Last Tuesday, young adults from across New York City gathered in Manhattan for JobsFirst NYC’s second annual Youth Day in NYC convening, a day designed to put young people at the center of civic engagement, empowering the next generation of leaders to turn their lived experiences into actionable strategies
The goal was simple: help young New Yorkers understand how decisions get made and where they can step in to make their voices heard.
The day began on the steps of City Hall before moving inside to the chambers where policies are debated and the city budget is approved. There, participants met with New York City Council Members Virginia Maloney and Selvena Brooks-Powers.
We Have a Few Questions…
The conversations were direct and unfiltered. Young people asked what many communities are thinking but don’t always get answers to:
- How do we get elected officials to really listen to our neighborhoods?
- When communities raise concerns about housing, schools, and resources, what happens next?
- How do you actually navigate city government to secure funding for programs that support young people?
- How do you find and secure careers in local government?
- The exchange was honest and grounded. It reflected something that came up throughout the day — young people are paying attention, and they are ready to be part of the process.
Council Member Virginia Maloney
Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers
Words of Wisdom: Insights from NYC’s Trailblazers
Attendees also stepped into powerhouse conversations with city leaders working at the intersection of civic engagement, policy, and career development. Key insights came straight from the frontlines:
- Democracy & Funding: Dr. Sarah Sayeed (Civic Engagement Commission) highlighted the direct link between youth participation and how city dollars are spent in local neighborhoods.
- Advocacy in Action: Garrett DeGraffenreid (STRIVE) shared actionable blueprints for turning big ideas into lasting policy changes and real-world opportunities.
- Career Pathways: Doug Lipari (NYC Talent and Workforce Development) opened the playbook on accessing New York City’s public workforce system and landing meaningful careers.
Dr. Sarah Sayeed
Garrett DeGraffenreid
Doug Lipari
The Afternoon Shift: From Spoken Word to Civic Action
Marjorie Parker, President and CEO of JobsFirst and JobsFirst NYC
As the day progressed, the focus shifted from policy and systems to storytelling and lived experience. Marjorie Parker, President and CEO of JobsFirst and JobsFirst NYC set the tone for the afternoon, reminding the room of the stakes at hand:
“Policy shapes everything from your schools and public transit to jobs, housing, and mental health support. It is where the rules are written. Understanding how policy is created means recognizing that you, your experiences and your ideas, have the power to shape better outcomes for your communities.”
Kai Diata Giovanni, 2025 New York City Youth Poet Laureate, delivered a stirring spoken word performance that captured the hope, determination and resilience of young New Yorkers, serving as a powerful reminder that art itself is a form of civic power.
Building on that energy, climate justice activist Daphne Frias took to the stage to discuss organizing and coalition-building. She emphasized how movements grow stronger when issues like disability justice, environmental justice, and economic mobility are connected rather than separated.
Building on that energy, climate justice activist Daphne Frias took to the stage to discuss organizing and coalition-building. She emphasized how movements grow stronger when issues like disability justice, environmental justice, and economic mobility are connected rather than separated.
The Civic Engagement Commission’s Hillary Carelli-Donnell and Akwasi Agyeman also led a workshop on The People’s Money, New York City’s participatory budgeting initiative. Participants learned how residents can directly influence how public dollars are spent and where investments are made in their neighborhoods. Young people and chaperones were encouraged to explore the process and vote on community projects through participate.nyc.gov.
The Momentum Continues
Looking back, the steps of City Hall were just the beginning. The fierce questions asked, the frameworks shared by our speakers, and the community built between these partner organizations are all building toward something much larger.
As one participant, Keshawn Lamazon, put it, “It was a great experience engaging in real discussions about leadership, civic engagement, and building real civil service career pathways for the next generation of leaders shaping NYC’s infrastructure.”
On July 30, some of these same young leaders and hundreds of their peers will take the main stage at the NYU Kimmel Center for JobsFirstNYC’s annual Adapting to the Future of Work: Movement by Design convening. During this dedicated Young Adult Day, the conversations ignited at City Hall will translate into full-scale action, featuring an AI futurist plenary, professional development labs, and our live social impact Pitch Competition. Our youth have looked city leadership in the eye and proved they are ready to lead. This summer, we are handing them the mic, the stage, and the capital to design exactly what comes next.
Special thanks to the NYC Talent and Workforce Development Team for co-planning the day’s events, the Department of Youth and Community Development for allowing us to use their space, and a huge shout-out to Mary Beth, our amazing City Hall tour guide!