AGENCY TESTIMONY
Teen Civic Ambassadors program
0:27:28
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113 sec
Dr. McNeil introduces the Teen Civic Ambassadors program, a paid internship initiative designed to develop job readiness and leadership skills for teens, with a focus on library resources, civics, and peer-to-peer engagement. The program aims to address low voter turnout rates among young New Yorkers.
- Highlights the program's reach across 16 branches in low-income neighborhoods
- Mentions over 50 programs serving more than 250 teens
- Describes collaboration with NYC Votes for voter registration drives
- Notes a panel discussion held with local city council members on civic action
Dr. Brandy McNeil
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As noted previously, Young New Yorkers are a segment of the population with particularly low voter turnout rates.
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This is why NYPD launched teen civic ambassadors, a program that offers paid internships for teens to help develop job readiness and leadership skills with a focus on library resources, civics, and peer to peer engagement.
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As community hubs and third places, for teens outside school and home, libraries coordinate teen led programs focused on building civic knowledge for our youngest eligible voters.
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In spring 2024, NYPL's teen civic ambassadors worked across 16 branches in low income neighborhoods and offered over 50 programs serving over 250 teens.
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Teens hosted programs on a range of topics from women's history to art programs focused on supporting mental well-being.
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This past summer in partnership with New York City votes, the library's inaugural teen civic ambassador summer cohort helped 15 voter registration drives and created programs focused on how to involve their peers in community issues.
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The teen civic ambassadors also facilitated an immersive and thoughtful panel discussion with local city council members on the importance of civic action and ways to affect change.
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Our teams were able to learn directly from council members representing the most diverse city council in New York's history.
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We want to thank you again, Sierra Rivera, for participating in that panel.
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And we want to thank the city council for their support through the years, which has been integral to our ability to innovate these programs that speak directly to the city's youth.
