ON A MISSION

Y TEENS FOCUS ON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Nearly 80 teens from across the city came together in December to kick off another program year of Teens Take the City, the Y’s signature civic engagement program. Supported by the New York City Council, TTC empowers teens to learn about city government, hold elected office, and draft and debate policy.

The Mission NYC event was led by Youth Elected Officials (Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, and 5 Borough Presidents) and featured an introduction to Parliamentary Procedure and policy development. It also included a panel of advocates discussing how government should work and voting pre-registration with NALEO Educational Fund. •

(top, l to r): Moderator Dion Ward, a Teen Advisor from the Flushing Y, poses a question to panelists Caitlyn Passeratti from Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, Michelle Aviles from Children’s Aid, and Gio Barcenes from City Year; (above) Orlando Ovalles of NALEO Educational Fund talks with teens about voting and helps them pre-register.