Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

Teens Take Charge

Teens Take Charge

  • Providers, Participants Scramble for Scaled Down Summer Youth Employment Program

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    Mayor de Blasio with local activists (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayor's Office)


    Every morning, Joaquin Soto wakes up to participate in Summer Bridge, New York City government’s 2020 summer youth employment program. Instead of commuting to a work site, Soto turns on his computer, attends Zoom meetings, watches videos on professional development, and takes quizzes to show what he’s learned.

    “The application was really straightforward and very accessible,” said Soto, a 17-year-old from Cypress Hills. “But I feel like there’s definitely been some kind of trouble for

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  • The Covid Crisis Has Made It Additionally Clear: It’s Time to End School Admissions Screens in New York City

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    Brandon St. Luce, the author (photo: Dulce Michelle)


    Sunday, May 17 of this year, marked 66 years since the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that “separate is inherently unequal.” Yet today, many of our nation’s public school systems remain both separate and unequal. Nowhere is this clearer than in New York City, where I attend high school. 

    For five years, Mayor Bill de Blasio has touted an “Equity and Excellence” agenda while maintaining discriminatory admissions requirements at hundreds of middle and high

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  • Teen Activists Pledge Protests If Mayor Doesn't Soon Announce Summer Youth Employment Program

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    Mayor de Blasio makes a summer youth employment announcement (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayor's Office)


    Teens Take Charge, a youth advocacy group, held a town hall Tuesday where its members demanded Mayor Bill de Blasio announce his decision regarding the Summer Youth Employment Program by Friday, June 26, or they will take to the streets to protest. 

    “We’ve been screaming this message at the mayor for the

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