City backs recreation and youth programs: backpack event co-sponsorship and Safe Place for All Girls agreements approved

The Board on July 15 approved multiple items supporting youth programs and back-to-school efforts. The Department of Recreation’s ordinance to co-sponsor a back-to-school backpack event with Henry Allen and the Buddy Fife Project (moved from Memorial Field to the Dole Center and Fourth Street Playground) was approved. The board also approved two Mount Vernon Youth Bureau agreements to support the Safe Place for All Girls program for the period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026: one with Start Up Smart Up and another with Troy Newby. The recreation staff noted the backpack event’s location change and the Youth Bureau items were presented as agreements authorizing the mayor to enter into contracts for the program year. Each youth-bureau agreement was moved, seconded and approved by roll call; no public comment or contract dollar amounts were provided in the transcript extract. The items were routine program agreements intended to support youth services in the coming program year; the transcript does not specify contract values or program performance metrics.