Westchester Children’s Association WCA is expanding its Youth Civic Engagement Program into Peekskill High School this year bringing interactive workshops directly into classrooms and working with three classes of students.
The program, launched in partnership with the Peekskill High School and supported by a grant from the Westchester office of The New York Community Trust, is designed to help young people better understand how local government works and how they can take an active role in shaping their communities.
Through hands on workshops students explore how decisions are made at the local level how civic systems affect their daily lives and how data can be used to support advocacy efforts The sessions are meant to give students practical tools while encouraging them to see themselves as active participants in their community not just future voters but current stakeholders.
WCA has been working with students throughout the school year using interactive lessons to break down topics like policy community decision making and civic participation in a way that is engaging and easy to understand.
“The goal is to ensure young people see themselves not just as future leaders but as current stakeholders in the decisions that affect their lives” said Adam Rabinovitch Executive Director of WCA.
“We are proud to support WCA’s work in Peekskill” said Lauren Perkins Program Director at The Trust Westchester “Our hope is that young people see themselves as civic leaders understand that their voices matter and are set up for a lifetime of civic engagement”.
The program gives Peekskill students a chance to learn participate and make their voices heard in shaping the future of their community.
