WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. February 25, 2008: Councilman Glen Hockley, concerned about White Plains youths not getting all the Scholastic Aptitude Test preparation they need to be admitted to college because they have to work during the summers , is bringing community leaders from White Plains, the Town of Greenburgh and Westcester County tomorrow evening to discuss setting up an SAT Academy Summer program where teens would be paid $7 a hour to take courses in preparing for the Scholastic Aptitude Test. The meeting is at 7 PM at the Thomas Slater Center, South Lexington Avenue.

Councilman Glen Hockley of White Plains with Gregorio Malena, (left) Vice Consul of the Dominican Republic Mission to the United Nations. Mr. Hockley has worked closely with Mr. Malena to ship thousands of dollars of food and relief supplies  donated by White Plains businesses to the flood-ravaged Dominican Republic

Hockley explained, “Currently, the one issue that this city, this county, this country is missing the ball on, is the future of our youth. We’re only as good as our youth as far as going forward obviously, and we must, we must stop only talking about our successes because we need to address the kids who are failing, failing themselves, failing their future. We need to help them get over the hump. Everyone doesn’t necessarily have to go to college…we need to do is to make a success out of kids so they have a future that is complimentary to who they are. Aside from that, the kids who are made for college which we need to give everybody a crack at, a lot of these young people are not doing well, especially those who are coming from low-income families. There’s a lot of stress in the household. Unfortunately, many of them are attracted by negative energy out there. We do have gangs, drugs, alcohol, and we have trouble out there after school. Some of these kids we can help. Hopefully many. Whether we have similar programs out there or not, it doesn’t matter. What you read is about affordable housing and open space. We need to have the headlines start to talk about our young people and the future. Because we won’t have one unless we start applying interest in that area.”

“During the summer a lot of kids from low income families go out an get a summer job which is a noble thing but it takes up there time. But they need to prepare for college, for SATS and score better scores. One way to get them to be incentivized is to pay them to go to SAT Camp. I’ve talked to some families, some kids, they all seem to be excited by that. Maybe pay them in the area of $7 an hour for 20 hours of camp. They would also get college preparation training, apprenticeship opportunities and education and all the details of this kind of program tomorrow night.”

Hockley will be hosting the program at 7 for community leaders. Ms. Brown will be presenting a power point presentation on the concept. In attendance will be Frank Williams from the White Plains Youth Bureau, religious activists, organizational business people and Tracy Mitchell, the Director of African-American Affairs for Westchester County, and some young adults who have been directly involved with youth.

Hockley said he felt that private funding was available to fund the program.