Disconnected Youth Deep Dive

Sunday, June 10th 1 to 5 pm

What we know about the Disconnected Youth in Little Rock:

There are 26,900 14-24 year olds in Little Rock and 5,499 (~20%) of them are not in school or working, according to the NSEM data team. Before NSEM can complete our Integrated Action Plan, we need to know more about this group of 5,499 young people in Little Rock.

Brother Wayne Burt opened by describing the disconnected youth in Little Rock, the lost generation of black boys.

Ken Hubbell shared that our data shows that about 90% of the young people in Little Rock, ages 14 – 24 are African-American males.

Chastity Scifres shared what the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative in Pulaski County, JDAI, has learned and is planning.

Cassandra Green, Principal at Hamilton Learning Academy along with the principal of J.A. Fair, Michael Anthony, discussed what the predicament of youth who are over age/under credit in the LRSD.

Sheila Foster, the Disproportionate Minority Contact Coordinator for Arkansas, spoke about the DMC efforts in the state and the need for more data in order to access federal funding for programs in Pulaski County.

The participants broke into six discussion groups and reported back the key takeaways from the day and recommended priority actions for LR-NSEM’s integrated action plan. (Coming soon.)