Since the spring of 2022, more than 42,000 newcomer students have enrolled in NYC public schools, many of whom are between the ages of 18 and 21. These older newcomer youth bring amazing experiences and  face unique challenges, including gaps in their previous education, language barriers, and difficulties enrolling in high school due to their age. At times, an uncounted number of additional students are directed to adult education programs instead of being given access to high school opportunities. This webinar will explore the current landscape for older newcomer youth and how schools, organizations, and city policies can work together to open more doors for their academic success.

Join us for an engaging discussion featuring a diverse panel of experts who are at the forefront of supporting older newcomer students in New York City, as well as an older newcomer student. Panelists will share their firsthand experiences, explore the unique challenges faced by these students, and discuss how schools, community organizations, and local systems can better meet their needs. 

Our panelists include:

Moderator: Natasha Quiroga, director of education policy and InsideSchools, The New School’s Center for New York City Affairs
Lara Evangelista, executive director, Internationals Network for Public Schools
Alona Cohen, principal, Brooklyn Frontiers High School
Shweta Ratra, principal, Crotona International High School

Adama Bah, director and founder of Afrikana 

Brenda Garcia, Interim Acting Chief, Office of Multilingual Learners, NYC Department of Education
Older newcomer student TBA

This event is supported by the Levin Endowment.