The Impact of COVID-19 on Bronx Youth.

Working Policy Paper
Released on Tuesday, October 20, 2020  

Contact: contact@thethinkubator.org 

Dr. Lessie Branch: lbranch@thethinkubator.org 

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Key Findings:  

• COVID -  19 has had an unprecedented impact on the Bronx, youth, and families. Issues ranging from unemployment to food insecurity to challenges with education and future   employment ranks top of the list for surveyed youth.
•  Respondents report that remote learning has not helped their individual learning, the adjustment has been difficult, and that they overwhelmingly (94.1%) need to work while simultaneously enrolled in school. Despite the challenges with remote learning, 58.8% of respondents will attend school vrtually and 35.3% will attend in a hybrid format.
• The need/want to work while attending school arises from the already precarious and  COVID-19 accelerated unemployment experienced in the Bronx.  Surveyed youth want to help support their family while attending school. Slightly more than a third of survey respondents indicated someone in their household lost their job; a correlation with the increase in Bronx unemployment rate.

Introduction:

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the health, economic, and well-being of many individuals and families around the world, in the United States, and New York City.  The Bronx, home to the poorest congressional district in the United States continues to be disproportionately impacted by this newest pandemic. The borough is home to a population of 1.4 million, 35.7% of the population is under 24, has a poverty rate of 29.7%, unemployment nearing 25%, and a median income of $38,467. Data from John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center rank the Bronx as number five in the category of top counties by number of deaths with 4,047, 16th for top 50 confirmed cases by  county at 54,329, and a fatality  rate of 6.89%.  COVID-19  infection and  death rate coupled with the shutdown of the economy has devastated the Bronx and has impacted all.

COVID - 19 and Youth:

The Bronx is home to more than 500,000 youth under age 24. In 2020,  211,111 Bronx youth were between the ages of 15  - 24 and nearly 60,000 of this population were enrolled at Bronx high schools^[1] (disclaimer - based  on New York City’s  school system, youth can enroll at a high school school in any of the other boroughs). Youth represent 35.7% of the Bronx population and represent a significant population that has had their lives turned upside down by the presence of COVID-19.

In March 2020, New York  City’s Department of Education like the rest of the world was forced to transition to one hundred percent remote. The shutdown of the economy impacted how students would be taught and learn. One hundred percent of instruction was transitioned to remote learning and extra-curricular activities including employment programs such as apprenticeships, internships, and  project-based learning experiences were  temporarily discontinued. Certain work-based learning programs such as Careerwise New York worked with employers to continue to pay youth while other programs discontinued their experiences as the world collectively figured out the new normal.

There was major controversy leading up to Summer 2020 with the City of New York initially announcing the cancellation of the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) eliminating 75,000 employment opportunities.  A coalition led by organizations such as Teens Take Charge were able to save a portion of  SYEP and convince the Mayor of New York City to reverse his decision to completely eliminate the SYEP program. Notwithstanding the saving of SYEP,  employers and service providers were all still left with figuring out what work would look like.  For those lucky enough to win a spot, project based workplace challenges and/or virtual internships funded by private organizations and foundations would be the dominant options for Bronx youth.

As summer has concluded and the fall semester quickly emerged, understanding the impact of COVID-19 on youth is vital to creating policies that take into account their lived experiences. The Thinkubator Apprentice, James Walrond designed and administered a survey that asked Bronx youth questions on the impact of  COVID-19 on youth with the assistance of HERE to HERE. The survey aimed to look at educational,  personal, and work-related issues that have been impacted by the global health and economic pandemic. It was sent to 200 Thinkubator youth representing all zip codes in the Bronx and a similar demographic profile of the Borough. Fifty-one youth responded to the survey between ages 14 - 19, 47% Latino, 39% Black and 60% identified as Female. Youth that are engaged with The Thinkubator programs are enrolled either in high school or college. The survey consisted of a mix of 14 multiple choice and open ended questions that required a brief response. The survey’s limitation was in its sample size and diversity.

Major Findings of The Impact of COVID-19 Survey Results

School

The study reveals that 51% of respondents reported “It is hard to adjust to the remote learning schedule or are experiencing difficulties with schedules” and “Remote learning has not helped me learn better.”  Respondents indicated that they learn better in person.  Additionally, they were concerned about college preparation and testing taking,  college applications, and their future careers. Despite these findings, 58.8% of respondents reported that they will attend school virtually and 35.3% will attend in a hybrid format.

Figure 1: COVID’s effect on education

Figure 2: Attending School

Employment

The study also revealed respondents  overwhelmingly (94.1%)  stated that they would like to work while attending school during the upcoming academic year and will either apply within their local neighborhood or online for opportunities.  Financial pressures placed on Bronx youth is evident as the Bronx has experienced a 25% unemployment rate. 35.3% reported that someone lost their job in their household and 27.5% stated that someone in their household either died or got sick from COVID-19. Moreover, when asked what household items needed, more than half of the respondents reported that household items such as food and toiletries were important items needed. The need/want to work while attending school arises from the already precarious and  COVID19 accelerated unemployment experienced in the Bronx.  Surveyed youth want to help support their family while attending school. Slightly more than a third of survey respondents indicated someone in their household lost their job; a correlation with the increase in Bronx unemployment rate.

Figure 3: Work while attending school

Figure 4: Impact of COVID on Family

Figure 5: Impact of COVID-19 on Bronx Youth future

Policy Implications and Conclusion:

In lean economic times austerity and cuts made to programs that impact those most vulnerable in our city have a doppler effect.  In this instance most vulnerable are Black and Latinx Bronx Youth and their families.

Black and Latinx communities were the most negatively impacted during the last economic downturn (housing crises) and have not fully recovered.  COVID-19 and the resulting economic downturn will further stratify and marginalize the socioeconomic well being of Black and Latinx communities.

In NYC during this COVID-19 era specifically, and in lean economic times in general, youth programs are among the first to get eliminated.  Eliminating youth focused programs and support is a form of risk shift just when youth are transitioning into adulthood and embarking on the path to securing their futures.  This leaves the future of NYC infrastructure insecure.  Bronx Youth are today’s workforce and today’s leaders. Bronx youth and organizations who support them need their city’s support not austerity.