In late March, I had the pleasure of spending a day in Providence as a guest of Mayor David N. Cicilline. I came with a specific purpose: to discover more about Providence’s successful system of after-school programming, coordinated by the Providence After School Alliance (PASA), an ambitious public-private venture launched by Mayor Cicilline in June 2004 with the task of developing a comprehensive citywide system to deliver high-quality, after-school learning opportunities to Providence’s children and youth.
As PASA has developed its capabilities over the past five years, Mayor Cicilline and the city of Providence have gained national reputations as experts and advocates for all-day learning. So, wishing to enhance our already extensive network of after-school offerings for the children and youth of Albany, I thought it would be prudent to visit Providence to validate our efforts, accompanied by City School District of Albany Superintendent Dr. Eva C. Joseph, Police Chief James Tuffey and others from my administration.
Some may ask why providing all-day learning opportunities should be a priority, especially at a time when municipal resources are scarce. As every mayor knows, the hours between the end of the school day and the end of the work day are the peak hours for juvenile crimes and experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, gangs and sex. Keeping youth and the community safe have always been primary tenets of my administration, and the offering of well-structured and meaningful after-school programs can significantly contribute to the healthy development of our youth.
In addition to increasing public safety, all mayors, especially urban – city mayors, are concerned with raising the quality of public education, developing the most talented work force possible and giving citizens the best return on their tax investment. On my trip to Providence, I learned that PASA achieves all these objectives through one system by:
• Providing youth relevant hands-on learning.
• Developing career-related skills.
• Enabling parents to focus on work, knowing their children are safe.
The team from Albany was impressed at the collaborative focus on achieving measurable results for youth that has brought public and nonprofit parties together. Mayor Cicilline has called together the school superintendent, the chief of police, other city officials, after-school providers, youth, parents, business, community and nonprofit leaders, and private funders and asked them to collaborate on a plan to deliver quality, out-of-school learning opportunities to all city youth, beginning with the city’s middle school population. Under my “Kid by Kid” initiative, the city of Albany is poised to engage service providers in a similar partnership that will result in a collaboration that meets our local needs.
Mayor Cicilline and I share the core belief that youth who participate in all-day learning activities (after school hours) on a consistent basis benefit socially, emotionally and academically. We believe that if we give young people access to a wide variety of enriching activities and the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with peers and adults, they are more likely to attend school, receive good grades, have a positive self-image and avoid harmful behaviors.
In short, an investment in quality all-day learning is an investment in the citizens of the future. What is occurring in Providence is also happening in Albany. Our array of after-school opportunities is both rich and diverse and our collaborative efforts will continue to grow.
I wish to publicly thank Mayor Cicilline, Executive Director of PASA Hillary Salmons and all the dedicated staff, program providers and representatives from the city of Providence with whom I had the privilege of meeting in your great city that March day. This kind of innovative programming is making a positive difference for our children and our communities. PASA is a model program not only for Providence but also for cities throughout America. •
Gerald D. Jennings is the mayor of Albany, N.Y.
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I am a resident of Albany, NY. Over the past 16 years of Mayor Jennings’ administration we have seen higher levels of youth violence and gang activity, a lack of coordination of after-school programs, significantly increased numbers of abandoned homes and buildings, a decline in population, a high poverty rate for children, and a general unwillingness of the city administration to truly engage in collaboration with the school district or the community. Therefore, it is puzzling to see Mayor Jennings, currently facing a tough re-election campaign, suddenly see the light in regard to these issues.
It does sound as if the Providence after-school programs have been very effective and successful, and that is great.
I hope Albany is able to move forward in this direction as well, but, based on the track record of our current administration, I am not optimistic.
A little rhyme inspired by Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings’ recent visit to Providence. Mayor Jennings is known in Albany for his hairstyle and deep and perpetual tan. And also for his enthusiastic and unflagging boosterism of our state Capital.
I attended Providence College from 1971 to 1973 and resided off campus at 271 Douglas Avenue above the former Armenian-American Club, now something of a Starbucks. I’m also a friend and admirer of former RISP Superintendent and fellow poet Col. Ed Culhane.
O, PROVIDENCE
Ah, Providence, a lovely town. I once did call it home.
I lived right in the shadow of the Capitol’s marble dome.
In those days, though, the city was not quite the place of show.
The whole downtown was nothing but a great big bleak skid row.
So what was it that turned around this sad and dreary ruin
Where Patriarcha ruled the roost and the mob did all the doin’?
The answer is quite simple. The story plain, not fancy.
They elected as their Mayor a guy with funky hair — Cianci.
Right away did Buddy roll his sleeves up and get busy.
Soon was cutting ribbons and raising toasts of Champaign fizzy.
Joan Rivers would have died to get the facelift Buddy got
That turned the old town from a dive to a touristy hot spot.
But all of this improvement came not without its price.
Buddy and his cronies were not without their vice.
The stories of bribes and kickbacks fill many a true crime tome
That tell the tale of how the feds uncovered Plunderdome.
So where did Buddy end up? What fate befell our man?
Let’s put it this way: Where he’s at, he will not get a tan.
Terry O’Neill, Esq.
Albany, NY
http://www.constantine-institute.org
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