NEWPORT NEWS — Government, civic and business leaders held a press conference Monday to announce the city’s investments in youth initiatives, including two revitalization programs focused on safe recreation and career exploration opportunities. emphasized.
The city has allocated more than $1 billion for youth engagement in the 2024 and 2025 operating and capital improvement budgets. Mayor Philip Jones said this also includes funding for services such as recreation centers, schools and mental health resources.
“Our youth are at the heart of Newport News, and I believe strongly in the importance and power of youth engagement,” Jones said at the speech held outside the Riverside College of Health Careers. mentioned at the conference. He called the roughly $500 million in funding for this fiscal year and 2025 each “unprecedented.”
The city has dubbed the initiative “Youth THRIVE,” with a focus on changing hearts, renewing investment, and empowerment.
Among the programs Jones highlighted was Friday Night Nets, a 3×3 basketball league held at the Denbigh Community Center and Achievable Dreams Tennis Center. The program began a few weeks ago and will continue until late August. The program is open to children ages 12 and older, and the event will feature free food, haircuts, and other resources.
Ivy Baptist Church Pastor Kevin Swan said his church is helping transport children to and from the program. He said he often speaks with teens who complain about having nothing to do on Friday nights. This program fills that need. Mr Swann said the program could also be named ‘The Return of the Village’.
“That’s what our youth need. A village where they can find adults, adults who care about them, wish them well and want to see them succeed.”
The city also revived its youth career program, which partners with various companies to provide jobs. The city will pay the workers $15 an hour, and the companies will provide education and training opportunities. Partner organizations include Riverside Health System and Newport News Shipbuilding.
Riverside’s Jennifer Singh said the health system is designing shadowing and educational experiences to give participants “insight on how to build a career and financial future.” These programs will show that not all medical jobs are about direct patient care, and will include paths that don’t require years of college education.
Newport News Shipyard’s Xavier Beer said he plans to hire 19,000 workers over the next 10 years. Youth Careers is encouraging more people to stay in the city as part of his involvement in the program.
The two programs cost approximately $2.2 million.
Noor Habib, nour.habib@virginiamedia.com
