[ THEME MUSIC ] WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M DAN CLARK.

ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER UPDATE ON THE STATE'S MIGRANT CRISIS.

AS A REMINDER, MORE THAN 110,000 IMMIGRANTS SEEKING ASYLUM HAVE ARRIVED IN NEW YORK CITY OVER THE PAST 14 MONTHS.

THAT'S OVERWHELMED CITY SHELTERS AND SERVICES AND LED TO WARNINGS FROM NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS ABOUT THE CITY'S FINANCIAL STABILITY.

AS WE TOLD YOU, PROGRESS ON MANAGING THAT CRISIS HAS BEEN SLOW WITH A LOT OF FINGERPOINTING AND PLACING BLAME, BUT THIS WEEK, WE FINALLY SAW AN UPDATE.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AGREED THIS WEEK TO GRANT TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VENEZUELANS ALREADY IN THE COUNTRY THAT WILL ALLOW MORE OF THOSE MIGRANTS TO GET JOBS AND PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES RATHER THAN WAITING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP THEM OUT.

ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR KATHIE HOCHUL, THAT'S ABOUT 40% OF THE STATE'S CURRENT LOAD OF ASYLUM SEEKERS.

SHE MET THIS WEEK WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN IN NEW YORK CITY.

WE ARE A COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY BUT WE ALSO HAVE LIMITATIONS ON WHAT WE CAN DO AND WE HAVE TO FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE AND IF THESE PEOPLE COULD WORK AND THEY COULD TAKE SOME OF THOSE VERY OPEN JOBS IN PIZZERIAS AND DELIVERY IN HEALTH CARE ON STATEN ISLAND, I THINK THERE WILL BE A CHANGE IN ATTITUDE BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ANSWER TO A PROBLEM.

THAT'S WHAT I'M WORKING SO HARD WITH THE WHITE HOUSE TO ACHIEVE, LET THEM WORK.

BACK IN D.C.

MEANWHILE, HOUSE REPUBLICANS HELD A HEARING ON IMMIGRATION POLICY WHERE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL MINORITY LEADER, JOE BORELLI RAILED AGAINST THE COST OF THE IMMIGRANT CRISIS, WHICH MAYOR ADAMS HAS SAID COULD COST THE CITY MORE THAN $12 BILLION BY 2025.

OVER THE NEXT YEAR ALONE, WE WILL SPEND ENOUGH MONEY TO COVER THE ENTIRE BUDGET OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

MEANING, FOR THE COST OF SHELTERING MIGRANTS, NEW YORK CITY TAXPAYERS COULD PAY TO MAN EVERY FIREHOUSE, POLICE STATION, PICK UP THE GASH AN, MAINTAIN THE WATER AND SEWERS, INSPECT THE BUILDINGS, RUN THE AIRPORT AND EVEN CUT THE GRASS IN DALLAS PARKS, A CITY OF 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THAT SITUATION.

TURNING NOW TO EDUCATION IN NEW YORK, WHICH WE'VE BEEN COVERING FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS WITH THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, AND THAT'S THE CASE FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS AS WELL.

WE'RE ABOUT A MONTH INTO THE NEW SEMESTER AND FOR SUNY CHANCELLOR JOHN KING, IT'S HIS SECOND YEAR ON THE JOB LAYING OUT HIS VISION FOR SUNY AND THE DATA SHOWS THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MAY BE NEEDED.

IN JUST THE PAST DECADE, ENROLL IN SUNY SCHOOLS HAS GONE DOWN BY ABOUT 24% ACCORDING TO STATE DATA.

BUT THIS YEAR, SUNY HAS SOME NEW IDEAS TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO ENROLL AND FINISH A DEGREE PROGRAM.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S THE FIRST YEAR THAT COLLEGES HAVEN'T BEEN ALLOWED TO CONSIDER RACE AS A FACTOR IN ADMISSIONS AFTER THE U.S. SUPREME COURT BANNED THAT PRACTICE EARLIER THIS YEAR.

SO FOR SUNY, RIGHT NOW IS AN INFLECTION POINT BETWEEN THE SUNY THAT WAS AND THE SUNY THAT WILL BE UNDER CHANCELLOR KING.

WE SPOKE IN THE STUDIO ABOUT ALL OF THAT AND MORE.

[ THEME MUSIC ] SUNY CHANCELLOR JOHN KING, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING BACK.

THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

OF COURSE, ANYTIME.

SO WE ARE A FEW WEEKS INTO THE NEW SEMESTER AT SUNY SCHOOLS.

HOW'S IT GOING?

HING IN DIFFERENT THIS YEAR THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

YEAH.

IT'S BEEN A GREAT START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR.

A LOT OF POSITIVE ENERGY.

YEAH.

WE'RE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ENROLLMENT.

WE'RE SEEING A NUMBER OF OUR SCHOOLS, SOME GROWTH IN ENROLLMENT OF NEW STUDENTS.

LOTS OF INTERESTING INITIATIVES IN AREAS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE STATE'S FUTURE.

PROGRAMS IN THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY, RENEWABLE ENERGY, LOTS OF PROGRAMS TRYING TO ADDRESS SHORTAGES IN THE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE.

OH, YEAH.

AND THEN JUST ALL THE POSITIVITY OF THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR WHEN ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THE ENROLLMENT THING.

SO SUNY HAS SEEN ENROLLMENT KIND OF DECLINE OVER THE PAST DECADE.

HOW DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

SO WE ARE SEEING MORE NEW STUDENTS COME ONBOARD?

YEAH.

WE'RE HOPEFUL.

WE WON'T HAVE FINAL NUMBERS FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS.

WE'RE GENERALLY PLEASED THAT OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS OVER THE LAST YEAR HAVE HAD AN IMPACT.

YEAH.

YOU KNOW, WE SENT LETTERS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO EVERY 12TH GRADER IN THE STATE OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY TELLING THEM THERE'S A PLACE FOR THEM AT THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE BECAUSE WE WANT ALL NEW YORKERS TO KNOW, WHETHER IT'S AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AT A FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTION, AT ONE OF OUR UNIVERSITY CENTERS AND A GRAD PROGRAM, THERE'S A PLACE FOR THEM AT SUNY.

SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT HAD AN IMPACT.

WE ALSO DID A LOT OF OUTREACH TO HIGH SCHOOLS, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS KNEW THE RANGE OF OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

THAT WE HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT ISSUE SCHOOL IF YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT CLIMATE.

WE HAVE A MARITIME SCHOOL IN THE BRONX IF YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY.

SOMETIMES STUDENTS DON'T KNOW ABOUT THOSE OPTIONS.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE FURTHER FROM HOME AND WE WANT THEM TO BE AWARE OF THOSE.

THE OTHER THING WE'RE WORKING ON IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE STUDENTS WHO START FINISH AND INVESTING IN THAT BECAUSE OF AN INVESTMENT THE GOVERNOR MADE LAST YEAR WITH THE LEGISLATURE IN A TRANSFORMATION FUND, A $75 MILLION TRANSFORMATION FUND.

WE'RE INVESTING IN WRAP-AROUND SUPPORTS, BETTER ADVISING, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, JUST-IN-TIME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHEN STUDENTS FACE A CRISIS SO WE CAN HELP STUDENTS COMPLETE OR IMPLEMENTING A PROGRAM CALLED ASAP, WHICH HAS BEEN SHOWN TO DOUBLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMPLETION RATES.

WONDERFUL.

AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING SOME GREAT RESULTS AS WE SCALE THAT ACROSS THE SYSTEM.

WHAT'S THAT PROGRAM?

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

SO ASAP WAS DEVELOPED IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

IT'S A MIX OF SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE WILLING TO GO FULL TIME TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ADVISING A PATHWAY TOWARDS A CAREER, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE IN NEW YORK CITY.

THAT MEANS THE METRO CARD.

YEAH.

AS WELL AS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHEN STUDENTS FACE SUDDEN CHALLENGES, CAR BREAKS DOWN, HAVE TO MOVE SUDDENLY, NEED BOOKS FOR THE SEMESTER AND DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES, AND AGAIN, THE PROGRAM SHOWED THESE INCREDIBLE RESULTS BECAUSE STUDENTS NEED THAT SUPPORT, BUT WITH THAT SUPPORT, THEY CAN MAKE PROGRESS TOWARDS THEIR DEGREE AND SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO SCALE THAT ACROSS 25 OF OUR CAMPUSES.

TWO-YEAR INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS.

YOU'RE REALLY COMING TOWARD THIS FROM ALL ANGLES, THE OUTREACH ANGLE REACHING OUT TO STUDENTS SAYING THERE'S A PLACE FOR YOU AT SUNY AND PROVIDING MORE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT.

DO YOU THINK THAT STRATEGY WILL GET YOU ON THE RISING ENROLLMENT TRAJECTORY THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?

THAT'S THE VISION.

THE OTHER THING WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS HELP STUDENTS MOVE FROM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THAT MIGHT BE SHORT TERM INTO DEGREE PROGRAMS.

SO WE'VE GOT ABOUT 360,000 STUDENTS IN DEGREE PROGRAMS ACROSS SUNY BUT WE'VE GOT 1.3 MILLION STUDENTS WHO TAKE CLASSES.

YEAH.

WHETHER THEY'RE TAKING A COURSE BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE INTERESTED IN OR THEY'RE PURSUING A CERTIFICATE OR A MICRO CREDENTIAL, AND WE WANT TO MOVE SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS INTO DEGREE PROGRAMS BY SHOWING THEM THAT THE PROGRESS THEY MADE THROUGH THAT CERTIFICATE ARE MICRO CREDENTIALED.

THAT CAN BE THE STARTING POINT FOR PURSUING AN ASSOCIATE'S OR BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

THE MICRO CREDENTIALS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, PEOPLE PURSUE THEM OFTEN BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY'RE PROHIBITED FROM COLLEGE FOR SOME REASON.

FOR ME, WHEN I GAS GOING TO THE UNDERGRAD AND FOR A LOT OF STUDENTS, THE COST WASN'T SO MUCH THE TUITION.

IT WAS THE ROOM AND BOARD.

I WAS PAYING DOUBLE THAN TUITION TO STAY THERE AND HAD A GREAT MEAL PLAN THAT I ENJOYED VERY, VERY MUCH.

AS CHANCELLOR, AS YOU'RE LOOKING AROUND THE STATE TO BRING COSTS DOWN, IS THERE ANY WAY TO TARGET ROOM AND BOARD AT THESE CAMPUSES?

YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THE CHALLENGE.

WE WORK VERY HARD TO KEEP SUNY AFFORDABLE.

53% OF OUR STUDENTS ACROSS OUR INSTITUTIONS DON'T PAY TUITION AT ALL.

RIGHT.

AND OUR TUITION IS JUST OVER $7,000, WHICH IS ABOUT 30% LOWER THAN OUR PEER STATES.

WE'RE WORKING HARD TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE.

ROOM AND BOARD IS A CHALLENGE.

IT'S PART OF THAT TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED IS HELP FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

YOU KNOW, IN 1980, THE FEDERAL PROGRAM TO HELP LOW INCOME STUDENTS, THE PELL GRANT PROGRAM, COVERED ABOUT 80% OF THE COST OF COLLEGE.

NOW IT COVERS ABOUT 28% OF THE COSTS.

AND WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THAT 40-YEAR PERIOD IS THE COST HAS BEEN SHIFTED TO FAMILIES AND STUDENTS, OFF THEN IN THE FORM OF DEBT, AND SO WE REALLY NEED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STEP UP, DOUBLE THE PELL GRANT.

THAT WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

IT WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

I WAS A PELL GRANT RECIPIENT.

IT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR ME AS A STUDENT, GOING TO COLLEGE, FEELING A LITTLE BIT MORE SECURE IN MY FINANCIAL FOOTING WHILE I WAS THERE.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

THAT WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MONEY, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING AT SUNY, TOO.

YOU HAVE A BIG OPERATING INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR.

YOU RECEIVED $1.38 BILLION IN OPERATING AID.

THAT'S ABOUT $178 MILLION MORE THAN THE PRIOR YEAR.

TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH THAT.

BECAUSE I'M READING THAT YOU'RE DOING THINGS WITH CHILD CARE.

YOU'RE DOING THINGS WITH FOOD PANTRIES AND HUGE BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY.

YEAH.

LOOK, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL.

SHE REALLY BELIEVES IN SUNY, WANTS SUNY TO BE THE BEST STATEWIDE PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.

SHE WORKED WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE A VERY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT, THE LARGEST OPERATING AID INCREASE IN 20 PLUS YEARS ARE AND WE'RE FOCUSING THOSE RESOURCES ON WHAT STUDENTS NEED.

WE'RE ABLE TO PUT $10 MILLION TOWARD SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, $10 MILLION TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, $10 MILLION TOWARDS INTERNSHIPS, $10 MILLION TOWARDS RESEARCH AND WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR CAMPUSES TO GET THEM AN INCREASE IN OPERATING AID THAT THEN THEY ARE USING TO INVEST IN ACADEMIC SUPPORTS AND ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

ALONGSIDE THAT, WE'RE INVESTING IN FOOD SECURITY.

WE KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT A RECENT NATIONAL STUDY SHOWED 22% OF COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE FOOD INSECURE.

MEANING THEY'RE SKIPPING MEALS BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO SAVE MONEY.

YEAH.

THAT'S REALLY SCARY.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED.

HUNGRY STUDENTS CAN LEARN AND SO MANY OF OUR CAMPUSES, ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAVE FOOD PANTRIES, SO THAT STUDENTS CAN ACCESS FOOD ON CAMPUS, WHO HAVE NEED.

WE ALSO ARE HELPING CAMPUSES PROVIDE STAFF SUPPORT SO STUDENTS CAN GET THE SNAP PROGRAM, THE FEDERAL FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT INVESTMENT.

I WAS AT NIAGRA COMMUNITY COLLEGE EARLIER THIS WEEK AND NOW I'M SAYING AN EXPANSION OF CHILD CARE.

THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE PUT $10.8 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING TOWARD CHILD CARE EXPANSION SO THAT WE CAN HELP STUDENT PARENTS SUCCEED.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE A WORKING PARENT, YOU'RE TRYING TO GET YOUR DEGREE AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AFFORDABLE QUALITY CHILD CARE CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STAYING IN SCHOOL OR NOT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT.

THOSE ARE ON-CAMPUS SPOTS, RIGHT?

IT'S NOT THE PARENT HAS TO DROP THEM OFF ACROSS TOWN AND GO TO SCHOOL.

EXACTLY.

IT'S SO WONDERFUL THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR KID WITH THEM ON CAMPUS, IN THE CAMPUS-BASED CHILD CARE.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE ABLE TO VISIT THEM DURING THE DAY.

YEAH.

YOU KNOW, IT'S THAT PEACE OF MIND KNOWING YOUR CHILD IS IN A GOOD, SAFE PLACE SO THAT YOU CAN FOCUS ON YOUR STUDIES.

YOU MENTIONED MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH IN GRADE SCHOOLS A LOT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE KIDS, DURING THE PANDEMIC, THEIR WHOLE WAY OF LIFE CHANGED FOR A FEW YEARS.

IT WAS THE SAME WAY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS IN A DIFFERENT WAY, I THINK.

HOW DO YOU SEE THAT MOVING FORWARD IN THE SUNY SYSTEM?

YOU HAVE SOME STUDENTS WHO STARTED WHEN COVID STARTED WHO HAVEN'T GRADUATED YET WHO, I IMAGINE, WENT THROUGH SOME SORT OF TRAUMA BECAUSE OF THAT.

HOW DO YOU HELP YOUR COMMUNITY MOVE FORWARD AFTER THIS?

YEAH.

IT'S REALLY HARD.

LOOK, YOU KNOW, I'M A PARENT.

MY DAUGHTERS ARE 17 AND 19.

YEAH.

DURING THE COVID MOST INTENSE PERIOD WHEN SCHOOL WAS CLOSED BASICALLY FOR A YEAR.

YEAH.

I HAD A FRESHMAN AND A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AND DESPITE A LOT OF PRIVILEGE, IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY HARD YEAR.

BEING DISCONNECTED FROM PEERS, FROM TEACHERS, HAVING TO ADJUST ONLINE LEARNING, NOT HAVING EXTRACURRICULARS, REALLY HARD.

YEAH.

SO I WORRY A LOT PARTICULARLY KIDS WHO ARE IN VULNERABLE SITUATIONS, DIFFICULT HOME SITUATIONS, DIFFICULT FINANCIAL SITUATIONS, HOW HARD THAT PERIOD WAS AND WE SEE KNIT OUR STUDENTS, THE IMPACT.

SO THERE ARE SORT OF THREE LEVELS.

ONE IS WE HAVE INVESTED IN TELEMENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM ACROSS SUNY, LED BY SUNY UPSTATE MEDICAL CENTER.

THAT'S BEEN A REALLY EFFECTIVE RESOURCE FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR CAMPUSES SO THAT STUDENTS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO IMMEDIATE SUPPORT.

WE ALSO, AS I MENTIONED, ARE INVESTING THIS $10 MILLION IN EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES SO THAT CAMPUSES CAN HAVE IN-PERSON COUNSELING ON-SITE THAT STUDENTS CAN GO TO WHEN THEY NEED SUPPORT.

AND MORE BROADLY, WE'VE GOT TO WORK ON OVERALL WELLNESS.

ARE STUDENTS FEELING CONNECTED TO PEERS?

DOES EVERY STUDENT HAVE AN ADULT ON CAMPUS?

COULD BE A FACULTY MEMBER OR A STAFF MEMBER THAT THEY CONNECTED WITH AND CAN SUPPORT THEM.

YEAH.

DO THEY FEEL LIKE THERE'S A SENSE OF COMMUNITY WHERE THEY'RE SEEN AND KNOWN BY FOLKS ON CAMPUS, AND THAT WELLNESS PIECE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

IT'S FOUNDATIONAL TO MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING.

BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME, I WANT TO ZOOM OUT FOR A SECOND AND TALK ABOUT SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND THAT'S RACE-CONSCIOUS ADMISSION.

THE SUPREME COURT EARLIER THIS YEAR EFFECTIVELY STRUCK DOWN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SAID YOU CAN'T CONSIDER RACE IN ADMISSIONS ANYMORE.

HOW DOES THAT CHANGE THINGS IN THE SUNY SYSTEM?

I WENT TO SUNY ALBANY AND MY CAMPUS WAS INCREDIBLY DIVERSE AND FOR ME COMING FROM A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE PART OF THE STATE IT WAS EXPOSURE THAT WAS INCREDIBLY BENEFICIAL TO ME YEAH.

I LOVE HEARING THAT REFLECTION ON YOUR EXPERIENCE.

DIVERSITY IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS TO THE INTELLECTUAL COMMUNITY FOR OUR FACULTY AND FOR OUR STUDENTS.

YEAH.

IT'S A CORE VALUE FOR SUNY.

TAKING AWAY THE TOOL OF RACE-CONSCIOUS ADMISSIONS IS GOING TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR OUR MOST SELECTIVE COLLEGES IN THE COUNTRY AND PRIMARILY FOR US, IT'S OUR UNIVERSITY CENTERS, OUR GRADUATE PROGRAMS, OUR MEDICAL SCHOOLS, THOSE ARE THE PLACES WHERE THE DECISION WILL HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT.S IT ONE LESS TOOL TO MAINTAIN THAT DIVERSITY.

THAT SAID, THE SUPREME COURT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE ARE RACE-NEUTRAL TOOLS, LOOKING AT LOW INCOME STATUS.

IS THE STUDENT THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE, IS THE STUDENT A VETERAN, HAS THE STUDENT OVERCOME ADVERSITY IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD OR SCHOOL.

THOSE YOU CAN LOOK AT, SO YOU ARE ADVANCING DIVERSITY AND THE COURT SAID THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT WHAT A STUDENT SAYS IN THEIR ESSAY ABOUT THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE, THE ROLE THAT RACE MAY HAVE PLAYED IN THEIR LIVES.

SO WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEND THE MESSAGE TO ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE EVERY LEGAL TOOL AVAILABLE TO ADVANCE OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.

HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE THAT?

IS IT CAM BUS BY CAMPUS?

DOES IT COME FROM SUNY CENTRAL?

IS IT REALLY JUST A SPECIALIZED CASE-BY-CASE BASE DISMISS BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A RANGE OF OFFERINGS ACROSS OUR CAMPUSES-- YEAH WE HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH AT GRADUATE ADMISSIONS AT ONE CAMPUS THAN YOU HAVE ADMISSION TO THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OR ENGINEERING PROGRAM ON ANOTHER CAMPUS, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE GOOD GUIDANCE TO ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES ON THE TOOLS AVAILABLE UNDER THE LAW AND ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES SHARE THAT COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AS A TALENT STRATEGY.

OUR CLASSROOMS ARE BETTER, THE DISCUSSIONS ARE BETTER, OUR ABILITY TO PREPARE LEADERS FOR DIVERSE WORK ENVIRONMENTS, DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IS BETTER.

YEAH.

IF OUR CAMPUSES ARE DIVERSE.

WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT AND WE'LL HAVE TO CHECK BACK IN ON IT AS THE ADMISSION PROCESS MOVES FORWARD.

SUNY CHANCELLOR, JOHN KING, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

[ THEME MUSIC ] WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON SUNY AS THE SCHOOL YEAR CONTINUES AND STAYING NOW IN EDUCATION AND MENTAL HEALTH SPECIFICALLY.

THE DECLINE IN YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH HAS BEEN LABELED AS THE CRISIS OF OUR TIME BY THE U.S.

SURGEON GENERAL, AND IF YOU WATCH THIS SHOW, YOU KNOW THAT FOR MENTAL HEALTH, THERE IS NO QUICK FIX.

WHETHER IT'S THE PANDEMIC, MASS SHOOTINGS OR CLIMATE CHANGE, THE COUNTRY'S YOUNGEST GENERATION HAS A LOT ON THEIR MINDS.

RESEARCH SHOWS US THERE ARE WAYS TO HELP.

ONE OF THOSE WAYS IS THROUGH AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE CHILDREN AND LET THEM EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN CREATIVE WAYS.

IN THE CAPITAL REGION, ONE YOUTH ORGANIZATION CALLED YOUTH FX IS DOING JUST THAT, USING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND ART.

PRODUCER CATHERINE RAFFERTY HAS THE STORY.

NESTLED IN THE SOUTH END OF ALBANY, YOUTH FX IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT TEACHES YOUTH HOW TO CREATE FILMS.

THE ORGANIZATION HAS A FOCUS ON TELLING THE STORIES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR FROM COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AND IN NEED OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAINING IN DIGITAL MEDIA TECHNOLOGY.

IT HAS GROWN OVER THE LAST 16 YEARS FROM A SUMMER PROGRAM TO YEAR-ROUND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING.

JAZLYN GOROUSING, A STUDENT WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE SUMMER PROGRAM LAST YEAR SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUTH'S STORIES TO BE HEARD.

IT'S A VERY OPEN SPACE.

SO BEING ABLE TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO DO UNDERSTAND THAT ART IS LIKE A HEALING TOOL.

WE'RE NOT ONLY WHAT THEY THINK OF US.

WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CREATORS, WE'RE ARTISTS.

WE'RE FILMMAKERS.

WE'RE THE NEXT GENERATION.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR STORIES TO BE HOLD BECAUSE OUR VOICES MATTER.

AND WE SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF OUR FUTURE.

MAKING FILMS AND COMMUNITY CREATES A WELCOMING AND FREE SPACE FOR YOUTH TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, SAYS COFOUNDER BHAWIN SUCHAK.

I THINK WE UNDERESTIMATE THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT YOUNG FOLKS SPEND IN THEIR DAY STIFLING WHO THEY REALLY ARE SO THEY HAVE TO KIND OF PUT ON A FACADE OR PERFORM FOR A PARTICULAR KIND OF, YOU KNOW, TEACHER OR CLASS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO GET GOOD GRADES.

THERE'S ALL THESE PRESSURES AND IT'S LIKE, WHEN DO THEY GET TO LET THEIR SHOULDERS DOWN AND RELAX?

I THINK ART AND ARTISTIC PRACTICES AND FOR ME AT THE CORE OF THAT IS FOR US TO EXPRESS IT.

I THINK FILM IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, AN INCREDIBLY MEDIUM FOR THAT.

SUCHAK ALSO SEES ART MAKING AS A WAY TO PROCESS THROUGH EXPERIENCES THAT ARE OFTEN DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT.

LIVING IN A COMMUNITY IN A CITY IN SPACES THAT ARE HIGHLY UNDERRESOURCED AND HAVE BEEN SYSTEMICALLY, YOU KNOW, DISADVANTAGED FOR DECADES, CENTURIES, I THINK WHAT WE SEE A LOT OF IS SAFETY ISSUES ACROSS ALL REALMS OF WHAT THAT MEANS, PERSONAL, COMMUNITY, FAMILY, GUN VIOLENCE IS A REALLY BIG ISSUE.

ADDICTION IS A REALLY BIG ISSUE.

THE OTHER THING I DON'T HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IS THE LACK OF ACCESS TO ARTS AND CULTURE, AND I THINK THAT WHAT THEY DO IN THEIR FILMS AND IN THE WORK THAT THEY'RE MAKING, THEY'RE CREATING IS ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

WE'RE REALLY ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY FEEL THAT THOSE ARE TOPICS THAT THEY CAN TALK ABOUT.

BECAUSE OFTEN, THEY CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT.

SUCHAK NOTICED THAT THE PANDEMIC HEIGHTENED THE STRESS THAT YOUTH WERE EXPERIENCING AND THE INCLUSIVE SPACE THEIR PROGRAM PROVIDES ALLOWED YOUTH TO OPEN UP ABOUT HOW THEY WERE FEELING.

HE CALLED DR. CAROLINE SHARKEY, VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT NEW ALBANY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND FORMER TEACHER AT THE ALBANY FREE SCHOOL TO BE A TRAUMA-INFORMED CONSULTANT FOR THE ORGANIZATION.

SO TRAUMA-INFORMED IS A FRAMEWORK AND IT'S AN IDEA THAT THERE ARE KEY PRINCIPLES THAT CAN OUTLINE THE WAYS THAT ANY SPACE AND ANY PLACE THAT WE INTERACT WITH OTHERS CAN BE RESPONSIVE TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES, BUT RESPONSIVENESS DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN DIRECT TREATMENT.

WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S A SCOPE OF PRACTICE.

I MEAN, THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO NEED, A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL FOR.

WHEN WE TALK MENTAL HEALTH, WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE CONSTELLATIONS OF SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS THAT WE CAN ASSIGN A DISORDER TO.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STRESS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRAUMATIC STRESS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY, AND THOSE ARE A PART OF OUR WORLD ALL THE TIME, BUT I THINK COLLECTIVELY IN 2020 AND BEYOND THAT, WE STARTED TO EXPERIENCE IT ACROSS ALL DEMOGRAPHICS AND ALL SOCIOECONOMICS, AND AT THE FRONT OF THAT EXPERIENCE WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE SAYING WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

WHILE SHARKEY WAS THERE, SHE WANTED TO CONTINUE HER RESEARCH INTO POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL ENGAGED ART.

SHE DECIDED TO PURSUE HER PH.D. DISSERTATION IN COLLABORATION WITH YOUTH FX.

SO STARTING IN MAY OF 2022, WE BEGAN A RESEARCH PROCESS CALLED YOUTH PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH.

SO YOUNG PEOPLE HELPED ME TO DEVELOP THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS FOR WHAT WE WERE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT TO UNDERSTAND AND CHRONICLE HOW DIGITAL STORYTELLING CAN BE A TOOL FOR POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND THE CREATION OF WHAT'S CALLED A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

WE DID SO USING DOCUMENTARY FILM FOOTAGE.

REALLY, WE CAPTURED PRETTY MUCH EVERY MINUTE OF THE FILM PROGRAM THROUGHOUT ALL SIX WEEKS OF THE PROGRAM, BUT WE ALSO CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS THAT WERE COFACILITATED BY YOUNG PEOPLE AND MYSELF TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING AND HOW A PROGRAM LIKE THIS CAN HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE ABOUT TRAUMATIC STRESS AND TO PREPARE THEM, AGAIN, FOR THAT TRAJECTORY OF POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.

IN CONVERSATION WITH THE STUDENTS, SHARKEY IDENTIFIED THEIR TOP THREE SOURCES OF TRAUMATIC STRESS.

THE FIRST WAS COMMUNITY VIOLENCE.

THE SECOND WAS ECONOMIC INSECURITY, AND THE THIRD WAS ADULTISM.

ADULTISM IS A SOCIAL BIAS TOWARD ADULTS, THE NEEDS, THE INTERESTS, THE VOICES OF ADULTS.

THE MESSAGE THAT ADULTISM SENDS IS YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU DON'T HAVE A PLACE AT THE TABLE.

YOU DON'T HAVE A VOICE YET, AND THAT WAS REALLY DISHEARTENING TO HEAR.

SO WHEN WE TALK MENTAL HEALTH, WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE NEUROLOGICAL OR THE GENETIC OR THE BIOLOGICAL FACTORS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SOCIAL FACTORS THAT CREATE SO MUCH STRESS THAT WE START TO HAVE TRAUMATIC STRESS RESPONSES AND THAT MIGHT INCLUDE FIGHT, FLIGHT, FREEZE, FEIGN AND IT ALSO INCLUDES ISOLATION AND A SENSE OF SOCIAL EXCLUSION AND THAT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

RESEARCH SHOWS THAT AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING, PARTICULARLY ART-BASED EXTRACURRICULARS, HAVE POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN ACADEMICS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

IN THE STUDY BY NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATED IN ARTS-BASED ACTIVITIES WERE MORE LIKELY TO PARTICIPATE IN OTHER ACTIVITIES, VOTING AND VOLUNTEERING.

THEY ALSO FOUND THAT STUDENTS WHO HAD INTENSIVE ARTS EXPERIENCES IN HIGH SCHOOL WERE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN STUDENTS WHO LACK THOSE EXPERIENCES TO EARN A BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

SO IF WE'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS MASSIVE TSUNAMI OF WORRIES AND RISKS AND PROBLEMS, IT'S ONE SOLUTION BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY SOLUTION, BUT ONE IDEA IS TO BRING IN MORE ARTS-BASED PROGRAMMING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STORYTELLING, NARRATIVES AND COUNTERNARRATIVES BECAUSE WHO PEOPLE ARE, HOW THEY SEE THE WORLD AND THE EXPERIENCES THEY HAVE, THAT'S DATA.

THAT CAN TEACH US A LOT AND IT'S AN OUTLET.

SUCHAK AND SHARKEY ARE NOW LOOKING TO SHARE WHAT THEY LEARNED WHILE WORKING TOGETHER WITH OTHER AFTERSCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS.

LIKE ALL YOUTH PROGRAMMING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS NEED SOCIAL WORKERS, TOO, AND NEED TO HAVE SOCIAL WORKERS ON-SITE.

WE ARE DOING OUR THINGS AS EDUCATORS AS ARTISTS AND WE NEED THAT SUPPORT BY PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOVE THROUGH THAT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE YOUNG FOLKS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING ON.

IT'S WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE HEARING IT OR LISTENING TO THEM.

SHARKEY SAYS, ORGANIZATIONS CAN WORK TO CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR YOUTH BY BEING ACKNOWLEDGING TRAUMA AND ITS IMPACT.

UNDERSTANDING THAT TRAUMA IS REAL, WHAT THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMATIC STRESS ARE, AND THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE PATHS FOR HEALING AND RECOVERY.

WE CAN'T ALWAYS GUARANTEE THAT SAFE SPACES ARE GOING TO BE SAFE, BUT WE CAN GUARANTEE RESPECT AND INCLUSION, AND WE CAN BUILD TOWARDS AN ENHANCED SENSE OF SAFETY SO THAT YOUNG PEOPLE OR ANYONE, FOR THAT MATTER, CAN KNOW AND TRUST THAT IS A SPACE THAT THEY CAN BE WHO THEY NEED TO BE.

I WORKED WITH YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE BETTER PART OF 25 YEARS AND IT IS REALLY HEARTWARMING TO KNOW THAT THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT TRULY INVESTS IN THE NOTION, THE SIMPLE NOTION THAT YOUNG PEOPLE INNATELY HAVE AGENCY.

IT SOUNDS REALLY STRAIGHT FORWARD, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF YOUTH-CENTERED PROGRAMMING DOESN'T REALLY EMBRACE THAT CONCEPT.

FOR SOCIAL WORKERS, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE BRING THIS NOTION AND WE BRING THIS SENSE OF RESILIENCY AND RESISTANCE AND THEN YOUTH-DRIVEN EMPOWERMENT TO THE FOREFRONT SO THAT WE CAN START TO THINK BEYOND RISK FACTORS AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS AND START TO THINK ABOUT THE WAYS THAT WE CAN ENGAGE COMMUNITIES.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AND WE HAVE MORE RESOURCES ON YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH ONLINE.

WE'LL LINK TO THEM ALONG WITH THIS WEEK'S SHOW ON OUR WEBSITE.

AS ALWAYS, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING THIS WEEK'S "NEW YORK NOW."

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND BE WELL.

[ THEME MUSIC ] ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR "NEW YORK NOW" IS PROVIDED BY WNET.