City Planning Congratulates Bronx Seniors on Completing Youth Engagement Curriculum - DCP

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For Immediate Release
March 30, 2023

Contacts:
Casey Berkovitz, Joe Marvilli – press@planning.nyc.gov (212) 720-3471

City Planning Congratulates Bronx Seniors on Completing Youth Engagement Curriculum

Run by City Planning’s Community Planning and Engagement team and The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology, the curriculum helps students advocate for their communities

During a student fair today, the seniors presented their work to elected officials and decision-makers

Dept of City Planning Executive Director Edith Hsu-Chen (center) congratulates the seniors who completed this year's youth engagement curriculum at The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology in the Bronx. Pictured from left to right: Eric Lincoln (assistant principal of The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology), Diana Ayala (Deputy Speaker of the NYC Council), Hsu-Chen, Adolfo Carrión Jr. (Commissioner of the Dept of Housing Preservation and Development), and students.

NEW YORK – Department of City Planning Director Dan Garodnick today announced that 70 high school seniors from The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology (MSHS223) in the Bronx graduated from DCP’s youth engagement curriculum course, which aims to support young people in becoming civic leaders and advocates in their communities. Click here for a gallery of photos from today’s ceremony.

“The civic leaders of tomorrow are being shaped today in our classrooms,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “I applaud the Department of City Planning for its continued investment in our young people and giving them the tools to build the city they want to see.”

“When we empower more voices to participate in planning, we make sure that our neighborhoods work for everyone, including our youth. I want to congratulate the seniors from The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology on completing this youth engagement curriculum and thank the Department of City Planning’s Community Planning and Engagement team,” said Maria Torres-Springer, Deputy Mayor for Economic & Workforce Development.

“These talented students have proven the breadth of their creativity and their boldness in tackling their neighborhood’s toughest challenges. Congrats to them, their teachers, City Planning staff, and our partner agencies for coming together to plan for a brighter future in the Bronx. The work on display today proves that the future of NYC is in great hands,” said Dan Garodnick, Director of the Department of City Planning.

“Congratulations to the students of The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology for completing DCP’s youth engagement curriculum course,” said Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz. “New York City welcomes a new generation of youth dedicated to City Planning, affordable housing, and sustainability. I am excited that young minds are coming up with new solutions for the future of New York City.”

“Our city needs to work for all New Yorkers, from our youth to our seniors and everyone in between. Young people growing up in New York City have a unique perspective on their neighborhoods, and their voices matter in discussions about the future of this city,” said Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “Thanks to DCP and the Laboratory School of Finance & Technology for empowering our youth to advocate for their interests – this is the next generation of community leaders and decision-makers!”

At today’s student fair, seniors presented their final projects directly to elected officials, including Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and NYC Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, and leadership from Mayor Eric Adams’ administration, including HPD Commissioner Carrión. Their projects focused on solutions to their chosen topics of affordable housing, transportation, and sustainability & resiliency.

Shepherded by DCP’s recently created Community Planning and Engagement division, which is dedicated to putting communities at the forefront of planning conversations about the future of their neighborhoods, the youth engagement curriculum included around 70 students split between three classes. Two of them were jointly led by DCP and MSHS223 staff while the third was led by the school’s teachers – all three using the same curriculum DCP co-created with the teachers. All graduating students received a certificate of Youth Engagement – Urban Planning Pilot Program.

Lara Merida, Senior Director of Community Planning and Civic Engagement at DCP, listens to students speak about their ideas for affordable housing - part of The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology's youth engagement curriculum.

“Congratulations to all the high school seniors of The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology MSHS 223 who successfully completed the Department of City Planning’s youth engagement curriculum course,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “When you involve our youth at an early age in real-world projects and developments that address sustainability, transportation, and affordable housing, they are not only becoming informed citizens but are also more equipped to support their communities. I want to thank Department of City Planning Director Dan Garodnick and his team of planners, human resource experts, and urban designers along with staff from The Laboratory School for their collective work in creating this amazing opportunity for our teens.”

“Congratulations to the 70 high school seniors from the Laboratory School of Finance and Technology in the Bronx on graduating from the NYC Department of City Planning’s youth engagement curriculum course,” said Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15). “It is so important to prepare the next generation to have the advocacy and leadership skills needed to make change and give voice to the concerns of their neighbors and communities. I’m so excited to see what these accomplished young adults and emerging civic leaders will do next with all they’ve learned through the course!”

“In a city of almost 9 million people, New York City is constantly evolving as it plans for a future that is more resilient and sustainable for all,” said Council Member Rafael Salamanca, 17th Council District and Chair of the Committee on Land Use. “In planning for the future, we cannot forget who it is that we are actually planning for; our youngest New Yorkers. Thanks to the Department of City Planning’s Youth Engagement Curriculum, New York City is taking planning directly to our next generation of leaders and decision-makers. By involving our youth, we are creating an intergenerational dialogue and understanding of what is important for a more prosperous city.”

“CUNY Bronx Community College is where my professional journey began, and has since led me on a path to serve my community, centering the social impact of the urban environment. Now, with this immersive program, our students are applying the lessons they are learning in real time. Preparing our young people to become civic leaders and advocates in their communities is the path forward for our great city,” said Council Member Pierina Sanchez.

Now in its second year, the eight-week curriculum began on February 6, 2023, and was structured to build students’ advocacy skills and elevate their voices and ideas on what their neighborhood needs. The course featured planners and urban designers as well as teachers from The Laboratory School who comprise the Government Team; and included input from City agencies with deep expertise in housing, parks, economic development, and many more issues.

All three classes heard from guest speakers, including Borough President Gibson, and went on site visits, including to the Bankside development on the Harlem River Waterfront, the Bronx River House, and a section of the Cross Bronx Expressway.

The first year of the program focused on issues related to affordable housing, St. Mary’s Park, and safety at and around the future borough-based jail coming to their community.

DCP’s Community Planning and Engagement division is looking for opportunities to expand the program to other schools as well.

Department of City Planning
The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City’s 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.