Small businesses are the heart and soul of New York City communities, and behind every package delivered to your door are hardworking people and local businesses helping keep the city moving.
On Monica Makes It Happen, Monica Morales partners with the New York Delivers Coalition to spotlight the businesses, workers and community members who are powering New York’s delivery economy. In East Harlem, Monica meets Joe Artis, owner of WGA Transit LLC, a last-mile delivery company that has grown from a small operation into a major employer in the community.
Joe launched his business in December 2020 with just 12 or 13 employees. Today, WGA Transit employs between 190 and 200 people, providing jobs and opportunities to workers across the community. Inspired by his father, a Guatemalan immigrant who spent 38 years working for the MTA, Joe says his mission is to provide work, help people get a second chance and give back to the community.
That commitment is visible throughout the workforce. WGA Transit hires from within the communities it serves and works with local workforce programs to connect residents with employment opportunities. Monica meets workers whose lives have been transformed by those opportunities, including David, who credits his connection with workforce organization STRIVE with helping him get back on track, and Xavier, a Wagner Houses resident who proudly describes his work as “giving back to my community one package at a time.”
The segment also explores concerns surrounding the proposed Delivery Protection Act and what it could mean for independent delivery businesses and their employees. Joe explains that, in his view, the legislation could force companies like his out of the last-mile delivery business, potentially affecting thousands of workers whose jobs depend on these local businesses.
For Monica and the New York Delivers Coalition, the conversation is about more than packages. It’s about jobs, small businesses, opportunity and the people who make New York work every day.
And if you’re looking for your next opportunity, stay tuned for the Job of the Week: Walking Delivery Associate. New opportunities are helping New Yorkers find work, build careers and strengthen the communities they call home.