Staten Island youth forum addresses trauma, violence and screen addiction – SILive.com

Multi-Sectoral Forum Addresses Youth Development and Sustainable Development Goals in Staten Island

A youth forum was convened at the Gerard Carter Center in Stapleton, uniting community organizations, local leaders, and youth to address challenges and opportunities. The event, led by a coalition of local non-profits and city departments, focused on strategies aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning education, health, economic opportunity, and community safety.

Aligning Education with SDG 4: Quality Education

The keynote address by Superintendent Dr. Roderick Palton of District 31 underscored the critical role of education in achieving sustainable development. He detailed the district’s strategic initiatives designed to provide inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, directly supporting SDG 4.

• Foundational Skills: Emphasis was placed on building strong foundational skills through a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), ensuring no student is left behind.
• Career Pathways: The expansion of programs, including teaching and business pathways, aims to equip youth with relevant skills for future employment, contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• Relational Support: Dr. Palton highlighted the importance of strong relationships inside and outside the classroom as essential for student success and well-being, a core component of a supportive learning environment.

Addressing Community Challenges through SDGs 3, 11, and 16

A panel of representatives from local organizations discussed significant barriers to youth development, framing them as challenges to achieving key SDGs.

1. Health and Well-being (SDG 3): Panelists identified youth trauma, emotional management difficulties linked to excessive screen time, and the need for greater mental health support as urgent issues impacting community well-being.
2. Safe and Sustainable Communities (SDG 11): The impact of community violence was cited as a major obstacle to creating safe, inclusive, and resilient neighborhoods for young people.
3. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16): The discussion highlighted the need to address the root causes of violence and provide adequate support systems to foster peaceful and inclusive societies.

Organizational responses include therapeutic opportunities, art competitions to reduce screen time, and school visits to inform students about career options, all contributing to these interconnected goals.

Fostering Youth Empowerment and Economic Opportunity (SDG 8)

The panel addressed the gap between available opportunities and youth awareness, emphasizing the need to empower young people to take active community roles. This aligns with SDG 8 by promoting productive employment and decent work for all.

• Youth Employment Programs: The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and an evening program at McKee High School were highlighted as key initiatives that provide youth with valuable work experience and compensation.
• Leadership Development: A central theme was the importance of empowering youth to lead community efforts, thereby building human capital and fostering civic engagement.

Strategic Collaborations: A Model for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

The forum itself, and the initiatives discussed, exemplified SDG 17 by showcasing robust partnerships between schools, non-profits, and government agencies to achieve sustainable development objectives.

• School-Community Integration: On Your Mark detailed its direct work with schools to connect students and families to programs that guide future planning.
• Public Safety Partnerships: The NYC Office of Neighborhood Safety reported on its restructured youth management services and expanded violence intervention and safe passage programs in schools, demonstrating a multi-stakeholder approach to ensuring student safety (SDG 11 & 16).

Future Initiatives to Advance Local SDG Implementation

Panelists outlined several upcoming initiatives aimed at furthering progress on the SDGs in 2026.

• Violence Reduction (SDG 16): A roundtable of four partner organizations will coordinate crisis response, and a data analysis collaboration will examine the root causes of community violence.
• Community Infrastructure (SDG 11 & SDG 3): A new campus at St. Peter & St. Paul’s Elementary School will include a public recreation area with a walking path and pool to promote community health and well-being.
• Education and Well-being (SDG 4 & SDG 3): New after-school enrichment programs, a youth-focused podcast, and specialized mental health first aid training for youth will be launched to enhance educational outcomes and emotional well-being.

Future forums and long-term community needs assessments are planned to ensure these efforts remain responsive to the evolving needs of Staten Island’s youth and continue to advance the local implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights several issues facing youth on Staten Island, which connect to multiple Sustainable Development Goals. The analysis identifies the following SDGs as relevant:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article explicitly discusses the mental and emotional health of young people, mentioning challenges like overcoming trauma, managing emotions, and the impact of community violence. Initiatives like providing mental health resources and first aid training directly address this goal.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The focus on providing students with “foundational skills,” creating “teaching and business pathways,” and offering “after-school enrichment programs” connects directly to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article mentions programs designed to prepare youth for future opportunities and employment. The “Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)” is cited as a specific initiative to engage and compensate young people, which aligns with promoting productive employment for youth.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The discussions around community safety, violence intervention programs, and the creation of safe public spaces are central to this goal. The article mentions “safe passage programs” in schools and plans for a “public recreation area with a walking path, pool, and pavilion,” which contribute to making communities safer and more inclusive.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article addresses the need to reduce community violence and give young people a voice in community matters. Efforts to analyze shootings, implement violence intervention programs, and hold youth forums for dialogue are directly related to promoting peaceful and inclusive societies.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The entire event described in the article is a testament to this goal. It was organized by a coalition of community organizations, public departments, and local leaders. The text repeatedly emphasizes collaboration “with schools, families, and community stakeholders” to support youth.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the initiatives and discussions mentioned in the article, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 3.4: “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.” The article’s focus on youth trauma, managing emotions, and providing “mental health first aid training” and “therapeutic opportunities” directly supports the promotion of mental health and well-being.
2. Target 4.4: “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.” The district’s strategies to provide “foundational skills” and create “teaching and business pathways” are aimed at equipping students with relevant skills for their future careers.
3. Target 8.6: “By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.” The mention of the “Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)” is a direct effort to address this target by providing young people with work experience and reducing the number of youth not in employment or training during the summer.
4. Target 11.7: “By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces…” The plan to build a new campus with a “public recreation area with a walking path, pool, and pavilion” is a concrete action toward achieving this target.
5. Target 16.1: “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.” The initiatives to expand “violence intervention and safe passage programs” and the collaboration to analyze “shootings over time to address the root causes of community violence” are directly aimed at reducing violence.
6. Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The youth forum itself, organized by a large group of diverse organizations including non-profits, community centers, and city departments, is a clear example of such a partnership in action.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• For Target 3.4: Progress can be measured by the number of young people who receive “mental health first aid training” and the utilization rates of the “therapeutic opportunities” and mental health resources provided by the organizations.
• For Target 4.4: An indicator would be the number of students enrolled in the “teaching and business pathways” and other expanded programs designed to provide foundational and vocational skills.
• For Target 8.6: A direct indicator mentioned is the number of participants in the “Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP).” This provides a clear metric for youth engagement in employment initiatives.
• For Target 11.7: Progress can be measured by the completion and public opening of the “public recreation area with a walking path, pool, and pavilion.” The usage of this new facility by the community would be a subsequent indicator of success.
• For Target 16.1: The article implies that progress would be measured by analyzing data on “shootings over time.” A reduction in these incidents would be a key indicator. Another is the number of schools covered by the expanded “violence intervention and safe passage programs.”
• For Target 17.17: The number of active partnerships and collaborative projects, such as the “roundtable bringing together four partner organizations,” serves as an indicator of the strength and effectiveness of these multi-stakeholder collaborations.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: silive.com