The Westchester County Youth Bureau, in partnership with the White Plains Youth Bureau, held its first High School Youth Passion Project Fair at the County Center. The event highlighted student-led projects from across the region, focusing on public health, education, social justice, and sustainability.
Rhea Narayanan, a 2025 summer intern with the County Executive’s Office and a member of the White Plains Social Justice Youth Court, led the organization of the fair. The event featured 33 presenters from various communities including Hartsdale, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Port Chester, Rye, Scarsdale, White Plains, Yonkers, and Yorktown Heights. Nineteen passion projects were displayed in an interactive format that encouraged direct engagement between attendees and youth presenters.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins stated: “The Youth Passion Project Fair exemplifies Westchester County’s continued investment in youth empowerment, civic engagement, and community-building. In providing youth a stage to share not just ideas—but the real, measurable impacts of their work—this initiative promises to inspire attendees and future collaborations. Kudos to Rhea for her vision and to all the students who participated.”
White Plains Mayor Tom Roach commented: “The Passion Project Fair exceeded all of my expectations. I was very impressed with the quality of the presentations and the depth of the projects themselves. I really enjoyed chatting with the presenters about their projects and left feeling optimistic about our future.”
Ernest McFadden, Executive Director of Westchester County Youth Bureau said: “This is more than a youth showcase—it’s a celebration of the vision, ingenuity and social commitment of Westchester’s youth. It demonstrates a wide spectrum of passion-driven solutions and underscores the importance of elevating young voices in community development.”
Frank Williams, Executive Director of White Plains Youth Bureau added: “The Passion Project Fair is a reflection of what happens when we invest in our young people—not just as youth, but as leaders and changemakers. These students are identifying real needs in their communities and taking initiative to address them. That kind of leadership deserves to be cultivated.”
Elizabeth Almonte, Deputy Director at White Plains Youth Bureau remarked: “Our youth are not waiting to be asked to lead—they are already leaders. This fair offers a platform to recognize their efforts, amplify their voices and show that age is no barrier to impact.”
Narayanan said: “This event isn’t just about showcasing projects—it is about celebrating what happens when young people care deeply about the world around them. For me, Hyper Local Edu was the first step in realizing how powerful youth-driven change can be, and seeing so many students bring that same energy to this fair proves that passion and purpose can start anywhere.”
The fair was designed as an opportunity for dialogue among participants while highlighting how local high school students are addressing community challenges through innovative approaches.
