United Youth and Youth Workers of Boston

YOUTH & YOUTH WORKERS CALL ON CITY
FOR A MULTIFACETED SOLUTION TO VIOLENCE
Group calls for $8 million for youth jobs, youth programs, and streetworkers in City budget

April 9, 2007. BOSTON, MA [City Hall] – In anticipation of Mayor Menino's initial release of the City’s $2 billion budget this Wednesday, youth and youth workers gathered in City Hall to call on the City to fund an additional $8 million for youth jobs, youth programs, and streetworkers. Their petition for support came on the heels of the 17th homicide of the year on Sunday morning, marking a 70% increase in homicides compared to 2006. Many of these deaths disproportionately affect the young people in Boston.

The group consisted of members of the grassroots alliance United Youth and Youth Workers, which has members from more than 93 youth organizations in Boston and works to build a just and equitable future for the youth, youth workers, and communities of Boston. They called for: an additional $4.5 million for year-round jobs and summer jobs, including jobs for youth with CORIs and jobs for 14- and 18- year olds; $2 million for grants to youth programs, administered by a community board including youth and youth workers; and an additional $1.5 million for streetworkers, to increase the number to 50 streetworkers and pay a starting salary of $35,000. This is the third year that the group has called for investing in opportunities for youth in order to stem violence and help youth thrive.

Explaining why these solutions must be taken seriously, 19-year old Carlos Moreno said, "Youth are the people affected by violence. The City needs to include our voice so we can be decision-makers and become the leaders of tomorrow." Moreno is a senior at West Roxbury High School who lives in Dorchester and is a youth leader at Roxbury Environmental Empowerment Project.

Youth workers stood in strong support of youth with a united voice. “Youth workers are the ones working with them day to day helping them make positive choices and become leaders,” said Rebecca Price, a youth worker in Jamaica Plain. “We experience violence deeply along with the youth in our neighborhoods. Because we work with them, we know we need to provide safe places for our youth, offer jobs and programs, and connect with street workers who can help youth access our programs.”

The youth and youth workers stressed that their recommendations were part of a more general need for them to be part of a comprehensive solution. "If we want young people to stop battling each other, we all have to first commit to working with each other," said Shauna Rigaud, a youth worker at MYTOWN. "Youth and youth workers must have a voice working with City officials, clergy, and police to create a multifaceted solution to violence."

"The City invested in police to help stop violence in our communities; we say that the solution must include opportunities for youth," said Corina McCarthy-Fadel, an 18-year old youth organizer at Boston Area Youth Organizing Project. "The youth are dying; with more opportunities, we can lead positive and productive lives and influence our peers to do the sme."

Since 2001, the City cut $4.7 million to youth job programs. At current funding levels, only about 3500 of the 7,686 youth registered for summer jobs on the City's Hopeline will receive jobs. The $4.5 million additional funding youth and youth workers called for would allow the City to fund 6,000 summer jobs and 1,000 year-round jobs. "A lot of violence happens during the year," said Carlos Moreno. "It's not enough to give teens jobs during the summer; we need jobs to help us develop skills all year round."

The youth and youth workers called for $2 million in grants from the City to fund youth development programs, saying that programs prevented violence not only by providing youth positive activities but also by building long-term strengths. “My youth program gives me leadership skills and organizational skills so I can achieve my goals,” said Kevin Georges, 16, a sophomore at Boston Latin Academy who attends a youth program in Jamaica Plain. Through 2002, the City distributed $400,000 a year in grants to youth programs. The group said that such funding for programs was imperative to help youth organizations stay open, to retain staff, and run effective programs.

Gerdon Encarnación, 18, passionately advocated for a stronger Streetworker program. The group asked for $1.5 million to expand the program from 24 to 50 Streetworkers and increase the starting salary to $35,000, in order to allow about 3 Streetworkers per community. By staying in the same community, they said, Streetworkers could build lasting relationships with youth there. Encarnación, already a strong outreach worker in the community, hopes to become a Streetworker. “You can’t stop violence by trying to control the streets,” he said. “You do it by building relationships – going out and meeting people. But the Streetworkers can’t be in all the places, all the time. This day they might be on Washington Street, the next day on Bowdoin Street,” making it hard to find them when a crisis happens, he said.

The youth and youth workers recognized that Mayor Thomas Menino and Governor Deval Patrick announced an increase of $350,000 in summer jobs funding last week, but said that it is not enough. The youth and youth workers called on the City to release a budget on Wednesday that looks beyond short-term reactions to violence and instead looks to a long-term, lasting solution: investing in helping young people grow and thrive.