THE MOVEMENT The Movement Mobilization Public Education The Act Youth in the Movement Download the YIM Flyer! Front / Back For Immediate Release: February 2, 2006 New York City Youth Gear Up For a Year of Advocacy and Activism - New York City’s youth stand for justice for children and the poor through Youth in the Movement to Leave No Child® Behind Download Release.

No mobilization can be successful without Youth. Since 2002, CDF-NY’s Youth in the Movement to Leave No Child Behind engages youth and staff from a variety of youth programs, including after-school, faith-based, child welfare, juvenile justice, job training and high schools so they can become social justice agents and advocates for themselves and their peers, to improve the lives of children. Because youth voices often go unheard and are left out of important conversations that directly impact their lives, CDF-NY trains the youth and offers them the unique opportunity to have their voices heard loud and clear by public officials. These young people are able to influence public policy by raising awareness among legislators about issues affecting them in New York.

The Movement allows young people to work on the frontline to educate their peers, families and legislators about the importance of improving the well-being of children. It promotes collaboration among youth from different areas in New York and sometimes around the country, and provides a forum for them to share their experiences and best practices with each other and their staff members. At the same time, young people are becoming familiar with public policy and advocacy while discovering where they fit in the bigger picture and how to effect change for themselves. In addition to networking with each other, youth in the movement provides young people with the opportunity to travel to City Hall, the State Capital and the Nation's Capital to meet with their Senators and Representatives. These experiences allow our future leaders to sharpen their communications, critical thinking and social skills — vital for the successful passage to adulthood. This year, CDF-NY will extend its efforts to engage the youth in CDF-NY’s benefits outreach projects, SPROUT.

Youth in the Movement to Leave No Child Behindis helping youth, 11-25 years of age, to become informed citizens who are empowered to effect change for their futures.

For more information on Youth in the Movement to Leave No Child Behind or to schedule a presentation in your community on the Dodd-Miller Act to Leave No Child Behind (H.R. 936/S. 448), contact Sandy Trujillo at strujillo@cdfny.org or 212.697.2323. To learn more about the Movement, you may also visit www.childrensdefense.org.