New Haven Independent

Several venerable youth programs around the Hill have recently closed due to funding shortfalls, including Hill Cooperative Youth Services, Latino Youth, and CityKids. Ana Arroyo from the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven said in a series of structured meetings the Foundation has held with Hill residents, their most pressing concern was setting up and staffing a youth center. She said about 2,500 Hill residents are between the ages of 12 and 21, and only 700 to 800 of them are being served through youth programs.

John Dye, at left, who works with the Hill South Management Team, said, “I’ve lived here 47 years. I’ve seen the Hill go up and down. We used to have a lot of programs for youth but we have lost a lot of them. The volunteer pool is not there.”

Kris Sainsbury called the meeting, held at the Micro-Society Magnet School on Hallock Avenue, to brainstorm about what might be done. Through her Hill/City Point Neighborhood Action Team, she’s already been working with kids on all kinds of projects — neighborhood clean-ups, reading projects, crafts. She asked those at the meeting to say what the words, “youth initiative” mean to them. Words like “challenge,” “support” and “contribute” poured forth. Someone said the kids need to feel safe. Someone else said they need creative outlets for their energy. Almost everyone said the young people should not be separated from adults, but should be able to work with adults to strengthen the community. Arroyo mentioned that a few years ago a survey of teens revealed that, even though they all wanted paid summer jobs, they also wanted to volunteer, make a difference, and feel connected to their community. Those at the meeting want to harness those desires and come up with a concrete proposal.

They talked about specific kinds of programming they’d like to see, like reading through rap, drama, music, journalism, photography/videography, poetry, sports, debating, chess, and crafts including knitting.

Asked if she hopes funding might be available through the mayor’s Youth Initiative, Sainsbury responded, “I don’t see money when I think ‘youth initiative’. I see smiles. When I asked the others, what do you think of when you hear ‘youth initiative,’ no one said money, and I was so glad. When I say ‘youth initiative,’ I mean things that children will do, things that children will remember. We have to have something here for our children — hardly anything filters down here. What we’re trying to do is bring resources to our neighborhood.”

The ad hoc and as yet nameless group plans to meet the third Monday of each month to continue their planning. For more information, or to get plugged, contact krisainsbury@hotmail.com.