Critical Breakdown is promoting young people as powerful resources for creative new solutions to problems affecting their own lives and communities. It is a place where they can explore new solutions to the conflicts they experience and a place where class, gender, race, sexual orientation, age and other identifications are viewed not as marks of division but as windows to a full and broad range of perspectives on life.

As an alcohol-and drug-free open microphone venue where inner-city, low income, marginalized young people explore themes of social activism, political consciousness, and non-violence, Critical Breakdown uses socially conscious performance art such as hip hop, spoken word, and dance to attract a diverse group of young people. They also focus on leadership development and outreach to Boston youth who are underserved by more traditional youth programs. They currently serve over 200 young people each month, mostly from Boston’s neighborhoods of Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roxbury and the South End.

Based on a belief in the dignity and worth of every human being as conceived by the American Friends Service Committee, Critical Breakdown embraces this ideal and fosters the development of young people to examine their experiences with injustice and violence, encourage youth to see themselves as powerful agents of change and to build trust and respect between and among different neighborhoods, races, ethnicities and class groups. If you like their work, they need your support to continue. Please give.