Hundreds of Brooklyn high school students gathered at Brooklyn Borough Hall on May 2 for the first “Summit to Success,” where they learned about personal growth, mental well-being, and essential life skills, gaining tools to help them succeed.
The event, focused on teen wisdom and wellness, was organized by Brooklyn Borough Hall’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC), a platform that amplifies youth priorities across the borough. Led by YAC and the Sadie Nash Leadership Project, and in partnership with Brooklyn North and Brooklyn South high schools, students are learning to organize around causes that matter to them and develop policy-based solutions.
YAC co-chairs Rukshona Melisova, 17, and Long Huyjiang, 16, hoped the Teen Summit would empower participants.
“This is one of the few events where students actually are here to be inspired,” Huyjiang said. “I want them to take that inspiration [and] turn that into action.”
Melisova emphasized the importance of YAC for Brooklyn’s diverse student body.
“The YAC is made up of 20 different students from different areas around Brooklyn, north and south,” Melisova said. “We get to hear everyone’s perspective, and you can make a more impactful change than just working with your principal or the superintendent.”
The interactive workshops covered topics such as building healthy relationships, financial readiness, academic and career networking, civic engagement, and self-care and emotional wellness, all led by community organizations focused on youth empowerment.
Shannon Dressler, a licensed therapist, and her dog Sandy were among four teams from the Good Dog Foundation teaching students about the healing power of therapy puppies.
Dressler told Brooklyn Paper that incorporating mental health into the event underscored the importance of mental well-being.
“It shows the importance of this topic, and the organizers understand the importance of [mental health] and break down the stigma,” Dressler said.
It Takes A Village Academy students Kamila and Fatomata told Brooklyn Paper it was an “exciting” experience to be around the dogs.
“I couldn’t stop smiling,” Kamila said. “Even when you’re having a sad day, the dog is always gonna be here for you. Unlike some people, they can go away and leave you, but your dog is always here to make you smile and make you feel happy.”
Fatomata added, “Dogs can be your partner. They make you happy, and they’re gonna be at your side even if you’re sad.”
Other workshops focused on building healthy relationships, hosted by the Dinner Table Documentary, while Planned Parenthood of Greater New York taught students to identify the red flags of unhealthy relationships and what a healthy partnership looks like. Students showcased their creativity at a “Sip & Paint” art workshop hosted by Brooklyn Community Arts & Media High School, and the Noble Touch Holistic Healing Center provided teens with strategies for emotional resilience.
Cypress Hill Collegiate Prep students Felina, Puran, Michaela, and Haley attended a financial literacy workshop hosted by Syclus Inc., a nonprofit focused on increasing financial literacy among underresourced Black and Brown youth through hip-hop culture.
They told Brooklyn Paper they planned to share their newfound knowledge with their fellow students, noting that financial literacy isn’t taught in public schools and many students in underserved communities lack access to economic education.
“Once you learn how to deal with money, you can escape those situations, and you’ll get standing on life, and you’ll be given a head start,” Haley said.
Syclus owner Steven Crowell, also known as Skip, told Brooklyn Paper that his workshop focused on the “money mindset,” which includes understanding how money works, the value of money, and how to make smart financial decisions and build wealth.
“Syclus is a youth development platform that utilizes financial literacy to create future leaders so they can be productive and active citizens and thrive,” Crowell said. “You need all these life skills, including financial literacy, to control your financial future.”
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso initiated the YAC because, too often, the concerns of young people are overlooked, and the YAC provides them with a voice.
“When we invest in our students, we invest in the future of Brooklyn,” he said. “This summit was about creating space for Brooklyn’s rising leaders to learn valuable skills, build community, and empower one another as they champion the change they want to see in our borough and city.”
