The Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth (BBAY) has recently highlighted its latest efforts to support and engage the youth of Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park in their December quarterly newsletter. Among the key updates, BBAY has announced its search for new Youth Directors to join their Board, an initiative that permits young people to actively participate and influence the organization's direction. Interested individuals from the local areas are encouraged to apply for the stipended position by December 18th. More details about the role and the application process can be found on the BBAY website, as mentioned in their newsletter.
In continued efforts to address and improve Black youth mental health, BBAY has successfully concluded its first three years of the 'Reimagine' program and has now begun implementing the 'Communities That Care' model over the next five years, intended to deepen prevention work around substance use, mental health, and protective factors. As part of this program, BBAY has managed to secure multi-year funding from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and new philanthropic partners. They also onboarded key leaders, hired five new youth interns, and are currently working on packaging a "Safety Online" digital wellbeing curriculum for schools and families.
Focusing on the empowerment of young individuals, the 'Elevate Youth!' initiative has made a strong return into local schools with an aim to foster a sense of belonging, leadership, and joy in learning. The newsletter states that Stephany Aguirre-Lopez has joined the BBAY team as the Culturally Responsive Tutoring (CRT) Coordinator, signaling an expansion and refinement of the program; BBAY is also actively recruiting part-time Lead Adult Tutors.
Moreover, the Youth OnBoard (YOB) initiative is gaining momentum, with students increasingly participating in decisions that affect their communities. An Open House is set to take place on December 12th to celebrate the contribution of youth leaders and to build connections with community partners. Information regarding event registration can be found through a link provided in the BBAY newsletter.
