public health
Mental Health
6th graders in Brooklyn chose to address the growing mental health crisis among teens. During the Research Phase, they gathered information about how everyday stressors like peer interactions, academic pressures, and family dynamics can negatively impact mental well-being. Convinced that their peers would benefit from a place to decompress, they proposed the creation of a dedicated wellness space within the school. After the school administration approved their “De-Stress Lounge” they raised funds to cover the expense of equipment- such as soft cushions, dim lighting, and games and activities to calm the brain- and helped create protocols for how the space would be used.
High school students in an SLP Lab chose to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health challenges, as well as the apparent lack of much needed resources, especially for young people. During a community mapping project, they discovered that NYC does offer many resources – from hotlines to support groups and counseling – but they suspected that most NYC teens are either not aware of, don’t have access to, or don’t feel comfortable using them. A survey they created, completed by more than 120 NYC youth, confirmed their fears: only 20% of respondents felt comfortable talking to their guidance counselors about their mental health, yet nearly 90% said they felt they would benefit from mental health support. To help meet this increasingly dire need, they consolidated their research into an online toolkit aimed at helping young people in NYC access mental health resources in their schools and neighborhoods. The result is a supportive, comprehensive, and easily accessible guide for teens, their families, and educators.
Secondhand Smoke
An SLP project often culminates in a call for a new policy or law—but what if the law already exists and no one knows about it? That’s exactly what a passionate group of 4th graders discovered when they chose to tackle the dangers of secondhand smoke, particularly for children. In their research, they learned that smoking and vaping are illegal in NYC parks and playgrounds—yet many New Yorkers are unaware of this prohibition and it is rarely enforced.
Determined to spread the word, they created a compelling and beautifully designed PSA urging New Yorkers to keep our parks—and our lungs—clean. Now, their campaign is reaching 175,000 residents across five Queens neighborhoods via LinkNYC kiosks! If you’re in City Council District 21, keep an eye out for their campaign. Many thanks to NYC Council Member Francisco Moya for partnering with these young changemakers!
RETHINKING HOMEWORK
A group of 7th graders chose to focus on the negative impacts of traditional homework, as well as whether it even accomplishes its intended goals. After researching alternative approaches, and surveying peers about what kind of homework they’d be most inclined to complete, they delivered a well-received proposal to their school administration with recommendations for alternative homework including more interactive, youth-led, and creative methods.
Subway Surfing
5th graders in Queens chose to confront the alarming rise in subway surfing, the highly dangerous practice of riding on top of a moving train: during the first half of the year, arrests of young people for subway surfing, often spurred by social media cachet, had spiked 46% and two children had lost their lives. During the Research Phase, they explored the history and evolution of subway surfing, and how its popularity had increased during the pandemic. They considered the motivations of subway surfers, as well as how various stakeholders, such as parents, friends, and school staff, could support students tempted to engage in this dangerous activity. In the end, they felt the positive potential of peer pressure would be the most effective deterrent: they designed PSA posters directed to teens, and displayed on 7 trains and station platforms, to help advance the MTA’s existing prevention efforts.
school food
Concerned about what and how much lunch food their schoolmates were eating (and wasting), fifth graders in downtown Brooklyn advocated for a healthier school lunch. They surveyed hundreds of students in their school to find out whether they liked the food provided, whether they finished it, and how they felt after eating it. After researching alternatives to the standard school menu as well as the physical, behavioral, and academic impact of what kids eat for lunch, the students developed a detailed, evidence-based presentation for the school administration that included requests for changes to the school menu as well as the cafeteria environment. The principal accepted their recommendations on the spot!
SMOKING
Driven by a deeply personal concern for their family members, third graders in Vinegar Hill set out to convince members of their community to stop smoking. Combining their personal pleas with research about the devastating health effects of smoking, they drafted wrenching letters – some to individual family members and some to the broader community. After adapting their letters into a script, they produced this incredibly powerful anti-smoking PSA.
BULLYING
A group of third-fifth graders in Park Slope decided to help prevent bullying at their school. Through a student survey, they discovered that, as in most schools, bullying was taking place in the hallways and during lunch and recess when classroom teachers were not around. They asked the school administration for permission to organize a “Bully Patrol” through which students would be deputized to intervene when they observed bullying. They also created an education campaign to help students better understand what behavior constitutes bullying.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AT SCHOOL
Second graders in downtown Brooklyn advocated for increased physical activity during the school day. They developed a presentation for the school administration based on the research they collected about the physical, emotional, and academic benefits of physical activity, as well as the school-wide student demand reflected by their petition drive.