Young Bostonians encouraged to submit ideas for 'Youth Lead the Change'

Mayor Martin J. Walsh is encouraging youth to submit ideas for "Youth Lead the Change," the first participatory budgeting process in North America by and for young people. Boston youth ages 12-22 have the opportunity to submit capital project ideas for spending $1 million of the City of Boston's capital budget by Friday, November 30, 2018.

"By involving young people in the budget process, we are empowering our future leaders and supporting what really matters to them," said Mayor Walsh. "Their hard work and innovative ideas allow us to complete unique, community-enhancing projects across the City."

Over the past five years, the City has allocated $6 million in capital funds and thousands of young people have nominated projects for funding. Past ideas selected for funding have included expanding Wicked Free WiFi, installing water bottle refilling stations at parks, installing fans in schools, placing solar panels on City-owned property, creating a media center for youth in City Hall, placing newer trash cans and recycling bins in select neighborhoods, adding new security cameras in Dorchester's Dr. Loesch Family Park, and many more.

"Youth Lead the Change is an incredibly powerful program that provides youth the opportunity to amplify their voice and create tangible and meaningful change in the community," said Chief of Health and Human Services Marty Martinez. "Through this effort, youth have a seat at the decision-making table by allocating significant monies to promote and advance the well being of youth throughout the city."

"Thanks to the vision of Mayor Walsh, I have the opportunity to help empower young people across Boston to become civically engaged and to play a part in influencing the future of their city," said Daniel Byran, age 17, Youth Director for Youth Lead the Change. "YLC serves as the first opportunity for young people to participate in civic life. Where else do teenagers have the opportunity to spend a million dollars of their city's budget? Nowhere."

Youth Lead the Change is managed by Department of Youth Engagement & Employment, formerly a Division of Boston Centers for Youth & Family (BCYF), and the Mayor's Youth Council oversees the process in partnership with youth organizations across Boston. The Mayor's Youth Council is a group of 85 high school-aged youth committed to improving their communities and empowering other young people in Boston.

Young Bostonians ages 12-22 can submit their ideas at Boston.gov/youth-lead-change by Friday, November 30, 2018.

The Department of Youth Engagement & Employment serves as a youth engagement resource center. The Department aims to connect, advocate and support youth constituents and stakeholders. For over 23 years, DYEE has provided Boston's youth with the necessary skills and competencies to transition into young adulthood. As the largest city-funded youth workforce development agency in the nation and a pioneer in youth civic engagement, YEE continues to serve as a pipeline for youth engagement in the City of Boston.