JAMESTOWN, NY (CCS-TV) – Collaborative Children’s Solutions (CCS) is igniting the next generation of local leaders through “NextGen Jamestown”, a new hands-on mentorship and community engagement program that empowers students to learn from city leaders, dive into Jamestown’s story, and help shape its future.
Launching this fall, the two-year initiative runs through June 2027, beginning with students at Jamestown High School and with plans to expand into additional area schools. Through interactive workshops, mentorships, and real-world projects, students are discovering how Jamestown works — and how their ideas and energy can help drive its next chapter.
“NextGen Jamestown is about giving young people a seat at the table,” said Patrick Smeraldo, Owner and President of Collaborative Children’s Solutions. “We want our students to see that they are part of Jamestown’s story — not just as observers, but as contributors to its growth and future.”
Through the program, students will experience a behind-the-scenes look at how Jamestown operates — not just in theory, but in practice. Working alongside high school government and civic classes, participants gain hands-on knowledge of the city’s departments and the people who keep them running. From Fire and Police to Parks, Streets, the Department of Development, and the Mayor’s Office, NextGen Jamestown offers an immersive approach to civic engagement, helping students understand how local government functions and where their own leadership can make a difference.
As the program grows, other key aspects of community life and history will be featured, giving students an even broader understanding of the systems and people that make Jamestown thrive.
“The NextGen Jamestown program represents exactly the kind of community collaboration that keeps our city moving forward,” said Jamestown Mayor Kim Ecklund. “By connecting students directly with local leaders and mentors, we’re helping them see that their ideas matter and that they have an important role to play in Jamestown’s future. I’m proud to support an effort that invests in our young people and strengthens the bond between our schools, community, and city.”
Through CCS’s media division, CCS-TV, the program goes beyond the classroom. Students will turn their experiences and projects into a youth-driven TV series that will stream on the CCS-TV platform, highlighting their ideas, interviews, and community impact. Viewers will be able to follow along as Jamestown’s young leaders share their journeys and creative visions for the city’s future. Announcements about the upcoming NextGen Jamestown series and viewing details will be released soon on CCS-TV’s social media and CCS-TV.com.
“We’re deeply grateful to the City of Jamestown for helping make this effort possible,” Smeraldo added. “By connecting youth with civic and community mentors, and giving them a voice through CCS-TV, we’re building something that’s both educational and inspiring — a program that celebrates the future leaders of this city.”
As participants grow through the program, they’ll also have the chance to “pay it forward,” serving as mentors for the next group of students, including incoming freshmen in the 2026–27 school year.
To learn more about the NextGen Jamestown Program, contact Patrick Smeraldo via email at ccsolutions716@gmail.com. Visit CCS-TV.com or follow @ccstelevision on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on upcoming programming. Watch CCS-TV on Roku, YouTube and the CCS-TV mobile app.
About Collaborative Children’s Solutions (CCS) – Collaborative Children’s Solutions (CCS) is a Jamestown-based nonprofit organization committed to empowering youth and strengthening communities through mentorship, education, and creative partnerships. Through its initiatives and media division, CCS-TV, the organization provides hands-on learning experiences that foster leadership, collaboration, and positive community engagement.
