Youth leadership is not only a powerful development opportunity for young people, it is also a powerful way to ensure that we are getting policies right in practice and that we can do the kind of constant tweaking necessary to fight “isms” of every kind. Young people need voice in decision-making venues across the city and state - from classrooms, to school leadership teams, to COVID reentry committees, to the governor's advisory council. And young people need space to think through their positions on issues, operate in an “adult/professional” world, and get support from peers and partners in the work.

• Decision-making that impacts young people includes young people

Local

New York City Department of Education must

• Include impacted students on committees and in decision-making spaces that effect them. For example:

  1. Schools and DOE Central should include students on COVID Advisory and Reopening groups

Colleges must

• Include impacted students on committees and in decision-making spaces that effect them. For example:

  1. Colleges should include students on COVID Advisory and Reopening groups

  2. Transfer students should be part of university-wide and campus-based conversations and decision-making about improving the transfer process

The City of New York must

• Establish a youth advisory group for the mayor

State

The State of New York must

• Establish a youth advisory group for the governor

• Establish a youth public advocate

#DegreesNYC Youth Council

Teens Take Charge

The YA-YA Network

#DegreesNYC Youth Council

CUNY Rising Alliance

Future of Tomorrow

The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice #RealCollege Student Leadership Advisory Council

Sistas & Brothas United

Teen Activist Project (TAP)

Teens Take Charge

Urban Youth Collaborative

The YA-YA Network

Young Invincibles