You can also view the web pages of past events here.
Up Through 2004: Youth Worker Networks Develop
Building a citywide network of youth and youth workers was a natural extension of local youth worker networks that had already developed through 2004, including the Dudley Outreach Worker Network, the Grove Hall Youth Workers' Alliance, the Mission Hill Youth Collaborative, and the South End/Lower Roxbury Youth Workers' Alliance.
Up Through 2004: Cuts in Youth Programs and Jobs
Throughout the beginning of the decade, youth workers watched one funding cut after another to youth programs and jobs: Boston Youth Fund jobs decreased and were made unavailable to 14- and 18- year olds; teen centers at public housing developments shut down; grants dried up and forced youth programs to shut down and forced youth workers out of their jobs. As more teens grew up with fewer opportunities, youth workers knew the damage that these cuts would do to youth and communities.
Summer 2004: Violence Sparks a Response by Youth Workers
In the summer of 2004, youth workers met with elected officials, police, clergy, and community members to discuss how to stop violence. Youth workers already had a desire to build a citywide network, and to make their voice around issues of funding cuts heard; now seemed the right time to move forward.
October 27, 2004: First Citywide Forum
About 135 youth and youth workers from across the city gathered in St. Paul's Episcopal Church downtown to meet each other and talk about issues affecting youth and youth workers especially how cuts to youth programs had hurt communities.
November 2004-January 2005: Determining Citywide Priorities
Four citywide priorities surfaced from surveys about the issues brought up in October. They were: (1) sustained, long-term funding for programs; (2) living wages for youth workers; (3) youth jobs; and (4) youth leadership. (Read more here.)
April 6, 2005: Citywide Priorities Rally (Second Citywide Forum)
More than 320 youth and youth workers attended to speak out to city councilors and public officials. Nine city councilors attended, and seven of thirteen city councilors pledged their support to leverage increasing city funding for Boston Youth Fund (the Hopeline) to $5 million.
June 26, 2005: Statehouse Summer Jobs Rally
The youth organization REEP (Roxbury Environmental Empowerment Project) decided in May to take the lead on the issue of summer jobs. They began surveying and videotaping youth about the affect of the lack of summer jobs and host a Summer Jobs Rally at the Statehouse. Youth lobby legislators to increase funding for summer jobs, and 100 youth and youth workers celebrate the Statehouse's decision to reinstate a $4 million line item for youth jobs across Massachusetts.
July 2005: Monthly Youth Meetings Begin.
REEP begins holding monthly youth meetings for youth programs to stay involved in the Summer Jobs Campaign to increase funding for Boston youth summer jobs to $10 million.
December 1, 2005: Third Citywide Forum of Youth and Youth Workers Building Local and Citywide Networks
Two hundred youth and youth workers across Boston came together once again to discuss how to build strong local networks in their communities. Youth workers returned to their communities to begin planning new local youth worker networks, including in East Boston and Chinatown. (Read more here.)
2005-2006: Public Discussion Focuses on Violence
With 75 homicides in 2005 (the highest number since 1995), community groups and the City began focusing their attention heavily on violence. Many community and government initiatives arose to address the issue; youth and youth workers stayed determined to impact the public discussion with our perspective.
January 19, 2006: Citywide Forum Taking Action! on the United Youth and Youth Workers Agenda
One hundred youth and youth workers discussed how to take action on four areas related to stopping violence:
- Youth Jobs
- Police Relationships
- Teen Programs
- Cross-Neighborhood Relationships
(Read more here.)
February 22, 2006: Citywide Council Hearing on Youth Violence
Youth and youth workers packed the chambers of City Council to speak out on solutions to violence, including increasing youth jobs, strengthening teen programs, and improving police/teen relationships.
