales is founder of Casa Atabex Aché, a community-based women’s health action organization in the South Bronx.
  • Margarita Rosa was appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo as the first Latina woman to serve as the commissioner of the New York State Division of Human Rights. 

 

The New Jewish Home knows how to celebrate people living to the ripest old age. A June 21 event at the Kittay Senior Apartments in the Bronx celebrated the birthdays of 14 centenarians. Local media, including PIX 11, Spectrum News NY1, Fox 5, and ABC 7, along with 100 other guests, were on hand to hear about the lives of people like Max Bendich, 104, who is the oldest World War II veteran in the borough.