Nicole McClain
The recent violent events that have taken young men away from their families too soon are evidence of a need to invest in outreach to our teens and young adults as a city, with support and resources that will provide them a pathway to a successful future.
We are a city of more than 100,000 people. 26.3% are young people and that number may be low. I dedicated my career to developing and caring for youth in this city. I have family members that are raising their children here, and a granddaughter that will be spending time with me in this city. I care deeply about our youth and their futures.
It’s true that the City of Lynn has youth programming and Early Education services. The city’s Parks and Recreation department organizes various youth activities throughout the year and valuable summer jobs for youth are provided. The Boys and Girls Club, Girls Inc, RAW Art Works, ROCA, LYSOA, Lynn Y, and many other organizations reach out to our youth with activities that enrich their lives, keep them away from negative influences, and provide them with resources that will ensure a brighter future.
These programs are wonderful on their own, but are not collaborative with each other. Some youth are being served, but other teens are falling through the cracks, and finding themselves in situations that may destroy their lives and ruin the lives of others. Our city has also been categorized as a child-care desert, meaning early-education options available to Lynn families are inadequate. We need to look for solutions to enable Lynn’s youth to successfully transition into adulthood with less adversity.
A coordinating organization is needed to identify at-risk youth, and provide them with effective services to help change their lives.
This is why I am meeting with leaders of organizations that currently serve our youth to create a Council on Adolescents. This council will be a support for the youth of Lynn, connecting them with the process of local government, and aiding in the transition to adulthood. The vision is to have a mentoring program staffed by volunteers, a health component, parenting resources for young parents, and an outreach/marketing coordinator.
This council should be able to direct our youth to resources, events, and activities happening in the city as well as organize its own offerings:
- Our youth services need to be easily accessible, well marketed, and city-funded.
- We need to educate our youth on the consequences of drug use, gang affiliation, and early teen pregnancy
- Our youth need to learn about becoming civically engaged. They need to know the makeup of our city government, how it works, and how to advocate for themselves and others. Our youth need to know that they can make a difference.
- Solutions to increase the affordability and number of early-education options available in our city need to be explored
- Financial literacy, resume writing, and career and enrichment services for our youth should be offered citywide.
Let’s come together to bring this vision to life! Our incredible youth, our most valuable asset, have so much potential and can accomplish anything with our support.
Nicole McClain is a councilor-at-large for the City of Lynn.