Summer 2011

This summer marks a pivotal moment for transportation in the state of Massachusetts. With the T facing a $45 million budget deficit and nearly 50 percent of Boston youth unable to afford a ride to school, the problems facing our system may seem overwhelming. However, our Youth Way on the MBTA campaign is envisioning positive and innovative strategies to combat the crisis.

Our youth are speaking from personal experience. Youth unemployment is currently at its highest level since the Great Depression—only one in four teens is employed nationally. And the number of young people who want jobs and can’t get them is higher than ever. Today’s youth are motivated and hardworking, but the ongoing recession and budget cuts at the national, state and local levels present major challenges.

Since 2007, Roxbury Environmental Empowerment Project (REEP) and the T Riders Union (TRU) have been working with Boston-area Youth Organizing Project (BYOP) to improve youth access on the MBTA though the Youth Way campaign. In 2009, we achieved a three-hour extension of the MBTA’s Student Pass, from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. At that time, then-Secretary of Transportation James Aloisi, Jr. agreed to research the implementation of a Youth Pass. This June, Youth Way published a report on the benefits of a Youth Pass, prompting MassDOT and the T to begin collaborating with us on a pilot version of the pass.

It’s a huge victory, but we still have a long way to go. The MBTA is facing a combined deficit of nearly a billion dollars between now and 2016, and they have been scrambling for ways to make a dent in the debt, including talks of a fare increase. MBTA merchandise and corporate naming rights to stations might bring in a few dollars, but it won’t change the T’s structural problems or slow the rise in operating costs. And earlier this month, House Transportation Committee Republicans unveiled a bill that would cut national funding for public transit by one-third.

Our communities need transportation funding more than ever. Across the country and in Boston, communities of color are still in deep recession. The unemployment rate has dropped slightly, but has risen for black Americans, especially black men. While ACE has been fighting to improve job access through our work with the Green Justice Coalition and the Youth Jobs Coalition, the recently-passed City budget funded fewer youth jobs than we had hoped, and the violence epidemic continues to claim lives. Losing funding for public transportation would devastate communities that depend on the T to get to work, school, healthcare and more.

The Youth Pass will increase access to public transit for all youth, allowing young people to build a future through education, employment and enrichment activities. This solution provides an alternative to the disinvestment and disempowerment that lead to violence, and creates opportunities for innovation instead of despair.

We couldn’t have made it this far in the Youth Way campaign without your help! Thank you so much for your continued support.

With gratitude,

Kalila Barnett
Executive Director

In this issue:

• Youth Way Profile: Tai Tang

• Young people win Youth Pass pilot program

• REEP EJ Youth Summit a blast

• Building the EJ Movement in Massachusetts

• Another victory in campaign against Brockton power plant

• Youth work to restore summer jobs

• A fantastic night at Jammin' for Justice!

• What's your vision of transit justice?

Youth Way Profile: Tai Tang

Currently I have two jobs. For one, I'm a mentor and tutor at the South End Library. I like the fact that I work with young people. It's very rewarding, and I've learned a lot doing it. I think of myself as a leader because I'm very responsible. I graduate from high school this year, and will be going to UMass in the fall and majoring in business. I save some of my money for college, but I also provide for my sister. Read more...

Young people win Youth Pass pilot program

This June, we made a breakthrough victory in our campaign for a Youth Pass, securing a pilot program for this new fare category. During the Youth Riders Banquet in Jamaica Plain, MBTA General Manager Richard Davey agreed to test our proposed Youth Pass over the course of several months, with young people involved in shaping the project. Read more...

REEP EJ Youth Summit a blast

On July 29, over 300 youth came out to REEP's 15th Annual EJ Youth Summit. Gathered under the theme One life, one hood, recreate and elevate, young people took action in workshops on clean air, youth jobs, food justice, workplace rights, transit justice, immigrant rights, stopping school closings, teen health, and more. Read more...

Building the EJ Movement in Massachusetts

Last month, members of the Massachusetts Environmental Justice Alliance came together at a multi-generational Grassroots Gathering to reflect on our collective progress and future vision. ACE, together with Groundwork Somerville, Chelsea Creek Action Group, Regional Environmental Council, Chelsea Greenspace, Clean Water Action and Nuestras Raíces, shared the latest on our campaigns and discussed expanding the Alliance. Read more...

Another victory in campaign against Brockton power plant

Residents of Brockton and West Bridgewater, represented pro bono by ACE attorneys, secured an important campaign victory in June when the Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) voted four to three to draft a Tentative Decision banning the proposed fossil-fuel power plant from using Brockton’s drinking water for its cooling towers. Read more...

Youth work to restore summer jobs

Youth jobs organizers across the city and state have helped restore severe cuts to summer jobs this year—but a large shortage still remains. Headed by the Youth Jobs Coalition (YJC), the campaign works to open economic opportunities for young people and stop the violence epidemic. Last year, 39 people ages 25 and under were killed in Boston, more than half the murders in the city. Youth programming is crucial in bringing these rates down. Read more...

A fantastic night at Jammin' for Justice!

In May, more than 350 people packed Roxbury’s Hibernian Hall for ACE’s 16th annual Jammin’ for Justice! Our celebration honored people and organizations that have furthered environmental justice over the past year. Read more...

What's your vision of transit justice?

OTM wants to know!

On the Move (OTM) is a coalition of nine community-based organizations in Greater Boston, including ACE, that focus on creating more affordable, reliable and accessible public transportation. We are launching a slogan contest for our fall ad campaign that will be seen on the MBTA, and we want to know what you think! Read more...

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ACE builds the power of communities of color and lower-income communities in New England to eradicate environmental racism and classism and achieve environmental justice. We believe that everyone has a right to a healthy environment and to be decision-makers in issues affecting our communities.