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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Nora A., Youth Leader from Circle Keepers and Dignity in Schools Campaign New York, on Restorative Justice and Mental Health Services in Schools
7:27:47
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Nora A., a student and youth leader, testifies in support of expanding restorative justice programs and mental health services in New York City schools. She calls for an $80 million investment to hire restorative justice coordinators in 500 schools and advocates for the elimination of punitive measures that contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline.
- Shares personal experiences of feeling criminalized by security measures in schools
- Emphasizes the need for relationship-building and meditation instead of punitive approaches
- Urges NYC to lead in changing schools for the better and ensuring all public school students thrive
Nora A.
7:27:47
Good afternoon, Chair Joseph, students, and members of the community.
7:27:52
My name is Nora Ayuba.
7:27:53
I'm a student at George Restinghouse High School and a youth leader with the Circle Keepers and a member of the of Dignity in Schools Campaign New York, a coalition over of over 20 New York based organizations consisting of students, parents, educators, and advocates who work to create a system of school discipline and safety that is based on mutual respect and problem solving and to end the school to prison pipeline.
7:28:17
I'm here to call on the city to expand restorative justice and mental health services including investing eight eighty million in hiring school based restorative justice coordinators in 500 schools.
7:28:28
I want our elected leaders to support the expansion of restorative justice programs to help eradicate the school to prison pipeline, and also to baseline funds needed to support other critical programs that are at risk of being cut, including the mental health continuum.
7:28:43
Having been in public school system for half of my life, I have witnessed firsthand how things can escalate from small issues to large fights that do more harm than good.
7:28:52
Students spend most of their lives in schools, so it should be a welcoming and inviting environment where they could where they don't have to feel like criminals.
7:29:02
I have experienced firsthand how things such as TSA security checks in the morning not only take away time used to learn or just get the school day started, but also make students feel a sense of criminalization.
7:29:13
When students are met with these kinds of punitive and policing factors, it shows how this can create or add to trauma students add to trauma add trauma to students' everyday lives.
7:29:25
I still remember vividly one day I was forced to pick up my bags during this daily security check.
7:29:30
I was I asked for a bit more time to pick up my things, but I was only met with a harsh response.
7:29:35
Being blamed for advocating for myself against the school security.
7:29:39
This is something that has personally traumatized me, I will never forget as I broke down in tears.
7:29:44
On the other hand, by instead of implementing relationship building and meditation and staffing schools with students, with adults who can support kids when there is conflict can help us feel safer.
7:29:54
NYC could be the one to lead in the fight and movement of changing schools for the better and ensuring that all public students thrive.
7:30:01
We're here today because we want the city to put an effort to fund restorative justice programs for promoting non punitive ways of resolving issues in schools.
7:30:10
New York New York City could be the change for the best for all public school students, but that won't happen if our demands aren't met.
7:30:17
Thank you.