Q&A
DYCD's peer-to-peer outreach and involvement of former subway surfers
1:56:07
·
3 min
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires about DYCD's peer-to-peer outreach programs and the involvement of former subway surfers in prevention efforts. The discussion covers:
- DYCD's collaboration with NYC Public Schools to engage program participants as messengers in the campaign
- Creation of credible messengers and ambassadors from within communities
- Efforts to involve adults who previously engaged in subway surfing in outreach efforts
- The approach emphasizes the importance of peer-to-peer messaging in prevention campaigns.
- There's a focus on creating relatable content by involving youth from specific neighborhoods.
- The discussion highlights the potential value of including reformed subway surfers in prevention efforts, while being sensitive to their experiences.
Althea Stevens
1:56:07
Could you split please explain, DYCD's role in collaborating with young people to create peer to peer outreach programs to combat subway surfing, and has the agency found success with those efforts?
Jessica Hernandez
1:56:18
Absolutely.
1:56:18
So one of the first things that we were able to do is joining partnership with New York City Public School in this campaign was to be able to engage our participants from our programs to be the voice over, to be the messengers.
1:56:29
We believe that it's important that it's peer to peer, the messages from young people.
1:56:34
And if you hear them, they identify that they're either from Queens or they're from a a a particular neighborhood to be able to make those connections to those young people who are out there, you know, subway surfing.
1:56:45
So that's one area.
1:56:46
Aside from that is, creating those credible messages but ambassadors.
1:56:51
There's credible messages also as friends or our folks that are, that people look up to to be able to say outside of subway surfing, there's other ways to look up to young people and within themselves in their community.
1:57:03
So we we look forward to tapping into that.
Althea Stevens
1:57:06
And so even with the, peer peer mentorships, like we said, subway surfing has been around for a number of years.
1:57:12
Have we looked at reaching out to adults who've done subway surfing in the past to also be some of these incredible messages and talk about that experience, and how are we bringing that into the fold?
Kevin Dantzler
1:57:25
Yes.
1:57:25
We have.
1:57:25
As I mentioned, we have a biweekly subway surfing working group, and we invite guests.
1:57:30
We have invited former subway surfers who are willing, to lend their voices.
1:57:35
We try to be mindful that we don't exploit their pain, but, again, that they can heal through helping.
1:57:39
One individual, who Subway served one time, he's in his thirties now, but he Subway served a single time, and as a result of that he's now blind.
1:57:48
And he's willing to, lend his voice, efforts, and energy to our campaigns.
1:57:53
We've reached out to other folks.
1:57:54
We do intend to even reach out to parents, who or loved ones who have suffered losses because of this activity.
1:58:00
We try to be very sensitive and make sure that they understand we're trying to use this in a way to stop others from engaging in it, but making sure we don't exploit them.
1:58:08
So, yes, the suggestion you make is a great one, and we are moving forward in that.
Althea Stevens
1:58:12
Yeah.
1:58:12
Because I think it's just important, and and not just folks who have been injured or hurt or whatever.
1:58:16
I think that it's important, especially younger folks are are much more likely to explore things that are a little bit more dangerous and and looking for a general and as we get older, obviously, we become a lot more cautious around how we or moving around the like, but I think it's always important, especially people who have very similar experience to, have the opportunity to share and work together because, like, right, someone who's never done it might be like, that's crazy.
1:58:39
I would never whatever.
1:58:40
Whereas the other person, like, no.
1:58:41
I get it.
1:58:41
I did it, and this is why I did it, and and have that type of connection, and and have some type of, like, mentorship program or groups where they can come in and be able to interact with young people who've had these incidents, and also, you know, who we know who've done it or who've who've been picked up by NYPD.
1:58:57
And so, again, I just wanna say that I think the collaboration here is one that we typically don't see.
1:59:02
Right?
1:59:02
So I wanna give you our credit, because I don't be giving credit all the time.
1:59:05
So I'm gonna give you our credit today.
1:59:07
Right?
1:59:07
Especially, all of y'all working together and all that.
1:59:09
So these are the things that I like to see.
1:59:11
So to not have a crazy chair, I would love to always see the agencies working and harmonious and actually trying to address these things in a real way.
1:59:20
So, what steps are being taken to ensure that increased enforcement of our NYPD is compelled by positive engagement and, and preventative outreach led by DYCD and DOE.
1:59:34
So how are we working with NYPD so it's not just enforcement, and what does this whole collaboration look like?
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
1:59:40
Mhmm.
1:59:40
Mhmm.
Mark Rampersant
1:59:40
Yeah.
