Center for Teen Empowerment

CONTACT:

48 Rutland St.
Boston, MA 02118
617-536-4266
www.teenempowerment.org

Stanley Pollack, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

The Center for Teen Empowerment was founded in 1992, in the belief that urban youth have the ability to make meaningful improvements in their schools and communities. It also believes that if youth have access legitimate leadership roles, they are less likely to pursue destructive forms of power such as violence, drugs, and suicide.

At each of six sites (five in Greater Boston, one in Rochester, NY), 10-12 youth organizers work everyday after school with adult program coordinators to identify the most pressing issues in their school or community and organize a strategy to address those issues. Teen Empowerment works with a range of institutions such as social services, juvenile detention facilities and police departments to build relationships, create communication channels and explore educational opportunities. They also run the annual Youth Peace Conference, which brings together 800 Boston youths to discuss issues facing teens and how they can work together to influence public policies affecting their lives.

The program is seeing great success: Every year, the teens carry out more than 150 school- and community-change initiatives, involving over 5,000 youth, teachers, residents and police officers. They have resolved over 150 conflicts relating to homicide, gang activity and hate crimes. And, of the 400 youth organizers that have participated in the past five years, 98% have graduated from high school as opposed to 77% of their peers.

Please give Teen Empowerment the support they deserve.

(1998: HUMAN SERVICES: Children and Youth: General)