St. Pete youth initiatives ‘move the needle’

St. Petersburg is home to over 3,000 disengaged youth who are not employed or enrolled in school. City officials have taken a holistic approach to prevent and mitigate the problem.

Pinellas County School Board Chair Laura Hine called those efforts “incredible.” She and city council members heard an update on St. Petersburg’s myriad education and youth initiatives at a Sept. 4 committee meeting.

Dr. Sherron Brown, director of education and youth opportunities, provided an extensive update and a 31-page, data-driven report. She noted it “made sense” for the city to adopt the WHOLE child framework, an acronym that encompasses well-being, harmony, opportunity, leadership and empowerment.

“To be here today and to hear this range of programs – I am personally blown away,” Hine said. “I really am. I just had no idea of the breadth and depth and scope of what you’ve been doing.”

The city has adopted eight strategic focus areas, starting with contributing to early childhood literacy by advancing evidence-based programs and parental engagement initiatives.

Officials sponsored Thrive by Five Tampa Bay’s Early Literacy Resource Guide that directs families to free services. The local nonprofit and Pinellas County schools have also partnered on the CityReads program, where St. Petersburg employees read to preschoolers at Melrose Elementary School and provide parents with continued learning packets.

The second focus is to foster engagement in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) among elementary-aged students by supporting equitable and innovative programs and community partnerships. Officials allocated $250,000 annually for four years for the Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation to implement its M.A.S.T.R. Kids Core Program at three sites.

The latest year-round, after-school and summer programming at Gibbs High School will serve an additional 60 to 70 students in grades K-8 from South St. Petersburg. Councilmember Lissett Hanewicz, a SPPF board member, said associated data highlights that “the program is doing what it is supposed to be doing.”

Local children can also participate in the Ocean Science Program for Research, Education and Youth (OSPREY) at the Clam Bayou Marine Education Center. The partnership between the City and the University of South Florida has 12 participating schools and roughly 500 students.

Dr. Sheron Brown became director of education and youth opportunities for the City of St. Petersburg in February 2024 following a 25-year career in public education. Photo: City documents.

Brown plans to provide data from the first year next summer. She noted the fourth focus area provides STEAM education for adolescents.

Over 100 underserved students from six middle schools participated in Camp Bullseye this summer at USF St. Petersburg. They received an immersive college experience that combined academic exploration, real-world problem-solving and exposure to high-demand career pathways.

The city dedicated $68,750 to Camp Bullseye and $21,000 to SPC Discover – a hands-on, engaging program that enables middle school students to explore engineering and technology careers at St. Petersburg College’s Midtown Campus. Brown said she is “intentional about targeting the youth” for those initiatives.

The fourth focus area fosters workforce preparedness and an entrepreneurial spirit among high school students by expanding access to internships and apprenticeships in key industries, including technology. Officials have dedicated $480,000 to three programs that advance those efforts.

Engaging disengaged youth is the fifth focus area, and the administration has partnered with the USF College of Education to conduct social science research and provide recommendations for enlisting those aged 15 to 24 into workforce development programs. Keys Consulting Firm will also provide strategies for community outreach, guidelines for creating supportive environments and suggestions for policy changes or new initiatives.

Brown said that research has commenced, and the findings will serve the city, Pinellas County Schools and “all of our local colleges and universities.” Officials have also bolstered Mentoring Matters, which enables city employees to develop relationships with students that build confidence and increase academic engagement.

“Mentors cannot be understated,” Hine said. “Mentoring, hands down, is a really important program. So, thank you to the City of St. Pete for allowing your employees to get out there and mentor in our schools.”

The sixth focus area cultivates family engagement, while the seventh integrates youth well-being and social connections into all existing and future programs, from early childhood through post-secondary stages. Administrators designated the eighth to celebrate and publicize local youth achievements and success stories.

Council Chair Copley Gerdes called it an “easy decision” to keep Brown on the Youth and Family Services Committee’s referral list for biannual updates. He also noted that her presentation allowed local officials to realize what they are able to accomplish with limited, yet “impactful” resources.

“I think what our county is doing with what we have is pretty incredible, and I think the work we’re supplementing has a lot to do with that,” Gerdes said. “We can’t be afraid of the not-so-great things, either, because that’s how we’re going to create change.

“I’m just so proud of how the city has been able to move the needle, and I know we’re going to continue to get even better at it.”