NYC Youth Speaks
NYC Youth Speaks – a partnership between NYC Speaks and New York City’s Department of Education – is designed to bring together NYC public school students and young people across the city to inform the policies and priorities of the new administration.
As 21% of NYC’s population, input from young people about their communities, the issues they face, and the future of the city is essential.
NYC Youth Speaks follows a similar process to NYC Speaks to deeply engage students in the future of NYC, teach about City government’s role and powers, and ensure young people are heard. The first phase of this initiative is a citywide survey that will seek input from young people on topics like education, transportation, housing, climate change, public safety, arts & culture, and racial equity.
In addition to the survey, NYC Youth Speaks is engaging young people in community discussions about the data. The data gathered is being analyzed with the NYC Speaks data and being used to collaborate with Mayor Adams’ administration to create a blueprint for the future of the city, complete with concrete priorities, policies, and budget items.
Community Conversations
High schoolers all across New York City are participating in Community Conversations about the policy issues that matter most to them. They are the same facilitation guides and materials to analyze the survey results, share their personal stories, and come up with solutions that respond to them. This includes 35 NYC Youth Speaks Ambassadors who are receiving training on how to facilitate and committing to hosting at least two Community Conversations events themselves.
Youth Survey Results
18,400 New Yorkers aged 14 to 17 took the NYC Youth Speaks survey. Find out what young New Yorkers think about education, safety, climate, health, and everything in between by exploring our NYC Youth Speaks Data Dashboard.
“The NYC Department of Education is excited to partner with NYC Speaks on ‘NYC Youth Speaks’, an integrated but unique component designed to directly engage our young people on their thoughts and ideas to make New York City an even better place. This component will launch in the coming weeks, and I encourage our students to add their voices to this survey, and to talk to their families about participating, as well.”
Schools’ Chancellor David C. Banks.
“The NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) has prioritized giving youth a place at the table—whether through civic engagement in our funded programs, getting young people to vote, or by amplifying their voice through our NYC Youth Agenda and Youth Town Halls. DYCD is proud to join forces with NYC Youth Speaks and DOE in providing this very important platform to give younger New Yorkers a say in the future of their City.”
DYCD Commissioner Bill Chong
