Normally, whenever government officials are around it seems they do all the talking, so it was a pleasure to see them listen attentively as youth after youth gave heartfelt testimony at the Youth Hearing held at IS 271, in Bedford Stuyvesant.
Approximately 25 young people testified; their issues of concern were numerous. In general, the youth expressed concern with broad issues: after-school programs (tutoring, athletics, music and arts); sex education and school-based health clinics; curriculum; jobs and internships; college prep; safety; violence prevention/protection; and police harassment.
Senator Velmanette Montgomery representing the greater Bedford-Stuyvesant community, celebrated Harriet Tubman Day by hosting the Youth Hearing and giving the youth of the community the opportunity to tell elected and government officials about the issues important to them. And they did. IS 271's auditorium was packed to capacity, filled with young people eager to express their hopes for the future and how government can help them be successful.
Poised and confident, one after another, they told us what they need.
Esa B. told of no sex education classes or health clinic in his middle school. School lunch is greasy or fattening; not nutritious. His school does not have a computer lab; the chemistry lab does not have chemicals. Esa believes he could learn more about nature if he had environmental classes.
Sharika said the technology class in her school was completely eliminated because some students acted up. Sharika recommends that disruptive students be reassigned to other classes instead of removing the technology class offering.
Joanne S. is concerned with jobless teenagers. She said jobs "teach us to be more responsible. Not enough applications are accepted; summer jobs should be extended to after school and weekends, which would lead to less drug dealing and theft."
Oceal P. and Jeron D. are members of the 73rd Precinct Law Explorers Program (the 79th and 81st Precinct Explorer Programs were also represented at the hearing). Both told of how the Explorers help them (and 60 other participants) stay out of trouble. Oceal and Jeron requested funding for uniforms and trips.
Spence A. said we need more after-school programs, and that these after-school programs should include trips. "It is boring staying in one place every day." Spence also observed there are not equal recreation opportunities for males and females.
Sherella G., a member of Brooklyn Job Corps., also requested uniforms for their sports teams. She said their uniforms are old and re-used every year by new team members. She also stated there are not enough places to practice baseball and basketball in the winter.
Tiffany W., also a member of Job Corps., stated a need for more tutoring and more opportunities for work-based learning and community service.
Shannon B., a resident of the Albany Projects, offered a no-brain request: lights in the lobby of the buildings, especially at night. "It is dangerous to walk into a dark lobby and intercoms that work so that residents are not locked out of their own buildings.”
Living across the street from St. John's Park, she says the lights in the park go out at 7:30 pm; as a result, a woman was killed on the baseball field. Shannon asked, "Would you want to walk through a dark park?"
Shannon also expressed concern about being harassed by police for merely sitting in the park, talking with her friends. Other young people had similar concerns.
Kelliata N. spoke of "police jumping out of cars with guns and badges" and conducting random youth searches. She feels young people are stereotyped and treated like criminals.
Daniel T. has had numerous encounters with the police, and has been stopped and searched many times just for walking down the street. Daniel finds this treatment offensive. He said he has never seen police stop and search a Caucasian man.
John B., a member of Vanguard Youth Services College Prep, emphatically told all in attendance, "I will go to college!" John said Vanguard needs funding for its youth services so that it can serve 500 of our youth, like it did back in the day. According to John, youth services provide "a safe place away from the streets, gangs and sometimes the police."
Sheena, Mona and Nicholas are all members of the Evening Star Baptist Church Youth Program. Mona said school-based clinics are a healthy and safe alternative to young people "going to a hospital and being criticized."
Sheena had a special message for news reporters: Be mindful of just reporting the bad things some young people do. "Not all youth are as bad as they think."
Nicholas feels he and his friends cannot go to the park because of both the dope fiends and being stopped by the police. His movements are restricted to school and church. Nicholas' solution is to "get rid of the dope fiends" and provide jobs.
Other astute observations came from our youth.
Jasmine brought many to tears when she talked about a teen family member who had been killed on March 3. She said more after-school programs would reduce teenage death.
Larissa G., a participant in the College Now Program at Medgar Evers College, volunteers at the Brooklyn Rescue Mission Food Pantry. She says more public service opportunities would open the eyes of teens regarding what is going on in their communities.
Deshawn R., school president of the Benjamin Banneker Academy, provided a fresh analysis of the physical and mental health needs of young people. Concerned with the problem of obesity, Deshawn's research uncovered this stat: There are four times more supermarkets in white neighborhoods than minority neighborhoods. He recommends more fresh fruits and vegetables be made available in our communities. Deshawn also believes exposure to poverty and violence contributes to poor mental health among our youth; more counseling services are needed as a deterrent.
All told, our young people were thoughtful and represented their generation well. After listening carefully, the panel offered solutions.
College Board representatives said the company wants every student to have the opportunity to go to college. Besides administering the SAT test and Advanced Placement classes, College Board offers College Ed, a college and career planning program for 7th to 12th graders.
Eileen Gillen, of NYC Dept. of Parks and Recreation, said youth ages 17 and under can access the various programs at the city's recreation centers for free. Parks and Recreation offers summer lifeguard jobs to swimmers 16 years or older.
Senator Montgomery's office will pay for young people to learn how to swim at the Bed-Stuy and Downtown Y's, which can lead to a career as a lifeguard or college swimming scholarships.
Wanda Ascherl, NYC Dept. of Youth and Community Development, said the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) will post summer job applications on April 1. Applications can be accessed at www.dycd.nyc.gov. Deadline for submission is May 18.
Deputy Inspector Jeffrey Maddrey, commanding officer of the 73rd Precinct, does not condone mistreatment of youth by police. He took the time to explain why young people are being stopped.
Maddrey asked the audience, "Has anyone heard gunshots go off?" Three-quarters of the full auditorium raised their hands. Then he asked, "If you knew who did the shooting, how many would notify the police?" Only two raised their hands.
Maddrey said that is a problem – no one is willing to tell who shoots, robs or rapes. When the police hear gunshots in a community, it is their responsibility to get that gun off the streets.
Maddrey gave some painful statistics. In Brownsville last year, 81 people were shot, over 500 people were robbed and 22 were killed. Maddrey states we must be accountable for our communities.
When asked about the lack of minority officers in minority communities, Maddrey told of NYPD recruitment efforts. Montgomery stated when she and Councilman Al Vann (who was also in attendance) hold NYPD recruitment forums, she finds too many young people have barriers to employment, including criminal records and lack of two years of college (a requirement for the job). Too many young people lack even a high school diploma.
NYS Department of Labor has an Internet presence called Career Zone, a career exploration and planning service (www.nycareerzone.org). The Department of Labor is looking to identify summer internships in science and technology.
In closing the Youth Hearing, State Senator Montgomery complimented our youth on their participation. She assured them that she was listening and taking notes. She promised to use her office to advocate for more health clinics, recreation and after-school programs for young people.
Montgomery also urged all to write her and express what your concerns are. Senator Montgomery's District Office is located at 30 Third Ave., Room 615, Brooklyn, NY 11217. Telephone: (718) 643-6140.
NYC Councilman Al Vann (D-Brooklyn) told our youth they must be involved in the political process to make things happen. He suggested if you live in a housing development, you should be a member of a tenant association. If you live in residential housing, be a member of your block association. Attend your monthly Precinct Council meetings. Join Law Explorers or the Police Athletic League (PAL). Your parents have to be voters. The Brooklyn Black Empowerment Convention is looking for young people to join its clusters (including education, arts and culture, economic development, etc.). Vann states young people must be involved in order to demand more services, more programs and more respect.
