NYRA Starts Book Club
A great deal has been written about youth rights theory, and about educational theory that is pertinent to youth rights. Authors such as John Holt, Richard Farson, and
New York City Voting Age Bill
This past spring, New York City Councilmember Gale Brewer introduced a bill to lower the voting age to sixteen for municipal elections. About a dozen NYRA members were present when the bill was introduced, and a few spoke at Brewer’s press conference. At a recent meeting, NYRA’s New York City chapter agreed that the voting…
Berkeley Chapter Hold Voting Age Debate
NYRA-Berkeley recently participated in a successful debate on whether 17-year-olds should be permitted to vote in Berkeley School Board elections. The debate, which took place on the campus of Berkeley High School, was sponsored by the Berkeley Youth Commission and attended by four classes of students. Councilman Max Anderson spoke in favor of the youth…
NYRA Receives Grant
Chris Lydon, a NYRA member from New Jersey, applied for a grant through his employer, Time Warner. Lydon has done work for NYRA in the past by volunteering at Warped Tour events in New Jersey, and attending meetings in New York. Time Warner gave NYRA a grant in the amount of 1000 dollars, the single…
Paterson Chapter Fights Curfew
This fall the Paterson, New Jersey City Council asked residents to vote on whether they would support a youth curfew ordinance. The Council did not present any details or any kind of plan, and the only relevant court case in New Jersey resulted in a ruling against curfews. Unfortunately, Paterson voters overwhelmingly supported the proposed…
UN Report Discusses Youth Rights
The Innocenti Research Centre at UNICEF recently put out a lengthy report that interprets the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and explores many issues pertaining to youth and children’s rights. The report, titled “The Evolving Capacities of the Child,” finds that age does not directly correspond with competence and capacity, and cites numerous…
NYRA Gains Technical Support
NYRA members may begin to notice changes on the website and on the forums. In mid-November, James (Jim) Pleger joined the developers at NYRA to enhance the site. With the additional help, NYRA will become more integrated and user-friendly. He is currently studying Computer Information Systems (CIS) at a local college in Phoenix, Ariz. While…
Board of Directors Passes New Chapter Policy
The Board of Directors recently passed a resolution that will add certain rules to the bylaws governing the creation and operation of NYRA’s chapters. The new bylaws will remain in effect until the general election this summer, when they must be approved by an affirmative two-thirds vote of the membership. The policy was written by…
Koroknay-Palicz Attends Drug Policy Conference
Alex Koroknay-Palicz, NYRA’s Executive Director, recently attended a conference in Long Beach, Calif., organized by the Drug Policy Alliance. The conference attracted many leaders in the drug policy reform movement, including Scarlett Swerdlow, formerly of NYRA’s Board of Directors, and former Sen. John Vasconcellos (D-Cali.), who sponsored an important voting age bill in California. Koroknay-Palicz…
Alex Koroknay-Palicz and Mike Males Interviews
Transcripts of two new interviews have been added to youthrights.org. When he was in California testifying on behalf of a voting age bill, Alex Koroknay-Palicz had an opportunity to conduct an interview with Mike Males. Mike Males, who is a member of NYRA’s Board of Advisors, has written books on the oppression of young people…
