“Conversation with the Candidates” – A Powerful Youth Forum Held at the Schomburg By Pat Stevenson

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The Community Initiatives of NY (TCIONY) presented Conversation with the Candidates, a dynamic youth forum that connected New York City’s mayoral candidates with the young leaders of today. This impactful event took place on January 10, 2025, at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
This groundbreaking event, part of TCIONY’s mission to empower marginalized and underserved youth, offers young people across New York City the opportunity to engage directly with civic leaders and shape the future of their communities. Building on the success of last year’s Conversation with the Commissioners, which featured eight top NYC commissioners and over 500 youth participants, this year’s forum focused on the upcoming 2025 New York City mayoral election.
The forum included NYC Comptroller Brad Lander (D),  NY State Senator Jessica Ramos (D), NY State Senator Zellnor Myrie (D), and NY State Assembly Member Zohn Mamdani (D). Darren Aquino (R) sent a 22-year old youth representative from his campaign.
Young people from all five boroughs participated in meaningful dialogue with these influential leaders, discussing topics such as the role of youth in decisions going forward, public safety, education, housing, and economic development. This event provided a rare platform for youth voices to be heard and for civic leaders to gain insights into the issues that matter most to the next generation.
TCIONY is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering marginalized and underserved youth across New York City. Through programs like Teaching A Generation (T.A.G.), TCIONY provides training, resources, and platforms for young people to thrive in education, the arts, and civic engagement.