NYC Youth Funders Network Considers How to Serve the City’s High-Need Youth and Families

On May 27, more than 45 private funders attended “Quality Youth Services in Public Housing Community Centers” at the Philanthropy New York offices. This joint presentation with the New York City Youth Funders Network, the Independence Community Foundation, The Wallace Foundation, and the New York Life Foundation featured a presentation on “How Students Living in NYC Public Housing Fare in School” by Dr. Amy Ellen Schwartz at New York University, and another by Jeanne B. Mullgrav, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), on their new, $10.4 million publicly-funded Cornerstone initiative to provide high-quality youth services in 25 targeted New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Community Centers effective January, 2010. Nancy Wackstein, Executive Director of United Neighborhood Houses, offered closing remarks.

According to the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), as of January 1, 2009, 173,942 families (or 402,722 authorized residents) lived in NYCHA buildings. Of these residents, 37.5 percent—or more than 151,000—were children and young people under the age of 21.

Commissioner Mullgrav cited the importance of these statistics and additional research in developing DYCD’s Cornerstone Initiative. According to the RFP, currently available for download at www.nyc.gov/dycd, programs will serve youth ages 5-22 and be designed to meet the needs of individuals and families most threatened by worsening economic conditions. DYCD also explained that the RFP reflects findings from extensive market research and community engagement, made possible with support from The Wallace Foundation.

“Everyone at DYCD is excited to apply the lessons we’ve learned in developing the Out-of-School Time and Beacon Community Center initiatives to the Cornerstone Initiative,” said Commissioner Mullgrav. “The Cornerstone RFP is truly a collaborative document, reflecting the input of hundreds of stakeholders, most notably the parents and young people who will benefit most directly from high-quality programming designed to meet their unique needs. We are committed to working closely with NYCHA residents, the nonprofit sector, elected officials, and the philanthropic community to ensure that our Cornerstone Community Centers live up to their name by bringing together New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds and subsequently strengthening our public housing system.”

“We know that in order for children and youth to succeed and flourish academically and personally, they need the support of caring adults who have expertise and passion to teach and guide them,” explains Lena Townsend, Executive Director of the Robert Bowne Foundation, who attended both the forum and site visit. This is particularly true for children who live in NYCHA where, according to the Furman Center/IESP study, “…schools attended by NYCHA students are relatively low-performing, as measured by the average test scores of their students. The percentage of students passing standardized math and reading exams at the average school attended by NYCHA students is notably lower than those at the average school attended by non-NYCHA students.” 

Following the engaged discussion of this spring event, the NYC Youth Funders Network organized a visit to the Betances Community Center, run by ASPIRA of New York with funding from DYCD. The Bronx program is an example of a safe space and quality, enriching experiences for children and youth.  Staff members—often residents—are familiar with the neighborhood, work closely with parents, and have expertise in youth development, academics, martial arts, music, and art. Lena Townsend adds, “As we observed the day camp activities, it was clear that children and their instructors were engaged and excited to be there. There are other examples of quality programs for NYCHA residents of all ages—the settlement houses and Groundwork in East New York, for example. It is crucial that both government and private funders support quality programs for NYCHA communities. By supporting these communities we can have a positive effect on nearly 10 percent of New York City public school students!”      

For more information, please contact:
Janet Kelley
Coordinator, New York City Youth Funders Network
1440 Broadway, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10018
917-806-6361
jk@janetkelley.com