Alessandra Fodera and Emily D’Emic, seniors at Fontbonne Hall Academy, Bay Ridge, will join eight other teens from Brooklyn to form an advisory committee under the Kings County District Attorney’s Office.

In an effort to reach Brooklyn youth, District Attorney Charles J. Hynes sponsored the Young Brooklyn Heroes and Heroines essay contest. The winners of this contest, who include Fodera and D’Emic, will become the first members of the committee, dedicated to improving life in Brooklyn neighborhoods.

The district attorney tasked the committee with developing solutions to various issues based upon a better understanding of those directly involved with it. In being able to hear the opinions of a plethora of young people on topics that concern them,  local government and law enforcement will be better able to understand and solve many problems in the community.

In order to win this honor, Fodera submitted an essay on gang violence and D’Emic wrote about street harassment. Other winning essay topics included pollution within the city and wayward young people succumbing to various forms of addiction. Finalists were selected by a Youth Committee comprised of mentors from the district attorney’s Extraordinary Women.