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Q&A
Discussion on anti-gun violence and cultural immigrant initiatives in Harlem
2:56:09
·
146 sec
Council Member Salaam inquires about anti-gun violence and cultural immigrant initiatives in Harlem, and Commissioner Cumbo provides information on related programs and their impact.
- Cumbo mentions the 'Art as a Catalyst for Change' initiative, which she created while in the City Council
- The initiative places artist residency programs in areas most impacted by gun violence
- Cumbo highlights the expansion of summer youth employment opportunities to 100,000 participants
- She emphasizes the importance of after-school programs in addressing community safety
- Cumbo promises to provide specific numbers on Harlem organizations receiving funding through these initiatives at a later time
Yusef Salaam
2:56:09
Thank you for that.
2:56:10
Just one last question on anti gun violence initiatives and cultural immigrant initiatives.
2:56:19
How many Harlem organizations are receiving funding through these initiatives and how does how is DCLA tracking their impact in neighborhoods disproportionately affected by gun violence and immigrant immigration challenges?
Lauri Cumbo
2:56:32
That's an excellent question.
2:56:33
To get those exact numbers I would have to get back to you to understand how those initiatives are impacting your district.
2:56:42
But I will say as I have to pat myself on the back one more time, when I was in the City Council I created the Art as a Catalyst for Change initiative and that initiative was designed to place an artist residency program in areas most impacted by gun violence.
2:56:59
And the goal of that initiative was to partner with the mayor's office to end gun violence which is also legislation that I passed when I was in the council to make sure that those two dynamics work in tandem so that we have an artistic and cultural component to solving the issues of gun violence in our communities.
2:57:19
But I will say while those initiatives are really powerful and important in navigating issues of gun violence in our communities, we can't underestimate the power of summer youth employment opportunities which this council in partnership with the mayor have expanded.
2:57:37
When I was sitting on that side of the table, there were only 25,000 young people receiving a summer youth employment opportunity.
2:57:44
That number with your partnership is now up to a hundred thousand.
2:57:48
So that's really powerful and we can't underestimate that.
2:57:52
And just want to add that this after school program for all, after school for all is going to really impact the safety of our communities on so many levels when we're able to really provide full academic, cultural, athletic opportunities for every young child in our school system.
2:58:14
Our young people shouldn't have to choose which school they're going to go to based off of who has aftercare and who doesn't have aftercare.
2:58:21
Those are really hard decisions for a parent to make.
2:58:24
So I want to make sure that, you know, we don't underestimate those initiatives, but they are critical in solving these really, really important issues in our community.
Yusef Salaam
2:58:35
Thank you.
2:58:35
I appreciate it.