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Students tell council they want safe spaces, transportation and job supports
Summary
Students from a youth-led program told the Cincinnati City Council Youth & Human Services Committee they need more after-school programs, reliable transportation and financial-literacy and job supports. Council members praised the students and discussed pathways to expand programs such as JCG and Men of More.
Students who took part in a youth-led initiative called Widening the Lens told the Cincinnati City Council Youth and Human Services Committee that they want safe places to gather, better access to transportation and practical job training.
Fanny Smith, a senior at University High School, told the committee that some students "are scared to go home," and urged more after-school programs so school is not the only safe place for young people. Jasea Humphrey, a senior at Withrow University High School, described challenges getting a bus pass when students live close to school and said that limited transit options can leave kids walking in bad weather.
The students described programs that helped them find work and internships. Several credited JCG with connecting them to paid orientations and employment at local retailers; one student said JCG led to an interview and paid orientation at Kroger, where many high-school workers now staff registers.
The conversation highlighted two themes: practical supports and respectful adult partnerships. Students emphasized that programs work best when adults listen and treat young people as partners. Vice Chair Evan Nolan praised the students for speaking publicly and asked how to broaden participation; Nolan said the council has prioritized equitable growth and wanted ideas for reaching peers who might be hesitant to join. Council Member Ryan James encouraged students to consider public office in the future and thanked them for elevating their voices.
Why it matters: Committee members said the student testimony underscores gaps in transportation, job-readiness and youth mental-health supports, areas city leaders can affect through funding, partnerships and outreach. Council members suggested amplifying existing programs and exploring ways to bring services to neighborhoods where youth do not currently attend community centers.
The committee took a group photo with the students and moved on to the next agenda item; no formal vote resulted from the student presentations.
