Senator Rachel May Hosts Second Annual State of the Youth Rally Via Facebook Live

Syracuse, NY - Thursday, Senator May (D-Onondaga, Madison, Oneida) hosted the second annual State of the Youth rally via Facebook Live with Community Partnership V.O.I.C.E. (Violence Overcome by Involving Community Effort) and Healthcare Education Project Syracuse. 

This year’s rally was designed as a platform for students to discuss the challenges they are facing during the COVID-19 outbreak, and to learn about resources that are available to them in the community. They were joined by respected members of the community. Along with Senator May, the panel included Bishop Colette Matthews-Carter, actor and SCSD/SU grad Dexter McKinney, Dunbar Center Executive Director Karla Green, Reverend Kathy Hodge-Davis, motivational speaker George J. Lynch, motivational speaker Twan Gyder, Senator May’s Director of Community Outreach Nodesia Hernandez, SUNY Stony Brook student Michael White, 10th grader at Nottingham Martine Dosa, 11th grader at Syracuse Academy of Science Sarhia Rahim, 11th grader at Nottingham Asmita Bhattarai, and 12th grader at Syracuse Academy of Science Niara Mcintrye. 

There were 57 students registered on the Zoom call and an additional 1,300+ views on the Facebook Live feed. The student panelists discussed some of the challenges and disappointments they are facing with school and family life, as well as some of the positives they are trying to take away from the experience. 

“This is a very difficult time for all of us, but especially for our students,” said Senator May. “It was important for me, and the other community members, to hear from our young people about what they are experiencing so that we can try to find ways to help them overcome. It is important that we are teaching our young people empathy and compassion, while also teaching the importance of self-care. As community leaders, we should take the experiences these students face -- technological divides, increased incidents of racism, the loss of important experiences -- and work to help them process through them and feel supported. As a community it is all of our responsibilities to join together for the betterment of our young people.”

You can watch the full Youth Rally at this link: https://www.facebook.com/hepsyracuse/videos/253113419238490/UzpfSTcyODE1MDA2NzU2OTY3MDoxMDg1OTUxODAxNzg5NDkz/

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