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May 31, 2013 CCC’s YouthAction Graduates Advocate for Runaway and Homeless Youth Services
CCC’s YouthAction Community Leadership Course (YCLC) graduates spent this past spring learning about Runaway Homeless Youth (RHY) services and the need for more resources to support homeless youth. CCC congratulates the graduates of the spring 2013 YCLC, a group of 24 high school students who met for 10 weeks to learn about advocacy and civic engagement. They gained valuable skills in the areas of leadership, critical thinking, and public speaking. Throughout the course, students developed a passion for advocacy, and many have expressed interest in using their new skills to make positive changes in their schools and communities. This semester, YCLC participants researched New York City’s Runaway Homeless Youth (RHY) system, focusing on how local government can improve shelters and services for homeless youth. They analyzed statistics, heard from experts in the field, and went on site visits to hear from relevant stakeholders. We would like to thank our site visit hosts at the Chelsea Foyer, Coalition for the Homeless, Covenant House, the Door, the Reciprocity Foundation, Schaefer Hall, and SCO’s Williamsburg Drop-In Center. As a team, YCLC participants used what they learned to create a set of findings and recommendations (pdf), which they then delivered to public officials from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, the New York City Council, and both the Bronx and Brooklyn Borough Presidents’ offices. Notably, they learned that over half of NYC’s RHY system is funded with one-year City Council money. One of their primary recommendations was for this funding to be restored and baselined permanently. The students came away from the meetings feeling positive about having their voices heard, but also realized this is a population for whom they must continue to advocate. We are very proud of the YCLC graduates, and we expect to see many of them next semester as full-fledged YouthAction Members (YAMs)! If you know a New York City high school student who is interested in participating the fall 2013 YouthAction Community Leadership Course, visit our website in September to download the application. Spring 2013 YCLC GRADUATES Amrita Guha, Bronx High School of Science Andrea Carino, Millenium Art Academy Angela Goldshteyn, Berkeley Carroll School Arlene Arellano, The School for Legal Studies Austin Chin, The Child School/Legacy High School Cindy Matos, The Bronx School for Law, Government, and Justice Claryssa Santana, Green Dot Charter High School Daniela Creighton, Notre Dame School Emily Kuper, Calhoun School Estephany Hinojosa, The Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice Eve Galen, The Brearley School Iram Asghar, Abraham Lincoln High School Jordanne Russell, Health Opportunities High School Larissa Nguyen, The Brearley School Mushtariy Ikromova, Abraham Lincoln High School Rebekah Lee, Trinity School Safiya Noel, The Baccalaureate School for Global Education Sandra Friedman, Bard High School Early College Tanjila Rahman, Bronx High School of Science Teo Udovcic, Bronx High School of Science Thomas Creighton, Xavier High School Tiffany Loncke, The Urban Assembly of Law, Government, and Justice Ulissa Estrada, Union Square Academy Vivian Musleh, Staten Island Technical High School |
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