Youth Opportunities
Our children are faced with many specific issues such as bullying and cyberbullying, gangs, alcohol and drugs, lack of proper education, and poverty to name a few. Many of these social issues can affect the emotional and physical health of our children which leads to a host of many other problems.
We see many of our children spend 7 hours or more on electronic devices and exposed to so many influences that are not conducive to healthy growth and sometimes lead to inappropriate behaviors and living unproductive lives.
While serving on the Common Council I worked with a team of individuals to create safe spaces in the community for our youth to engage in positive and educational programs. I served on the City Youth Grant Committee to award funds to youth programs that resulted in effective outcomes. I am a member of the Children’s Cabinet, which is a committee that focuses on providing an infrastructure of services for our youth and their families.
As Mayor, my administration will continue to work on the development of the Y.O.U (Youth Center) and:
- Focus on providing funding toward educational and recreational programs that will promote healthy physical activity, emotional growth, mentorship and employment opportunities.
- Collaborate with the Poughkeepsie School District and help provide the resources needed to help our youth obtain the educational tools they need to thrive in our city.
- Ensure our children go to school, work and/or play in a safe environment by working closely with law enforcement and addressing any physical public safety issues.
- Work with our existing and new businesses in creating internship opportunities for our youth and collaborate with our local educational partners to create career pathway opportunities for our youth.