Over the past semester, the Young People’s Project Greater Boston has been involved in a multitude of activities from math literacy work to policy and advocacy campaigns.
We are very excited that our Algebra 1 labs and I-test programs have begun in Boston and in Cambridge! We are seeing about 10 participants in our Algebra 1 labs program, which takes place Saturdays from 10am-12pm at Young Achievers in Mattapan. Our high schools students along with lead instructor, Quin Soto, are hoping to increase participation by 5 more students.
Also, the I-test program has begun and we are seeing about 10-12 participants at each site: the Deerborn School in Roxbury and the King Open Extended Day Program in Cambridge. The I-test programming will hopefully continue throughout the summer months!
In addition, our Flagway curriculum has been going great! We are currently at Fletcher Maynard Academy, Cambridge Community Center and the Cambridge Boys and Girls Club in Cambridge, and in Boston, we have programs at Harbor Point Community in Harbor Point, Clap Elementary in Dorchester, Young Achievers and Mattahunt in Mattapan and the Hernandez in Roxbury. Between all the sites, we serve at least 15-20 students every day!
This session, YPP math literacy workers joined local coalitions and are actively participating in them daily! Math literacy workers have led teen weekend retreats and monthly meetings for the Massachusetts youth coalition, Teens Leading the Way (TLTW). With TLTW, we are currently preparing for a May rally at the Massachusetts State House, which will focus on urging the Joint Committee on Education to vote for bill #S00183 entitled Acts by Teens for Teens for Civics Education inside the Classroom.
In partnership with another the Youth Jobs Coalition, we have met with local politicians including Senator Petruecelli who committed to supporting the level of funding needed to restore the Youth Jobs Funding based on the Govenors Budget Proposal. Math literacy workers also visited the Massachusetts State House to meet with Senator Tolman, Representative Wolfe, and Senator Diminico to speak on this issue. In addition, YPP Greater Boston participated in a Youth Jobs Rally where math literacy worker Smucker Almonord spoke to thousands after Governor Deval Patrick.
Not only is YPP involved with the Youth Jobs Coalition and Teens Leading the Way, but we have also partnered with the Children’s Defense Fund’s Coalition to Dismantle the Cradle to Prison Pipeline. Math literacy workers and staff participated in multiple conferences, as well as spoke on an inter-generational panel at a City Year/CDF sponsored event about how the community can come together to dismantle the cradle to prison pipeline. YPP Trainer, Selledia Ball, is a co-coordinator of the youth portion of the Education Taskforce under the Coalition and is planning, with others, upcoming Youth Summits and retreats around the issue of the criminalization of youth.
In February, YPP Greater Boston took about 12 young people to Washington DC for the Voices in Action National Youth Summit. Greater Boston math literacy workers, Amy Tamakloe and Cliff Freeman presented at various workshops during the conference. YPP Greater Boston even partnered with the Alliance for Educational Justice to co-facilitate the closing session of the day!
Click below to see YPP Greater Boston's bi-weekly newsletters regarding their policy and advocacy coalition updates, events and links to news.
Participants complete a relay race during a workshop at Fletcher Maynard Academy in Cambridge, March 2011
Participants at Clap Elementary in Dorchester play zero wins
Math literacy workers and participants from Clap Elementary in Dorchester discover relationships between numbers using rubix cubes.
YPP Greater Boston math literacy workers Smucker A. (l) and Trinidad R. (r) along with Omo Moses were panelists at the Children's Defense Fund/City Year Summit on Dismantling the Cradle to Prison Pipeline for City Year Corps Members in April 2011