LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Refoundry upon the occasion of hosting
its One Year Anniversary Celebration on June 21, 2016

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made signif-
icant contributions to the quality of life therein; and
WHEREAS, From time to time this Legislative Body takes note of certain
extraordinary individuals and organizations it wishes to recognize for
their valued contributions to the success and progress of society and
publicly acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic
humanity among us all; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Refoundry
upon the occasion of hosting its One Year Anniversary Celebration on
Tuesday, June 21, 2016; and
WHEREAS, Refoundry is an innovative not-for-profit organization based
on self-reliance, collaboration and entrepreneurship; the program is
specifically designed to improve the efficiencies and outcomes for
successful re-entry and reintegration of formerly incarcerated people,
have positive environmental impact, and save significant government
revenues; and
WHEREAS, Located in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, this vital organization
trains formerly incarcerated people to repurpose and refurbish discarded
materials into unique home furnishings and accessories; and
WHEREAS, Refoundry's intensive career development curriculum coupled
with social service support culminates in its participants being incu-
bated in their own businesses; this innovative and proven incubation
model was developed by the organization's co-founder, Cisco Pinedo, in
his Los Angeles-based furniture business; and
WHEREAS, While violent crime has gone down 30% over the last four
decades, the prison population has risen over 700%; today, more than 2.4
million people are in state and federal prisons, of which 700,000 are
released each year and often face insurmountable barriers to employment
and healthful reintegration into society; and
WHEREAS, The United States has made great strides in recycling over
the last decade, but the nation's landfills remain choked by commercial
and residential furniture, and by construction waste, all of which take
a long time to break down; many of these discarded resources still have
valuable use; and
WHEREAS, Refoundry recognizes the value in people and materials too
often discarded by society, and has designed a unique program that
recognizes and promotes the worth of these precious resources; the
organization's products reflect their component parts and the people who
are reworking them, each infusing the other with new use and value; and
WHEREAS, The success of Refoundry is in direct correlation to the
efforts of its co-founders, Tommy Safian and Cisco Pinedo whose involve-
ment is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment,
an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in
all endeavors on behalf of the organization and the community it serves;
and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Refoundry upon the occasion of hosting its One Year Anniversary
Celebration on June 21, 2016; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Tommy Safian and Cisco Pinedo, Co-founders, Refoundry, Brook-
lyn, New York.