CCC Testimony: City Council Oversight Hearing: Examining the Implementation of the Young Men’s Initiative

Published November, 2011

CCC testified in support of many of the Young Men’s Initiative (YMI) programs and policies aimed at tackling disparities in achievement for Black and Latino men, at a November 2, 2011 City Council Joint Youth Services and Finance Committees Hearing on the YMI.

After, providing data that documents the disparities in achievement, CCC’s testimony supported tackling disparities facing Black and Latino youth through a multi-faceted approach that addresses education, employment, juvenile justice, and health. Ideally, youth should have strong connections to schools, families, communities and/or work places. Both preventing disconnection and addressing disconnection for youth are critical for their success and achievement. CCC’s testimony makes suggestions of additional ways to address disparities in achievement for Black and Latino young men, such as decreasing school suspensions, ensuring access to child care and after-school programs and increasing the number of school-based health and mental health centers.