Your City – April 2016

4/04/16
In response to citizen input that education is a top priority, the city of Las Vegas created in December 2015 the Department of Youth Development & Social Innovation. Led by Director Lisa Morris Hibbler, DPA, the mission of the Department is to ensure that Las Vegas is a city where children are healthy, safe, successful in school and connected to caring adults; that every student in every neighborhood has access to a 21st century education; and to address students’ social needs and problems through public/private partnerships.
“This new department was developed to support existing schools and agencies as part of the challenge to enhance education in our city,” said Hibbler. “We view our role as conveners of resources, agencies and stakeholders to better help our children succeed in school. There is significant opportunity for the city to exercise its influence as a strong voice for education in our city, and we are ready to do our part.”
The new department oversees a number of programs from early childhood through college. These include a Universal Pre-K Initiative to provide affordable early learning opportunities for children ages three and four to increase kindergarten readiness, along with the operation of early learning facilities in the city.
For K-12 students, the city established Downtown Achieves, an initiative to enhance education in seven elementary, two middle and two high schools in and around the city’s core. Las Vegas My Brother’s Keeper (LVMBK) is yet another initiative to ensure school success for young male students of color and eliminating the school-to- prison pipeline by increasing the use of positive behavior interventions and wrap around supports.
To ensure city of Las Vegas students are safe and enriched before and after school, the department supports a number of programs, including Safekey, Batteries Included Teen Councils and the Las Vegas After-School Collaborative.
In addition to educational support, the department is focused on enhancing multi-cultural community relations through the Mayor’s Faith Initiative, Latino Network and various youth development programs.
“Social innovation is the foundation of our department,” said Hibbler. “We are using community-based problem solving and collaborations to make small but steady strides every day with the goal of ensuring every child in our city has the chance to succeed.”