The Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth (BBAY) has been actively involved in spearheading various initiatives to support young individuals, as detailed in City of Brooklyn Park bulletin. According to the information provided by the alliance, the "Reimagine Black Youth Mental Health" project has taken significant strides in educating youth about the importance of social media safety through workshops at multiple sites including BCMS, BCHS, and Park Center HS. Students have been engaging in this initiative by creating various forms of media content which is slated to expand in 2025, and interested parties can stay informed by subscribing to their newsletter.
In an effort to enhance educational support, BBAY has introduced the "Elevate Youth!" program, bringing onboard new staff such as Haley Vien as CRT Coordinator, Mitch Vosejpka as Youth OnBoard Coordinator, and Akin Tunmbi as an MSW intern from Augsburg, with the programs being deployed at four different school sites which include Cooper HS, Brooklyn Center HS, Park Center HS, and Champlin Park High School, these initiatives have been designed to run through spring summer, and fall of the next year. Meanwhile, the organization's Youth Data Squad has engaged in a Youth-led Participatory Action Research (YPAR) approach through a comprehensive summer survey to better grasp youth perspectives on wellbeing and safety, with the intention to further this research and share findings throughout 2025.
The "Free College Campaign" has also been a frontline endeavor, striving to deliver on the promise of tuition-free college for eligible Minnesota residents; outreach efforts have culminated in the production of informative videos in three languages—English, Spanish, and Hmong—now available for download on BBAY's website and social media platforms, as the BBAY continues its commitment to responding to the career and college pathway needs of young people.
Looking forward to the approaching year, the BBAY expresses gratitude toward its youth participants and partners, acknowledging the pivotal role they play in driving systemic change and culture shift within the community, with a particular emphasis on being "responsive to the needs of young people"; the alliance reaffirms its dedication to building a high-quality, accessible system brimming with opportunities for youth in 2025.
