NYC CYFAR Community Improvement Through Youth (CITY) Project CALS Impact Statement

CUCE-NYC is strengthening the capacity of other youth-serving organizations to carry out youth development/ engagement work so that young people can contribute to improving the quality of life in their communities and enhance their leadership and other life skills.

The teen years are prime years when attitudes, beliefs, and values are shaped into practices that play out in adulthood. While many students of color live in communities that shape this reality, engaging teens in designing and implementing a community improvement project can arm young people with a perspective that reinforces resilience. By utilizing all of the resources within these communities like these bright and talented young people, teens are developing a positive sense of self that will translate into adulthood. Additionally, as these teens outreach to other youth-serving organizations they will begin to change the face of many underserved communities around New York City.

During the past year, the NYC CYFAR CITY Project has conducted 13 sessions for 27 teen leaders at both agencies. The sessions included team building activities, family night, 4-H Public Presentations, technology series, attendance at Career Explorations at Cornell University, attendance at the New York State Fair, and the completion of two community improvement projects. These activities and travel have helped to enhance the value of youth-adult partnerships. Additionally, they have been the springboard for more collaborative work within the Family and Youth Development program area as well as for new external collaborations.
The National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4-HA) Urban Task Force chose the CITY Project for inclusion in its selective 2007 NAE4-HA Directory of Successful Urban 4-H Programs. June Mead, project director and evaluator for the project stated, "The CITY Project uses Cornell Cooperative Extension`s 4-H programs as a model for promoting civic engagement, workforce preparation and asset development among youth, ages 13-18."

Each agency has recognized the value of positive youth development, utilizing a youth community action model, and the value of community improvement projects in other programming. An intentional effort has been made to involve elements of CUCE-NYC core initiatives (eg.: Advancing Youth Development and 4-H) in a few aspects of each agency’s ongoing programs including training and brainstorming about best practices.
Additionally, a concerted effort has been made to incorporate aspects of the CYFAR CITY project model in other programs at participating agencies. One example of this is that each agency recognizes the value of youth-adult partnerships and has shifted to make sure youth voice is emphasized across programs. Also each agency has set aside professional development monies for other staff [originally an incentive for staff provided by the CITY project].
90% of the teen leaders are in attendance and participate on a regular basis between sites. Subsequently, each agency now provides a stipend during the school year in order to encourage these young people to participate. The skills that the teen leaders have reported utilizing include: critical thinking, public speaking, decision-making, problem-solving, and ways to make a difference which are all critical skills for them to become productive adults.

Overview