Building a Courageous Community in which All Youth Can Succeed
Citywide Youth Coalition, Inc. (CWYC) is a network of over 500 youth-serving staff, community stakeholders and individuals.
We work together
to build a courageous community in which all youth can succeed. We are
focusing on three community-level results: youth graduate high school
prepared for success as adults; families effectively support youth's
positive development toward success; and youth have hope and a plan for
their success.
Join us at our monthly coalition meetings: the third Wednesday of every month from 10 a.m. to 12 noonat Regional Workforce Development Board, 560 Ella T. Grasso Blvd., New Haven, CT. We do not meet in July or August. Click here for details and directions. These are public meetings and everyone is welcome!
Promoting Positive Youth Development
Recently, the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven authored a
white paper on Positive Youth Development. In the publication Citywide
Youth Coalition Executive Director Rachel Heerema is quoted, discussing research which shows that even if poverty was a constant, youngsters do better if there are
caring adults and supportive institutions in their lives. Rachel said the research, "Also
looked at the internal characteristics of kids and identified “three
keys to resiliency”: initiative, attachment, i.e., growing healthy
relationships, and self-control." To read the white paper, visit the Community Foundation website, or download the PDF.
We
would like to acknowledge and thank all those who pitched in, donating
their time and talent to make this initiative happen. The survey design
was guided by UNH Professor Melissa Whitson and a workgroup consisting of CWYC members including Lydia Bornick, Keeley Forrestel, Eudald Lerga,
and CWYC staff. The surveys were filled out by youth throughout the
city and we would like to thank the following organizations and
individuals for their help connecting us with young people:
Tomi Veale at Youth@Work
Karen Arbour at IRIS
Keeley Forrestel at YDTRC
Kyisha Velazquez at Juvenile
Revue Board, New Haven Family Alliance
Paula Moody at St. Francis Home
for Children
Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell at
Your Place Youth Center
