Program News 2002
Our Young People Speak Out
On February 6th, students from Good Shepherd's model high school program, South Brooklyn Community Academy (SBCA) and St. Francis Xavier Action Youth program participated in a "Youth Speak Out" forum. The event, planned in conjunction with the Youth and Education Services Committee of Community Board Six, gave the young people an opportunity to voice their concerns to community members and elected officials about the future of funding for Brooklyn's schools and youth services programs. SBCA students were involved in each stage of the forum's development--planning and facilitating the topic presentations with the help of GSS staff members Daemian Passarelli and Desmond Curran. During the forum students expressed the importance of school safety, class size, and teacher-student relationships, and the need for these issues to be addressed. SBCA students cited the value of the small classes and individualized attention they receive at school, stressing that it is imperative that government funding be designated to these areas. Politicians who participated in the forum included Assemblymember Joan Millman, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Councilmember David Yassky, and representatives from the office of Assemblyman Felix Ortiz. All of the attending elected officials were receptive to the student's concerns, praised their leadership and reiterated the value of youth civic involvement.
February 20, 2002
