Fourteen teens from community schools and centers across The Children’s Aid Society
visited City Hall on April 30th
It was Martin Luther King, Jr. who said “Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.” Well, intelligence and character were certainly in abundance when local teens from The Children’s Aid Society community centers and schools voiced their opinions, insight and concerns on educational issues at a recent visit to City Hall.
These articulate young men and women participated in an interactive discussion with New York City Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development, Dennis Walcott, on topics such as municipal government control of the NYC school system, parental involvement, overcrowded classes and gang violence. It was a win-win exchange of ideas. The students gained an appreciation for the role that government plays vis-à-vis their education, as well as a sense of empowerment in knowing that their collective voice is being heard. The Deputy Mayor was duly impressed by the young people whose educational best interests he, in his official capacity, is entrusted.
This visit to City Hall grew out of the fifth annual Youth Speak Out on Education Conference, held in February 2009 and presented by Children’s Aid and the Audrey Miller Poritzky Education Fund for Children. Students researched, wrote and performed lively presentations on a topic of their choosing – the New York City school environment and academic success. As in years past, Deputy Mayor Walcott attended the Speak Out and invited these motivated teens to City Hall for a more in depth conversation.
Tags: Children's Aid New York City, City Hall, Dennis Walcott, Deputy Mayor, education, Education and Community Development, Jr., Martin Luther King, NYC, school system
By Heather
This past Thursday morning, the East Harlem Head Start children, staff, and parents went to City Hall to participate in a press conference supporting funding-renewal for our yoga program (which is provided free through our partnership with University Settlement).
The trip fit in perfectly with the Civic Participation theme and related events that we’ve been working on with our families.
Much to our surprise, Mayor Bloomberg actually walked out of the building just as our press conference was wrapping up.
The highlight of the day came when, of his own accord, 3-year-old John spontaneously broke from his mother to passionately hug the leg of our famous Mayor. Everyone (including Mayor Mike) had a good chuckle. It was the perfect example of true civic participation!
Enjoy the pictures.
Moira Cappio, Director of the Head Start Program, East Harlem Center
Tags: Children's Aid New York City, City Hall, East Harlem, Head Start, Mayor Bloomberg, University Settlement, yoga
By Moria
Clients, providers and advocates gathered on the steps of New York’s City Hall on one of the sunniest days in May to shed some light on and rally support for restoration of city budget cuts to core human service programs serving New York’s most vulnerable populations – children, youth and elderly.
The Children’s Aid Society was represented by key staff members of its Saturday Program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Teens which takes place at the Rhinelander Children’s Center, as well as by the mother of one of the children who attend the program.
The Saturday Program is the only free program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and teens in New York City outside of a school. Isolation is a common feeling for Deaf young people. Children’s Aid’s program offers an opportunity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing youth to relate to peers outside of a school setting, build socialization skills and experience recreation, sports and field trips as well as attend workshops in relationship building, violence prevention and communication.
The Saturday Program, established in 1989, has always been funded by a mix of public and private support. The Saturday Program is one of the successful grantees of the Department of Youth and Community Development’s OST Option II funding. This funding is slated for elimination in the proposed City budget.
As the grandmother of a participant has written about the Program:
[My granddaughter] now realizes that her limitations are only the ones she imposes upon herself and that she really can do pretty much whatever she wants to do in her life. Although she has always been told this, the program made it a reality for her.
Tags: Children's Aid New York City, City Hall, Department of Youth and Community Development, New York, Rhinelander Children's Center, Saturday Program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Teens
By Ellen
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