October 22, 2007
Hails Effective New York City
Out-of-School Programs on Steps of City Hall
Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr. held a press
conference on the steps of City Hall in Manhattan on Sunday,
October 14 to acknowledge the outstanding work of several
out-of-school programs in the New York City area. Carrion, Jr. also
called for local education organizations to provide more funding
for additional quality programs to keep high school students
engaged in worthwhile activities for their own personal growth.
Among those cited were St. John’s University’s GEAR UP and After-School
All-Stars programs. Representing the University at a press
conference, before a host of media outlets and young adults, were
Yvette Marie Morgan, Co-Project Director for GEAR UP (funded by the
U.S. Department of Education and NYS Higher Education Service
Corporation in collaboration with St. John's University) and Alan
Fields, Executive Director for After-School All-Stars of New
York.
“Let’s hear it for New York City kids,” said Carrion Jr.,
opening the press conference to a loud ovation from the young
students in attendance. “I am joined today by some of the major
organizations who have established successful out-of-school
initiatives in New York City. I want to personally thank them for
their efforts to provide services for New York City youths who need
to be supervised and occupied so we can lead them on the road to a
successful life.”
Morgan was asked by the Borough President to speak on behalf of the
St. John’s program to share some of the highlights of GEAR UP’s
impact within the community.
“For the past six years St. John’s University’s Gear-Up program
has worked with high school students and we’ve been able to
increase graduation rates by 15%, plus our college enrollment
numbers have risen dramatically,” said Morgan to the assembled
crowd. “GEAR UP works and is effective but we need support from
local agencies to give these students a future and some hope to
help them accomplish their dreams of a high school diploma and a
college degree.”
The Borough President announced a study to be submitted to the
New York Department of Education and the New York Department of
Youth and Community Development entitled, “Fighting for Youth
Programs,” that was aided by the help of program administrators
like Fields and Dr. Richard Sinatra who oversees youth outreach
programs for St. John’s University.
Other agencies joining in the press conference were the Police
Athletic League (PAL), the Sports, Arts and Schools Foundation
(Brooklyn), the After School Corporation, Kips Bay Boys and Girls
Club and St. Raymond Community Outreach Program.
For more information contact Dominic Scianna, Director of Media
Relations for St. John’s University at (718) 990-6185 or e-mail
inquiries to sciannad@stjohns.edu.
For information concerning the Bronx Borough President’s study
on youth programs contact Noah Franklin, Director of Policy, Office
of the Bronx Borough President by calling (718) 590-3544 or e-mail
him at nfranklin@bronxbp.nyc.gov.