麻州文化協會將撥195萬元資助84項計劃培育青少年發展創意

     （Boston Orange編譯）麻州文化協會（Mass Cultural Council）的 2027 會計年度「青年外展計劃」（YouthReach），將撥款 195 萬美元補助 84 個創意青年發展計畫，協助青年透過藝術、人文與科學培養各項技能、人際關係、自信心與發展機會。 

    麻州文化協會作為麻州內的獨立州級藝術機構，致力於強化文化部門、促進經濟活力、支持轉型改變，並保存與啟發創意。 

    「 青年外展計劃」是麻州文化協會推動長達 33 年的青年發展創意方案，也是全美同類計劃中持續時間最長的。該計畫的核心理念在於：青年不應只是被動的接受者，更是自身成長的主動參與者。 

    麻州文化協會執行長大衛·史萊特里（David T. Slatery）表示，年輕人充滿創意與潛能，應該被看見與培育；這些計畫能讓青年找到自己的聲音、發展才能、建立人際連結並勇敢挑戰自我。 

    根據該會上一會計年度的數據顯示，共有 74 個受補助組織參與，服務超過 1.6 萬名青年。成果包括： 高三生畢業率達 98%，比麻州全州的平均 89%還高；74% 的計畫提供就業機會，共 1,700 人獲得有薪工作，累計賺取超過 300 萬美元。 過去連續六年，有 85% 的計畫將心理健康列為首要需求並採取實質行動。 

    麻州文化協會本年度「青年外展計劃」的基礎補助金為 2 萬美元，額外提供心理健康或就業支持的組織，可獲得增強獎助金至 2.6 萬美元。本屆競爭相當激烈，錄取率僅 40%。

    在獲選單位中， 有45 個單位獲得增強獎助金。，45 個單位以 BIPOC（黑人、原住民與有色人種）為核心，或屬於 BIPOC 學生佔多數的學校。 

    這14 個獲補助單位為近三個財年未曾獲得理事會補助的新面孔。 

    新獲獎組織包括：波士頓 Beat the Odds（2.6 萬美元）、水城（Watertown）的 Circus Up（2 萬美元）、勞倫斯市（Lawrence）的 Essex Art Center（2.6 萬美元）、霍利奧克（Holyoke）的LightWorks Collective（2.6 萬美元），以及秋河市（FallRiver）的YEAH! Corps（2.6 萬美元）。這些組織分別透過音樂療癒、馬戲、公共藝術、技術藝術與青年就業等方案服務青年。完整獲獎名單目前已正式公布。 

$1.9 Million Investment into 84 Creative Youth Development Programs

YouthReach supports programs across Massachusetts helping young people build skills, relationships, confidence, and opportunities to thrive

BOSTON – Mass Cultural Council today announces the recipients of 84 YouthReach grant awards totaling $1.95 million in Fisal Year 2027, investing in programs across the Commonwealth that use the arts, humanities, and sciences to support the growth and development of young people.

 

“Young people bring tremendous creativity, ideas, and potential to their communities, and YouthReach stems from the belief that those strengths should be recognized and nurtured,” said David T. Slatery, Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council. “These programs create spaces where young people can find their voices, develop their talents, build meaningful connections with their peers and communities, and challenge themselves to grow.”

 

As the Commonwealth’s independent state arts agency, Mass Cultural Council is charged with bolstering the cultural sector, thereby advancing economic vitality, supporting transformational change, and celebrating, preserving, and inspiring creativity across all Massachusetts communities.

 

For the past 33 years, YouthReach – the nation’s longest continually running public support program for Creative Youth Development (CYD) work in the United States - has supported CYD programs that provide young people with sustained opportunities to create, learn, build relationships, develop new skills, and take an active role in shaping their own experiences. At the heart of Creative Youth Development is the understanding that young people are not simply recipients of programming, but active participants in their own growth.

 

The impact of this approach extends well beyond creative skill-building. Data collected from YouthReach programs over the years demonstrate the important role Creative Youth Development can play in supporting young people’s health, well-being, and sense of connection. According to FY26 data collected from YouthReach recipients, over 16,000 young people participated in 74 funded Creative Youth Development organizations:

• 98% of high school seniors involved with YouthReach graduated from high school (compared to the statewide rate of 89%).

• 74% of the YouthReach programs provided employment to young people.

• 1,700 young people received paid opportunities through their organizations, collectively earning more than $3 million.

• For the sixth year in a row, YouthReach organizations identified mental health as one of the most pressing issues that their young people were facing. 85% of programs identified this as a top need and took steps to address these needs in their programming and cross-sector partnerships.

This year, FY27, YouthReach is providing a minimum award of $20,000. However, organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to addressing additional needs of the young people they serve through mental health and/or workforce development resources were eligible to receive an enhanced award of $26,000.

 

The 84 organizations receiving YouthReach grants this year represent communities across Massachusetts and a wide range of approaches. Moreover, this was a highly competitive grant cycle, with only 40% of applicants selected to receive funding. Of this year’s grant recipients:

• 45 are receiving the enhanced grant award for providing additional mental health and/or workforce development support to their youth.

• 45 identify as BIPOC-centered organizations or are BIPOC-majority schools.

• 14 have not received a Mass Cultural Council grant within the past three fiscal years.

The complete FY27 YouthReach funding list is available online. Some examples of recipients new to YouthReach this year include:

 

Beat the Odds, Boston - BTO Creative Youth Development Program ($26,000)

Beat the Odds provides safe spaces where young people have access to the creative tools necessary to inspire self-awareness and encourage mental health and healing from trauma through music and arts.

 

Circus Up, Watertown – Kirkos Community Troupe ($20,000)

The Kirkos Community Troupe is Circus Up’s youth community troupe. Participants address social issues while crafting collaborative circus acts that are then performed at community events throughout the year.

 

Essex Art Center, Lawrence – Empowering Lawrence Youth for Leadership, Creative Futures, and Social Impact ($26,000)

Essex Art Center works with youth in the City of Lawrence as they create public art projects. Programming allows young people to grow over time, expanding their artistic practice beyond studio walls as they mature and explore how they can shape their community.

 

LightWorks Collective, Holyoke - De la Luz Technical Arts Institute: Real-World Creative Workforce Training for Youth ($26,000)

The De la Luz Technical Arts Institute allows young people from diverse backgrounds to work alongside industry professionals in technical arts. Participants gain real-world experience in entertainment production, stagecraft, video production, and culinary arts.

 

YEAH! Corps, Fall River - YEAH! Corps Youth Arts Wellness Employment Program ($26,000)

YEAH! Corps ensures equitable access to the arts and leadership opportunities for Fall River youth. Participants work across graphic design, illustration, storytelling, and large-scale public art from concept to completion, developing creative and professional skills including leadership, project management, and collaboration