CHASING THE DREAM - NYC YOUTH TACKLE THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO THEM MOST: NYC YOUTH AGENDA COALITION

New York City’s youth represent the future of the city. But seldom have policy makers and elected officials asked young people about the issues that matter to them most. A group of young students and advocates are making their mission to change that. For the last two years, NYC Youth Agenda Coalition, comprised of high-school and college-aged students from across the five boroughs, has been putting together a set of policy proposals based on the concerns and priorities of surveyed NYC youth. The young advocates first came together in 2020 to spotlight and address the issues NYC youth faced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Black Lives Matters protests, increasing youth mental health crisis, and more. Tonight, members of the NYC Youth Agenda Steering Committee talk about their newly unveiled 2023 NYC Youth Agenda, a set of recommendations that they have presented to leaders at City Hall. The young advocates talk about the key issues spotlighted in the most recent survey: economic mobility, educational equity, environmental justice, housing security, and mental health.