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BOSTON - Friday,
April 23, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey and the Department of Youth Engagement and Employment today announced that applications are now
open for Boston teens to apply for the 2021-2022 Mayor’s Youth Council. The Mayor’s Youth Council (MYC) is a model
of youth inclusion in government and civic engagement that has inspired
cities across the nation, and even internationally, to examine how they
include youth in local government. Applications are being accepted until Sunday,
July 18, 2021.
“Creating
opportunities for Boston’s youth is an important part of our efforts in
engaging young people in the work of city government,” said Mayor Janey. “I
look forward to working with the incoming 2021-2022 Mayor’s Youth Council
to learn from their experiences and understand their priorities for the
City of Boston.”
The Mayor’s Youth
Council is a group of 85 high school-aged youth who are committed to
improving their communities and empowering young people in the City of
Boston. The number of youth representing neighborhoods is based on census
data that indicates where young people live. MYC provides a platform for
youth voice to be represented in the city with the goals of:
·
Connecting
youth to city government
·
Building
a network with youth leaders from across the City
·
Educating
youth about the civic process
·
Encouraging
youth to prioritize social change and justice in their own communities
To apply to be a
neighborhood representative on the Mayor's Youth Council, students must be
Boston residents and entering grades 9-12 (or of comparable age). All
applicants will participate in a group interview.
MYC representatives
form issue-centric subcommittees based on Mayor Janey’s cabinet structure.
In the past year, members of the MYC have worked on a variety of issues,
including public peace, civic engagement, education, arts and culture,
climate justice, economic and workforce development, public health, as well
as continued to oversee the implementation of the Youth Lead the Change
capital projects voted on by youth last year. In addition, students on the
Council can serve as MYC Liaisons, positions appointed by their peers.
Liaisons serve as neighborhood and community ambassadors, helping to ensure
that youth around the city have access to resources, programs and
services.
Due to COVID-19, the
2020-2021 Mayor's Youth Council was fully remote for the entire program.
The MYC Youth Ambassadors connected with each other through virtual
meetings, learned about critical initiatives across the city from
department leaders, and focused on ways to engage their peers through the
planning of impact projects.
“The Mayor’s Youth
Council is an amazing opportunity to get involved in ways you would've
never imagined yourself doing. The connections and experiences allow youth
to connect, collaborate and create change in their community,” said Salma
Murphy, a 16-year-old Youth Ambassador on the Civic Engagement Committee.
“I've never felt more immersed in my community and MYC has enabled me to
further my critical thinking and advocacy skills and begin my journey into
government.”
In the past year,
members of the MYC have met with numerous city departments such as the
Mayor's Office Immigration Advancement, Civic Engagement, Financial
Empowerment, Recovery Services, Arts & Culture, Food Access, Emergency
Management, as well as elected officials, to serve as a voice for youth in
government. Members commit to creating impact projects through their
committees, such as partnering with the Office of Financial Empowerment to
host virtual financial literacy workshops for youth all over Boston. The workshops
this spring focused on college affordability, building credit, and helping
educate young people on how they can start to plan for their financial
futures. All engagement opportunities allow MYC members to gain a deeper
understanding of Boston residents and communities.
The MYC is overseen
by the Department of Youth Engagement and Employment and partners with longtime sponsor,
Northeastern University, to support the Mayor's Youth Council. To learn
more and to apply online, visit youth.boston.gov. | 
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