Let's make youth our top priority in 2025!

This discussion topic was requested by Council member Thom Druffel. Please find below the text of a letter CM Druffel has sent to Mayor O'Connell and Vice Mayor Henderson: 

RE: Let's make youth our top priority in 2025!

Mayor O'Connell and Vice Mayor Henderson,

We see and hear, almost daily, of the violence committed in our youth community.  The events in Bellevue are only the most recent.  The consequences to our youth, and their families, are catastrophic. The lost futures are incalculable. We see the growing career opportunities in Nashville and need to match equitable pathways for our youth to those opportunities.

As Councilmember Suara said, after the shooting in Red Caboose Park, we cannot watch one more young person suffer in these dire situations.  We know the causes of violence are diverse, and solutions must also be diverse and flexible.  A youth group called “Why We Can’t Wait” reflects the urgency in solving the problem.  We need to be urgent, but it is especially important that we can provide sustainable long-term solutions. 

MNPS has worked to move the needle, and there are several Metro programs that are committed and focused on programs for our youth that include NAZA, Power Youth, MNPS, Juvenile Court, MNPD, Metro Parks, and Metro Arts. In referring to the detailed history from the past 15-20 years, (See Context & History listed below), there have been interests for youth development by each administration. However, inconsistent programs and governance models have prevented a stronger coordinated approach. Momentum gained in one administration can be lost or redirected in successive administrations. 

Councilmember and Budget Chair Porterfield did an artful and passionate job putting together funding for a department for Youth Safety in the substitute budget. It is a powerful start and is an important part of developing broader solutions. There are additional opportunities such as summer and after school programs that improve wholistic youth development and success in careers and in the classroom.

I am recommending that we expand that organizational framework to a comprehensive permanent Department of Youth Services. A permanent coordinating department of all youth services will provide sustainable strategic solutions, and that can scale against the needs of our youth for years to come. The Department of Youth Services would also be able to leverage numerous funding sources against youth programs. 

As the next step, I am recommending that we put together a transition team to form a permanent Department of Youth Services on a timeline that would include it in the 2025 budget season. Attached is a blueprint and recommended timeline. We can’t wait!

Listed below is a detailed background and context for the needed change and attached is a blueprint for moving forward.

Thom

 Detailed City Context & History

·       Child and Youth Master Plan: Established in 2010 under Mayor Dean, focuses on holistic youth outcomes including education, health, safety, and family environment.

·       Nashville After Zone Alliance (NAZA):

·       Started in 2009, coordinates afterschool and summer and mentorship (for justice-involved youth) programs citywide focusing on equitable access to positive and holistic youth development.

·       Has built centralized systems of coordination, including youth program provider portfolios, student attendance management, training and coaching for providers, data collection and sharing with the district, contracting and accountability procedures in line with Metro Finance requirements.

·       Grew from $400,000 to $5.5M city funding, benefiting 2500+ youth annually.

·       Currently operates under Nashville Public Library.

·       Opportunity NOW (ON) / Power Youth:

·       Launched in 2016 by Mayor Barry to scale youth employment.

·       Connected over 7,500 youth to employment opportunities since then.

·       Has built a centralized system of connecting youth and employers.

·       Has developed a system of youth training and onboarding, including financial literacy.

·       Transitioned to Power Youth under Mayor Cooper's administration.

·       Currently operates under Metro Action Commission.

·       Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS):

·       Offers after-school (with 21st Century funds) and youth employment programs (work-based learning) funded by federal grants.

·       Piloting work-based learning programs, aiming for district-wide expansion.

·       Metro Departments and Nonprofits:

o   Metro Parks, Metro Arts, and others collaborate on youth development and offer programming as well. Metro Parks receive funding from NAZA for 7 locations. There is a potential to grow.

o   Nonprofits offer diverse after-school and summer programs, 20 of them are funded by NAZA.

o   MNPD operates youth programs with a federal grant funding.

o   Juvenile Court offers/funds youth programs, some in partnership with NAZA.

Current problems:

1.      Too many programs, very little coordination, consistency and ability to create a strong wholistic approach. 

2.      Metro funded youth programs scattered across departments without effective coordination.

3.      Employers and youth employment opportunities lack coordination.

4.      Programming and resources are not equitably distributed as various departments use data in an uncoordinated manner.

5.      The fluctuations of city demand and supply of youth programs have created difficulty planning a coordinated approach.

Existing Assets

·       Business Plan for Youth Career Exploration: Created in 2023 by a task force to align youth development and career initiatives. The task force included 30 community, nonprofit, government and business leaders. The plan reviewed research, peer city programs, best practices in 6 key areas with specific recommendations.

·       Vision for Holistic Youth Development: In 2018-2020, NAZA and Vanderbilt co-led a research project with a stakeholder task force, culminating in the development of Nashville's Vision for Holistic Youth Development. This framework guides youth outcomes in the out-of-school time space.

·       Industry Support: Nashville has a strong diverse group of industries that can provide invaluable career training and support. The Pencil Foundation has over 750 partners already engaged in career support for our MNPS students. 

·       Colleges and skill programs: Nashville State, TCAT and programs such as Music City 3 provide the next level of opportunities to train and develop careers for our youth.

·       Legislative base: The Office of Homeless Services model can be replicated to create an entity to coordinate and govern youth initiatives in the city.

Please find more information at the following link: Youth Recommendations