Three Community Improvement Through Youth (CITY) Project Teen Leaders from Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Broome County recently went to Albany to take part in the Children for Children Conference. While there, they had an opportunity to meet and speak with Silda Wall Spitzer, First Lady of New York. The three CITY Teen Leaders, Sarita Barreiro, 17, Kerri Young, 18, and Daphnee Jean, 16 were accompanied on the trip by Donald Cole, Liberty Partnership Program Leader, Binghamton University. The CITY teens, all Binghamton High School students, gave the Governor's wife a brief overview of the CITY Project in Binghamton and New York City and highlighted how the two Cornell Cooperative Extension partners are collaborating to make a difference their communities.
 |
 |
| CITY Teen Leader, Sarita Barreiro, with Mrs. Spitzer. | CITY Teen Leaders facilitate activity for children. |
Mrs. Spitzer is the founder and chair of the board of Children for Children, a non-profit organization that fosters community involvement and social responsibility in young people. Children for Children promotes hands-on youth volunteerism, community involvement, and civic engagement among children with an emphasis on providing programming and resources to underserved schools.
While in Albany for the Children for Children event, the CITY Teen Leaders met with other youth from across the state and shared information about how their projects are making a difference in their communities. For example, the CITY Teen Leaders in Broome County are working on a "Pay It Forward" project, engaging residents and the City of Binghamton Public Works Dept. in a project aimed at beautifying and improving one block in one neighborhood at a time. In turn, block residents will be encouraged to "pay it forward" and work with another block to continue the beautification project. The CITY Teen Leaders are also working on a cultural event that will celebrate the diversity of the community. The event will showcase the art, food, music, and dance of various countries including Jamaica, China, Japan, and Africa. In addition, the teens are working on the "Did Ya Know" event, a youth-led theatrical presentation in which the performances will help adults better understand why teens get involved in risky behaviors.
The CITY Project uses one of CCE's signature programs, Youth Community Action (YCA), as a model for promoting civic engagement, workforce preparation, and asset development among youth (13-18 years old) in New York State's CYFAR Project. In Broome County, the CITY Project is partnering with the Broome County Urban League and Binghamton Housing Authority, Broome County Gang Prevention Program. In New York City, the CITY project is partnering with Henry Street Settlement, Manhattan, and the Police Athletic League Wynn Center, Brooklyn. The CITY Project is part of the Children, Youth and Families At-Risk (CYFAR) Program, Sustainable Community Projects (SCP). It is supported by Smith Lever funds from the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
For More Information
CITY Project Website: http://nys4h.cce.cornell.edu/city/