>>> MEANT AT HE'LL, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY.

TONIGHT, THESE ARE THE ISSUES MATTER MOST TO YOUNG NEW YORKERS.

MEET THE COALITION TAKING THEIR FIGHT STRAIGHT TO CITY HALL.

AS "METROFOCUS" STARTS RIGHT NOW.

♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS," WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD, AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, FILOMEN M. D'AGOSTINO FOUNDATION, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, AND BY -- JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.

A TATE OF ROLAND CARLIN, THE JPB FOUNDATION.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M JACK FORD.

POLITICIANS OFTEN PAY LIP SERVICE TO THE IDEA THAT YOUNG PEOPLE REPRESENT THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY, OUR TOWNS, OUR CITIES.

BUT IT'S RARE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY ASKED FOR THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE POLICIES THAT WILL DETERMINE WHAT THAT FUTURE WILL LOOK LIKE.

QUESTIONS LIKE, WHAT ISSUES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU, AND HOW SHOULD TAXPAYER MONEY BE SPENT TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

A COALITION OF STUDENTS IN NEW YORK IS LOOK TO CHANGE ALL THAT AND MAKE SURE YOUNG PEOPLE DO INDEED HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

THE COALITION IS COMPRISED OF HIGH SCHOOL AND -- AGE LEADERS AND ACTIVISTS.

OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS THEY'VE SURVEYED YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS FOR THE CITY.

USING THAT DATA THE STUDENTS PUT TOGETHER WHAT THEY'RE CALLING THE NYC YOUTH AGENDA, A POLICY OF PROPOSALS THEY PRESENTED TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

THE AGENDA HAS A NUMBER OF ALOE WEIGHS TO PROVIDE FUNDING IN FIVE KEY AREAS.

WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE AREAS AND PROPOSALS TO ADDRESS THEM AS PART OF OUR ONGOING PROJECT, THREE MEMBERS OF THE YOUTH AGENDA STEERS COMMITTEE, EDWARD SANCHEZ, DIALLO, AND -- ALSO WITH US IS DR. SARAH ZELLER BURKEMAN, THE DIRECTOR OF THE YOUTH STUDIES PROGRAM AT THE CUNY SCANDAL OF STUDIES, BUN OF THE PRIMARY ORGANIZERS OF THE COALITION.

WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THIS IS WONDERFUL WORK THAT YOU'VE ALL BEEN DOING, AND IT IS INDEED WORK.

WEAVE SEEN HOW DEEPLY INVESTED YOU ARE IN THIS.

TO SET THE STAGE, LET ME ASK THE THREE STUDENTS TO GIVE US A QUICK BIO.

TELL US WHERE IN SCHOOL, WHAT LEVEL, AND WHY YOU WANTED TO BE INVOLVED IN ALL OF THIS.

JO JOLENE, YOU GO FIRST.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

I'M A SENIOR DRAMA MAJOR AT THE FRANK SINATRA SCHOOL.

I JOINED BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS PASSIONATE ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE AND CIVICS, BUT THROUGH THIS WORK I GAINED A SPECIAL APPRECIATION FOR THE CITY OF NEW YORK, AND I DISCOVERED THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

>> EDWARD, HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> FOR ME, WELL, FIRST I GO TO BARUCH COLLEGE, A SOPHOMORE AND POLLI SCI MAJOR.

I WANTED TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

BORN IN BROOKLYN.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED WITH THE FIRST ORGANIZATION I WORKED WITH, I GOT TO LEARN A LOT OF ISSUES THAT THE CITY HAS.

IT MADE ME A BIT SAD, BUT I LEARNED HOW TO ADVOCATE.

I WAS LIKE, I COULD DO THIS AND MAYBE MAKE THE CITY BETTER FROM THERE ON I LEARNED HOW TO WORK WITH OTHERS AND GET THINGS DONE.

>> AND LEARNING HOW TO ADVOCATE IS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR ANYBODY AS I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL LEARNING HERE.

ISADA, HOW ABOUT YOU, YOUR BACKGROUND.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I GO TO JAMES MADISON HIGH SCHOOL WHERE I'M A JUNIOR.

WHAT'S MAKING ME PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUTH ADVOCACY IS THE FACT THAT I GET TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN MYSELF AND HOPEFULLY INVOKE CHANGE IN NEW YORK CITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> SARAH, TO YOU, THEN, AS THE SORT OF THE UMBRELLA HERE.

YOUR INVOLVEMENT, CUNY'S INVOLVEMENT, HOW THIS PROJECT GOT CREATED.

>> SO, I AM THE DIRECTOR OF YOUTH STUDIES PROGRAMS IF THE CUNY SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES, AND WE HAVE A SOCIALLY ENGAGED RESEARCH LAB WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE PART OF CREATING RESEARCH ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT IMPACT THEIR LIVES.

AND SO ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, WE LAUNCHED WHAT'S CALLED THE YOUTH ASK YOU CENSUS, A SURVEY CREATED BY AND FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO ASK QUESTIONS RELATED TO LEARNING, HEALTH AND RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNITY.

SO WE BROUGHT THE DATA TO A COALITION OF -- OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ALL DOING ADVOCACY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, SO OUR PARTNERS IN THIS ARE WHY VOTE, CITIZENS COMMITTEE FOR CHILDREN OF NEW YORK, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

AND SO ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, WE USED YOUTH GENERATED DATA TO COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WE CREATED OUR FIRST NYC YOUTH AGENDA.

AND THEN WE CAME TOGETHER LAST YEAR AS WE HAD A CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION, AND YOUNG PEOPLE FROM OUR DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WORKED FOR MONTHS TO INVOLVE OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE AROUND THE CITY, AND ALSO TO BASE IT ON DATA THAT'S FROM THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AROUND NEW YORK CITY TO COME UP WITH THE AGENDA THIS YEAR, AND AGAIN, WE HAVE OUR YOUTH AGENDA, AND WE HAVE PRESENTED IT TO POLICY MAKERS AT OUR ANNUAL POLICY BREAKFAST.

>> LET ME ASK THE THREE OF THE STUDENTS HERE ABOUT THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING POSED TO OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE.

JOLENE, YOU FIRST, IF YOU WOULD.

YOU ALL JUMP IN.

HOW DO YOU PUT THOSE QUESTIONS TOGETHER, AND WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO GET?

IN A GENERAL SENSE HERE, WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO GET IN RESPONSE TO THEM?

JOLENE, YOU FIRST, IF YOU WOULD.

>> I'M SO I RECOLLECT COULD YOU CLARIFY WHAT YOU MEAN BY QUESTIONS?

>> WE TALKED THE ABOUT QUESTIONS THAT ARE POSED, YOUTH ASKING YOUTH, AND WHAT I'M WONDERING IS, HOW DO YOU DECIDE?

WHAT TYPES OF QUESTIONS YOU'RE ASKING.

AND WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO GET FROM THEM IN THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS OF YOUR AGE?

>> OF COURSE.

SO, I ACTUALLY WORKED WITH INTERGENERATIONAL CHANGE INITIATIVE, WHICH IS PRIMARILY THE SECTOR OF OUR COALITION THAT DOES A LOT OF OUR DATA COLLECTION, ALONG WITH COMMITTEE FOR CHILDREN.

WHY VOTE WHERE I WORK WITH PRIMARILY DOES LESS OF THAT, BUT ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE WERE THINKING OF WHEN WORKING THROUGH WHICH QUESTIONS TO ASK AND THEN ANALYZING THOSE WES ARE JUST THINKING OF ALL THE THINGS THAT INVOLVE, I WOULD SAY, QUALITY OF LIFE.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT BE THE JOB THE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO, LACK THERE OF.

FAMILY'S FINANCIAL STATUS, FAMILY SUPPORT, HOW THEY ARE IN SCHOOL, WHAT FOOD THEY HAVE ACCESS TO, AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AS ALL THOSE THINGS IMPACT THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE TRIED TO BE ALL ENCOMPASSING, I WOULD SAY.

WE TRIED TO ASK AS MANY QUESTIONS AS POSSIBLE.

THE CENSUS IS A LITTLE BIT LONG, I WOULD SAY.

THERE'S A WILLOT OF QUESTIONS.

WE USED QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DATA.

THE QUALITATIVE QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED LESS FREQUENTLY, BUT WE APPRECIATE WHEN PEOPLE ANSWER THE LONG RESPONSE BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO GET AS IN DEPTH OF AN UNDERSTANDING OF EACH PARTICIPANT'S EXPERIENCE AS POSSIBLE.

SO THAT WHEN WE WERE FORMING OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE WERE ANALYZING THE DATA, WE TRULY UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS IMPORTANT TO NYC YOUTH.

WE DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE THIS.

OF COURSE WE'RE A GROUP OF NYC YOUTH AND WE CAN HAVE AS MUCH OF AN UNDERSTANDING AS WE DO OF BEING A YOUNG PERSON IN NEW YORK CITYING BUT WE KNEW THERE WERE GAPS MISSING, SO WE TRIED TO GET A BROAD UNDERSTANDING AS POSSIBLE BEFORE WE FORMLATED OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE CATEGORIES, THE FIVE ESSENTIAL CATEGORIES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

ISADA, I'LL COME TO YOU FIRST.

ONE OF THEM IS THE IDEA OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU HAD A PARTICULAR INTEREST IN.

TELL ME IN TERMS OF THE RESULTS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT AND SOME OF THE THOUGHTS THEN THAT WERE FORMULATED ABOUT MOVING FORWARD TO DEAL WITH ISSUES OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY.

>> SO, BASED ON A LOT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR AND THE WAY -- AND THE -- AT OUR MOST RECENT EVENT, WE HAD WHERE WE MOVED THE NEEDLE FROM THE YEAR 2020, AND WE GOT SOME MOVEMENT IN ECONOMIC MOBILITY.

WE GOT I THINK ABOUT 10 OUT OF 14 ECONOMIC MOBILITY -- 10 OUT OF 14 OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS IN ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND FROM THERE WE WERE KIND OF -- WITH THAT MOMENT WE WERE ABLE TO PUSH FORWARD WHAT MORE WE WANTED.

FOR EXAMPLE, SYEP, THIS WOULD BE OUR SECOND YEAR HAVING THAT AS ONE OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE REALLY WANT TO BUILD UPON WHAT THE MAYOR HAD A GOAL FOR HIMSELF, WHICH WAS TO HAVE ABOUT 100,000 YOUNG PEOPLE BE ACCEPTED INTO SYEP, AND BASED OFF OUR SURVEY, WE FOUND THERE WERE STUDENTS WHO WEREN'T A PART OF SYEP WHO DIDN'T HAVE OPPORTUNITY.

SO ONE OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS WAS TO BUILD ON THE MAYOR'S HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN SYEP AND BUILD A MORE UNIVERSAL ONE SOME BY ADDING ABOUT 56,000 MORE SLOTS, ELIMINATING WAIT LISTS AND ENSURING THAT UNDOCUMENTED YOUTH CAN GET JOBS AND MAKING SURE THERE'S FINANCIAL LITERACY AND DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS A PART OF THE EXPERIENCE.

>> JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, ENWHEN YOU SAY SYAP, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> SORRY -- >> EDWARD, YOU JUMP IN BECAUSE I'M NOT REMEMBERING EITHER.

>> SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT.

>> SYEP.

>> AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU FOUND THAT THE NEEDLE HAD BEEN MOVING FROM YOUR PAST RECOMMENDATIONS, YES?

>> YEAH, IT HAD MOVED, BUT THERE'S STILL MORE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY ADDING MORE J JOBS TO ELIMINATE THE WAIT LIST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO GET JOBS.

ONE OF THE OTHER ONES -- I WANT THE MAKE SURE WE TOUCH ON AS MANY AS WE CAN.

ONE OF THE OTHER ONES IS EDUCATION AND EQUITY.

JOLENE AND EDWARD, I'M GOING TO BRING YOU BOTH INTO THAT.

EDWARD, YOU FIRST IF YOU COULD, TALK ABOUT, AGAIN, THE FINDINGS HERE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPO IMPORTANT.

TELL US, WHAT ARE THE YOUNG PEOPLE SAYING THEY THOUGHT NEEDED TO BE DONE, AND THEN WAS THAT BEING ACCOMPLISHED IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM?

EDWARD.

>> I WILL SAY, A LOT OF YOUTH REALLY DID REPORT A LOT OF T THINGS THAT WERE LACKING.

FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT, IN TERM OF EDUCATION EQUITY, I'M GOING TO MENTION SEX ED.

61%, MORE OF THE YEA RESPONDENTS REPORTED LEARNING MORE FROM THE INTERNET THAN SCHOOL, WHICH ARE 51%.

THAT'S MORE THAN THE MAJORITY NOT LEARNING A CRITICAL ASPECT OF HUMAN LIFE NOT IN OUR SCHOOLS.

AND SCHOOLS ARE MEANT TO TEACH US, RIGHT, AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT EDUCATION, BUT MORE THAN A MAJORITY WERE NOT REPORTING THAT.

ON TOP OF THAT, 33% OF YOUNG PEOPLE IDENTIFY NOT HAVING ACCESS TO CLEAN DRINKING WATER WHILE IN SCHOOL OR SOAP IN BATHROOMS, AND 30% SAY THEIR SCHOOL HAS RODENTS OR PESTS, WHICH IS -- I DON'T LIKE LOOKING AT RATS, COCKROACHES, NEVER.

AND BEING AT SCHOOL, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LEARN, NOT BE -- THEORETICALLY SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFE PLACE.

I WAS STUCK BY THOSE NUMBERS AS YOU WERE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE SAYING THAT IN WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE THEIR SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

JOLENE, HOW ABOUT YOU IN TERMS OF TALKING, AGAIN, EDUCATION, EQUITY HERE.

THINGS YOU FELT WERE SIGNIFICANT, IMPORTANT, NEED TO BE ADDRESSED?

>> YEAH, SO THE THINGS THAT EDWARD BROUGHT UP I FEEL ARE VERY MUCH SO BARE BONES THINGS THAT STUDENTS NEED TO BE TAUGHT IN SCHOOL AS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXISTING IN THE WORLD.

AND KNOWING THAT SCHOOLS ARE NOT TAKING CARE OF STUDENTS' BASIC NEEDS WHEN IT COMES TO, LIKE, CLEANLINESS OF THE BUILDING OR EVEN NAVIGATING THEIR OWN BODIES IN SHARING SPACES WITH OTHER PEOPLE, WE CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT SCHOOLS ARE ALSO NOT HANDLING PROPERLY THE THINGS THAT MAY BE PERCEIVED AS SECONDARY TO THOSE THINGS.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT COMES TO MIND FOR ME ARE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE FOUND THAT IT WAS 18% OF YOUNG PEOPLE SAID THAT THEY HAVE HAD A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN SCHOOL, WHICH IS TO ME WAY TOO LOW OF A NUMBER, AND THAT IS BECAUSE ALMOST DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF YOUTH SAID THEY WERE LOOKING AT SOME POINT FOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS.

I KNOW YOU MENTIONED BEFORE THAT IT'S VERY RARE THAT YOUTH SUCH AS US ARE TAKING LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN OUR CITIES OR EVEN IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND THAT'S NOT FOR LACK OF TRYING.

THAT'S NOT FOR LACK OF INTEREST.

OUR DATA SHOWS THAT YOUTH WANT TO BE INVOLVED, AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE ARE SO OFTEN BARRED FROM HAVING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

AND THAT REALLY COMES INTO PLAY WHEN WE SEE STAFF THAT EDWARD BROUGHT UP ABOUT US NOT HAVING ALL ENCOMPASSING, EQUITABLE SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION OR THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT LISTENING TO STUDENTS AND WHAT WE WANT.

>> YEAH.

SARAH, LET ME COME BACK TO YOU FOR A SECOND.

EDWARD I WANT TO GET TO YOU ABOUT ANOTHER CATEGORY.

JOLENE MENTIONS THIS NOTION OF STUDENTS WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS, AND I WONDER IF THERE'S A MISPERCEPTION AMONGST THE OLDER FOLKS THAT THIS IS AN AREA WHERE STUDENTS REALLY ARE NOT LOOKING TO JUMP IN AND TO LEND THEIR VOICES.

WHAT ARE YOU FINDING?

AND WERE YOU SURPRISED AT THE HIGH PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS SAYING, YEAH, WE WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS?

>> I'M NOT SURPRISE BECAUSE I CONSIDER MYSELF AN ADULT ALLEY AND HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH THEM ON MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES.

YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS WILLING TO TACKLE THIS WITH THEIR WHOLE SELVES.

I THINK WE'VE ALL BEEN TRYING TO PUSH OUR CITY TO BE A CITY THAT CAPITALIZES ON YOUNG PEOPLE'S STRENGTHS AND CAPABILITIES, AND REALLY ACKNOWLEDGES THEIR EXPERTISE ABOUT THEIR OWN LIVES.

AND WE'RE PUSHING TO HAVE A CITY THAT HAS MORE INTERGENERATIONAL POLICY MAKING.

YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EFFECTED BY POLICIES.

THEY SHOULD BE AT THE TABLE WHEN THOSE POLICIES ARE CREATED.

WE ALSO KNOW IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT HAVING A POLICY, BUT HOW IS IT GETTING IMPLEMENTED?

AND THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, IS IF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE THERE SAYING, I'M NOT FEELING THIS YET.

>> AND I'M GOING GET TO THAT WITH YOU SORT OF AS OUR WRAP UP TO TALK ABOUT, IS THE QUESTION, IS SOMEBODY PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS?

ARE THINGS BEING DONE?

I'LL GET TO THAT.

>> EDWARD, ANOTHER ONE OF THE CATEGORIES IS YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH.

TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FINDING THERE IS AND SOME OF THE THINGS YOU ALL ARE AGREEING, WE NEED TO BE DOING BETTER.

>> ANOTHER IMPORTANT PART OF THE YOUTH AGENDA.

AND SO IN NEW YORK CITY YOUTHS WHO TOOK THE ANNUAL CENSUS IN 2022 REPORT THAT THEY FELT STRESSED.

THAT WAS 59% OF THEM, ANXIOUS, NERVOUS, AND TIRED, 46% OF THEM IN THE LAST MONTH.

-- IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS.

THAT IS A MAJORITY FEELING JUST ANXIOUS, STRESSED, AND ALL THESE THINGS THAT REALLY HURT AND IMPACT THE WAY THAT A CHILD IS GROWING UP IN THE CITY TO LEARN TO GO TO SCHOOL, TO JUST LIVE.

AND SO THE PERCENTAGES OF YOUTH WHO DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES WHEN THEY NEEDED IT, SUCH AS THERAPY, MEDICATIONS, ALL RANGE FROM 30% TO 40%, INCLUDING COUNSELING, SOMEONE TO TALK TO, SUPPORT GROUPS.

THESE WERE AROUND 25%.

THAT'S ONE-FOURTH, AND MORE THAN ONE-THIRD WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO NEEDING THERAPY.

THE STUDENTS NEED HELP.

NOT STUDENTS, MY BAD.

THE YOUTH.

THE YOUTH IN NEW YORK CITY.

THEY NEED THEM AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR IT AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING IT.

MORE THAN A THIRD ARE BEGGING FOR IT.

ON TOP OF THAT, PART OF MENTAL HEALTH, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO EXTEND THE FREE AND ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE FOR YOUTH AND TO EMPHASIZE THE HOLISTIC HEALTH AND SCHOOL BASED CARE FOR ALL.

WE'RE JUST ASKING TO REALLY EXPAND ON THE EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT THERE IS TO REALLY INCREASE ON SCHOOL COUNSELLORS, SOCIAL WORKERS THAT THE STUDENTS NEED AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR.

>> AND AS ALARMING AND STARTLING AS THOSE NUMBERS ARE, YOU MIGHT ASSUME THERE ARE A LOT MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO JUST HAVEN'T RESPOND POSITIVELY TO C ALL OF THIS.

SARAH, HOW ABOUT THAT?

THESE NUMBERS ARE -- I THINK STARTLING IS A GOOD WORD.

SHOCKING MIGHT BE A BETTER WORD FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT WE'RE HEARING NOW.

ARE THOSE -- THESE SHOCKING NUMBERS GETTING EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATED TO THE POLICY MAKERS?

IF NOT, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE HAVE HAD SUCCESS IN THE PAST TWO YEARS AT GETTING SOME OF THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO US.

SO, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS YEAR WE HAD OUR PUBLIC ADVOCATE, JAMANY WILLIAMS.

WE HAD THE COMPTROLLER LANDERS THERE, OUR MANHATTAN BOROUGH PRESIDENT, VARIOUS COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE HAD THE CHANCELLORS OF THE SCHOOL, WE HAD FOLLOW-UP MEETING.

PEOPLE ARE ENGAGING WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

BUT I THINK THIS YEAR WE WANTED TO LOOK AT WHAT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

SO WE CREATED AN ACCOUNTABLE TO YOUTH REPORT.

SO WE LOOKED AT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS LAST YEAR, AND THEN WE LOOKED AT GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TEACH OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND DID AN ANALYSIS SAID, WHERE DID WE MOVE THE NEEDLE AND WHERE DO WE HAVE TO PUSH FURTHER?

IT IT HELPED US TO GET CLEARER IN OUR ASKS TO SAY, WE GOT SOME MOVEMENT ON THIS, SOME MOVEMENT ON SYEP, GOT TO 100,000 SLOTS.

WE NEED TO GO FURTHER.

AND SO I THINK IT'S MOVING.

I THINK THERE'S OPENNESS, AND I THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO HAVE US SPREAD THE WORD AND GET EVEN MORE KIND OF POLICY MAKERS TO REALLY PARTNER WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> BACK TO ONE AREA.

ISADA I'LL COME TO YOU ON THIS.

WE TOUCHED BASE ON IT A LITTLE BIT, THE NOTION OF THE SOCIAL JUSTICE.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND WHAT YOU WERE SEEING IN TERMS OF RESULTS AND AGAIN, WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING HERE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE.

>> WELL, TO MOVE THE NEEDLE, MORE IN ANY CATEGORY IS DEFINITELY FOR POLITICIANS TO START LISTENING TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THE WORLD THAT IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS, WE WILL HAVE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, AND WE WILL, LIKE, INHERIT THE WORLD, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A VOICE AND A SEAT AT THE TABLE IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

IT'S ONE STEP.

BUT ALSO ESPECIALLY JUST GIVING MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE CHANGES, MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, LIKE, UNDOCUMENTED YOUTH TO GET JOBS, FOR THEIR TO BE FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS AND MORE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT, AND JUST OVERALL LISTENING TO WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE WANT IS ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS THAT CAN BE TAKEN FOR THE NEEDLE TO MOVE EVEN FURTHER IN THE FUTURE.

>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT.

PEOPLE NEED TO LISTEN TO OTHER PEOPLE FOR THAT ALL TO HAPPEN.

SARAH, WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF THIS PROJECT, THE YOUTH PROJECT, THE YOUTH AGENDA, DO YOU THINK?

>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS ANNUALLY.

WE WANT TO MAKE THIS JUST NOT A ONE-OFF.

IT'S HOW WE WANT OUR CITY TO RUN.

WE WANT IT TO BE THE CITY THAT TAKES YOUNG PEOPLE'S LEADERSHIP SERIOUSLY, AND SO EVERY YEAR WE'RE GOING TO DO THE YOUTH ASK YOU CENSUS.

EVERY YEAR WE'RE GOING TO USE IT TO BE THE BASIS OF OUR RECOMMENDATION GENERATION FOR THE NYC YOUTH AGENDA, AND EVERY YEAR WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN RELATION TO OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHAT DIDN'T AND HOLD OUR POLITICIANS ACCOUNTABLE TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> JOLENE, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU THAD TO OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN IN FRONT OF THE POLICY MAKERS, AND I KNOW SOME OF THEM ATTENDED LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR.

BUT IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE SOME SERIOUS ONE-ON-ONE TIME WITH A POLICY MAKER WHO SAYS, I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

I WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN CHANGE.

WHAT ARE THE COUPLE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT I CAN DO TO HELP?

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM?

>> I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY THAT HAVING DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH YOUTH AND ALLOWING YOUTH TO MAKE A DIRECT IMPACT IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

A LOT OF SECTORS IN THE YOUTH AGENDA INVOLVE CREATING DIRECT YOUTH IMPACT WITHIN DIFFERENT SECTORS OF OUR CITY, WHETHER THAT BE, LIKE, FAIR STUDENT FUNDING AND EDUCATION OR IN TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH, HAVING, LIKE, A COMMITTEE THAT IS CENTERED WITH DIRECTION -- HOW TO DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS BROADER.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY BE WILLING TO LISTEN TO YOUTH BUT ARE NOT TRYING TO IMPLEMENT YOUTH INTO THE PROCESSES OF HOW OUR CITY RUNS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S MISSING BECAUSE YOU CAN LISTEN TO YOUTH ALL YOU WANT, BUT AS MUCH AS YOU MAY LIKE IT, YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO BE A YOUNG PERSON AGAIN -- >> AGAIN, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I HAVE BEEN A YOUNG PERSON.

BUT YOU ALL ARE REASSURE, TRUST ME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YEAH.

SARAH, I'LL GIVE YOU THE LAST QUESTION HERE.

WE MAY HAVE LOST EDWARD.

HE'S IN SCHOOL.

HE MAY HAVE HAD TO JUMP OFF AND GET IN A CLASS.

GOOD FOR HIM.

I'VE GOT ABOUT TWO MINUTES OR SO LEFT.

IT'S A TWO-PART QUESTION.

YOU TOUCH ON IT BEFORE.

WHICH IS, ARE THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO YOU PAYING ATTENTION TO YOU?

AND HOW CAN WE ASSURE ACCOUNTABILITY IN TERMS OF CHANGE TAKING PLACE?

>> YES, SO I HAVE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE -- WE DO HAVE A LOT OF OPENNESS FROM OUR POLITICIANS, AND IN ADDITION TO COMING TO THIS ONE WONDERFUL EVENT, WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS THAT ARE SCHEDULED.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE WAY THAT WE'LL PUSH THIS YEAR IS TO SAY, WE DON'T WANT JUST YOUTH VOICE, BUT WE ACTUALLY WANT YOU TO LISTEN, AND WE WANT ACTION, AND WE'VE GOTTEN VERY SPECIFIC IN OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE'VE NOT ONLY RECOMMENDED WHAT WE WANT, BUT WE'VE MADE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, AND I THINK THAT WE REALLY WANT TO PROBLEM SOLVE AND NOT JUST EVEN HAVE A MEETING AFTER THIS, BUT HAVE A MEETING ABOUT IT, GET INTO THE NITTY-GRITTY OF WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE.

WHERE'S THE BUDGET FOR THIS?

YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE POLITICIANS ARE OPEN TO IT AND I THINK JUST, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO PUSH A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT A LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT THAT'S BEYOND COMING TO ONE EVENT.

AND WE WILL.

THANK YOU.

>> WELL, HERE'S WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT IT'S CERTAINLY REASSURING TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE STUDENTS SUCH AS THE THREE OF YOU, JOLENE, ISADA AND EDWARD WHO WE LOST BACK TO A CLASS, AND YOU HAD TEACHERS LIKE SARAH TO GUIDE YOU, AND IT'S REASSURING TO KNOW YOU'LL BE THE ONES MAKING DECISIONS, AND I THINK WE CAN BE COMFORTABLE KNOWING YOU'RE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING YOU BACK IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU.

YOU ALL BE WELL NOW.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>> THANKS FOR TUNING IN TO "METROFOCUS."

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>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, FILOMEN M. D'AGOSTINO FOUNDATION, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, AND BY -- JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.

THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION, ESTATE OF ROLAND CARLIN, THE JPB FOUNDATION.