Young New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods

In three New York City neighborhoods, Citizens Committee has launched Young New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods a two-year after-school program to engage and train 90 youth (30 per community). We believe that these young people can and should make positive contributions to community life, and that by doing so, they will develop pro-social traits and skills as well as self-efficacy that will enable them to succeed as young adults.

The purpose of the Young New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods program is to train and support youth to build personal resilience and to engage in positive actions to improve their communities.

Young New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods uses facets of traditional and non-traditional youth development, and organizing models utilizing both individual and group work in an after school settings.  The program includes weekly workshops, one-on-ones, and social activities that cover a range of topics, including community organizing, academic monitoring, conflict resolution, and public speaking.

The program includes:

•    Weekly workshops and life-skills training with Citizens Committee staff, on topics such as goal setting, money management, community mapping, academic exploration, self-presentation and personal hygiene, computer training, conflict resolution, job preparedness, and public speaking.

•    An internship with a community development organization. In order to facilitate the best experience possible for participants and organizations, Citizens Committee provides youth development training to the host organization, as well as a small grant to cover the expenses of hosting the interns.

•    A $1,500 scholarship for all students, given in increments throughout the program year. This not only provides an incentive to complete the program, but also shows the students that we value their participation, and understand that they have expenses and needs on a daily basis.

Click here for a description of our Unity Market Project in Staten Island. (pdf)
Click here for an update of our Youth and Community Organizing Program. (pdf)