LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION recognizing Thursday, August 12, 2010, as Inter-
national Youth Day

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize Thursday,
August 12, 2010, as International Youth Day; this year's celebration
will coincide with the 25th Anniversary of the first International Youth
Year in 1985 on the theme Participation, Development and Peace; and
WHEREAS, This year's theme is Dialogue and Mutual Understanding; it
reflects the appreciation of the value of dialogue among youth from
different cultures as well as among different generations; and
WHEREAS, The goal of International Youth Day is to unite and celebrate
youth worldwide and to draw attention to a given set of cultural and
legal issues surrounding an endangered demographic; it provides kids
with an opportunity to interact, understand, and press for positive
change on a global platform; and
WHEREAS, This impressive event gathers youth for a day filled with fun
activities, music and performances and allows us to promote peace and
cultural understanding among New York City youth and their counterparts
around the globe; and
WHEREAS, The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution
proclaiming the year commencing on August 12, 2010 through August 12,
2011 as the International Year of Youth; and
WHEREAS, International Youth Day will be a celebration of young
peoples' energy, imagination and initiatives and will recognize their
crucial contributions to enhancing peace and development; furthermore,
it's an opportunity for the international community and the UN system to
demonstrate their commitment to young people; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the global launch event at UN Headquarters,
there will be celebrations all over the world, which will highlight
opportunities and challenges for youth throughout the International Year
of Youth in different regions and countries; and
WHEREAS, International Youth Day is the world's first global holiday,
a time to celebrate youth with music, dance, poetry, art and sports; it
is also a time to acknowledge the problems faced by youth in employment,
education, health, peace and justice; and
WHEREAS, Directions for Our Youth (DFOY), dedicated to inspiring,
empowering and educating at-risk youth, has sponsored this event with
the United Nations and the New York City Department of Parks and Recre-
ation for the past six years; and
WHEREAS, DFOY provides disadvantaged youths the foundation to become
leaders in schools, as well as in their local and global communities;
and
WHEREAS, DFOY, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
and the United Nations are again uniting to celebrate youth worldwide;
and
WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body that when days of
importance are brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and
recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, there-
fore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize Thursday, August 12, 2010, as International Youth Day; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Directions for Our Youth.