Youth Leading the Way

For the past 11 years, I have worked with the youth population throughout the city of Boston. I observed a need for programming for at risk youth centered around teaching them leadership skills and incorporating mentorship as a key component. Youth Leading the Way is a youth leadership program that focuses on empowering youth ages 15-18, during the school year and throughout the summer, by providing them with the tools needed to have a successful future. YLW participates in leadership workshops, professional development workshops, social media management, coordinates youth-lead round table discussions and youth police dialogues, and coordinates intergenerational programming with the senior population. During the summer, YLW Youth Leaders will attend the Boston Police Teen Police Academy, coordinate community events, and participate in programming as mentioned above. In addition, Youth Leaders will also attend college tours, participate in career readiness workshops such as resume writing and mock interview, leadership workshops, and effective communication.

Under the direction of the Director and Lead Coordinator, the Youth will be responsible for participating in skill building workshops and creating initiatives and community workshops that will benefit the community. Youth will give presentations, lead roundtable discussions in partnership with other youth programs, and participate in intergenerational activities.

Candidate Requirements:

- Must be enrolled in high school, a Boston resident, and between the ages of 14-18.
- Must be passionate about being part of the change they want to see in their community and understand the importance of public service.
- Must have an interest in exploring new experiences.
- Must have good communication skills, be willing to take initiative when completing tasks, maintain a positive attitude, work effectively in a team, and be committed to the job.
- While an interest in law enforcement is not mandatory, the candidate must be comfortable working with police officers and in a law enforcement environment.
Additional Program Requirements:

- Candidate must participate in all activities, community events, skill-building workshops, presentations, and physical training required by the program.
- Previous experience is not required. The program follows the PEACE curriculum, which offers weekly exploratory and enrichment experiences. PEACE stands for:
- Practice Patience
- Everyone is Important
- Acts of Kindness
- Community Caretaker
- Everyday for the Rest of Your Life
Additional Notes:

- Public transportation is required to and from the program location.
- Transportation is provided for off-site locations only.
- Orientation is mandatory.