This summer’s Youth Engaged in Action (YEA!) graduation was part celebration and part conference as groups from each Boston, Malden, Medford and Everett neighborhood shared their “Photo Voice” projects. YEA! is all about direct experience, and these 13-year-olds conducted field research not only to identify critical issues affecting their communities but to recommend solutions.
The 2019 YEA! class of 100 completed an immersive three-weeks of workshops and field trips where they learned about civic engagement from leaders like State Rep. Jay Livingstone; career readiness from managers at Google and the U.S. State Department (thanks to new partner DreamWakers); personal finance thanks to Capital One, and so much more.
Their “Photo Voice” presentations brought the various components together as students passionately discussed how to overcome issues impacting their neighborhoods including gun violence, food insecurity, and pollution. As YEA! participant Maryam Barry concluded, “YEA! showed us how much power we have to speak up. We have all grown with each other and learned to work together” to create a better future.
Watch the 2019 YEA! youth in action! HERE
YEA! is made possible by our outstanding partners Capital One, Junior Achievement of Eastern Massachusetts, the Eaton Vance U.S. Charitable Gift Trust, and the Prince Hall Grand Masonic Lodge of Massachusetts.