Mayor Tim Keller Releases First Ever State of the Summer Report

Mayor Tim Keller today announced the release of the first ever State of the Summer Report. The report provides an overview of results and future trends of youth programs provided by the City of Albuquerque.

“We are investing an additional $1 million in after-school and summer programs to expand the City's work to keep our kids safe and engaged. This report tracks the impact of programs being offered to young people over the summer so we can meet of the needs of families in our community,” stated Mayor Tim Keller.

During Mayor Keller’s first summer in office, city departments (Family and Community Services, Parks and Recreation, Cultural Services, Senior Affairs, and Transit) partnered to expand and create new opportunities for youth and families. Among some of the most dramatic results, enrollment increased at community centers (up 31%) and swim lessons (up 17%).

“Stepping up for our kids has been a top priority for our team from day one,” stated Mayor Tim Keller. “We know that many kids fall behind during the summer months when they’re not engaged. We wanted to make sure that kids had access to safe, fun experiences over the summer where they could learn new skills and stay involved.”

In June, the Keller Administration worked with City Council to pass a budget that included an additional $1 million to expand after-school and summer youth programs. Mayor Keller has set a goal of doubling the number of kids served through these expanded opportunities.

Fulfilling his commitment to expanding access to opportunities for youth, these additional resources were immediately put to use across five City departments.

At Family and Community Services, community centers hosted Teen Nights with activities like glow-in-the-dark dodgeball, an MMA Night, basketball tournaments, and an end of summer pool party. Parks and Recreation expanded the summer evening hours at four popular city pools, distributed 70,000 free pool passes, started an Open Space Explorer Camp, and began offering pickleball lessons. The Transit Department worked with the other city departments to distribute 1,500 free summer bus passes to teens.

This past summer more than 27,000 youth registered to participate in one of the 119 programs offered by the City. Additionally, more than 1,000 youth were employed during the summer months, including many first-time employees.

View the full State of Summer 2018 report, or to learn about opportunities available for youth in the Fall visit cabq.gov/youth-connect.