Youth have always been on the frontline fighting for what’s right in their community, ultimately, affecting the world. From getting arrested with peaceful sit-ins to community protests, youth have been there, particularly, taking a strong stand into what led to the Civil Rights Movement. Many years after the Civil Rights movement, youth were still standing up for their rights but things have drastically changed when it comes to youth being on the frontline.

In Dorchester, the change has hit this community hard. Youth are faced with countless problems ranging from hunger and poverty, violence, inferior education, health care, and the lack of jobs. On Thursday, January 17, 2008, the SCI Dorchester Youth Council organized their first Civic Round Table Discussion to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the national Make It A Day On, Not A Day Off service day.

Over twenty youth convened to share their community experiences and insights on the neighborhood while meeting other youth who are working towards solving these problems. Out of the discussion, youth felt the time was now, more than any to make permanent changes in their community. “We need strong positive leaders, self-empowerment, safe environments, and strong youth advocates; jobs and internships, healthier and affordable food choices and quality out-of-school time activities”, the youth stated. They all agreed that it was important for youth to on the frontlines of all these issues and have a place at the table.

Many youth left the event feeling empowered to work with other youth, collaboratively, on these issues, as well as feeling more appreciative of the opportunities of the experiences and opportunities they have had in their life, thus far, as they have shaped them into being positive agents of change.

After talking about all of this, “I’m happy I have a job” said Kira Rogers with a smile, a peer leader from The Food Project, as she shares how she is helping to bring positive outcomes to the community.

The SCI Dorchester Youth Council is a group of young leaders, between the ages of 14-18, who are trained in Civic Engagement. They meet once a week to discuss new and exciting activities for youth to better their community. Council members encourage other youth to become community leaders and help solve the problems of today’s youth.

For more information on how you can participate in the Civic Round Table, contact Grace Ejiwale, Youth Program Coordinator, at 617.822.8297 or via email Gejiwale@scidorchester.org.

Civic Round Table Outcome/Brainstorms

1. What are the sources of the problem?

2. What are the effects of the problem?

3. Who is effected?

4. Solutions

Group 1: Violence

1. Family, Role Models, Family Value and respect
2. Poverty Communication, resources, racism, peer pressure, friends, peer education, system, media, TV, video games, culture, violence and music
3. High school Teens, Families and minorities
4. Influence, outreach, jobs, education parents, empowering self, community and family; embrace, mentor, leadership and positive leader.

Group 2: Education

1. Not preparing youth for life but only to pass tests

Not diverse/ segregated

Funding

Students don’t have enough voice

Community Connection

Family, teacher, student relationships

Healthy nourishing foods in schools

Quality of schools- mice, cold, dirty

Price of higher education

Lack of activities- art, music and gym

After school activities

Unsafe environment

1. Home, Associates, friends, community, media, government, self, segregation, oppression
2. Changes in curriculum, more variety of classes, student loans, electives should be student decided, enough books and resources; all schools should have equal education, more school support on healthy eating
3. everyone, mostly young kids, represent for everyone

Group 3: Jobs

1. You have to be a citizen and have a social security card

-         Hard to have a criminal record

-         A shortage of jobs because of the bad economy so people take jobs they are over qualified for leaving teens without any.

• Need proper education for proper job
• Jobs don’t pay enough

1. Policy/ foreign policy, state laws, many applicants for limited jobs, negative perception of youth, diverse and ethnic groups,
2. Youth, people w/o market skills, lack of education, immigrants, ex-convicts and poor people.
3. Training people through education so they gain marketable skills, reserve jobs for youth and convicts, raise minimum wage, internships, extracurricular activities, programs, create programs so immigrants can attain citizenship and train employees to be citizen competent.

Group 4: Health Care

1. The U.S. is the only industrialized country without universal healthcare, health insurance companies care more about profits than people, and health care is unaffordable to many.
2. Insurance companies can sway politicians to do what is best for the people. Unhealthy foods are cheap and easy to get pop culture promotes unhealthy lazy lifestyles
3. Everyone is effected, especially low-income household who can’t afford the move pricey healthy foods.
4. More private practices bin hospitals should accept all health insurance companies more info available to schools and community programs. Support local farmers (the food project) more youth nutrition programs.

Ending remarks of events:

Interest in event, Jobs and informal event, fun. Engaging, educating, factors. Felt great about having a job. Interesting. Differences in schools met a lot of people. Apart of community. Impressed. Opened thoughts. Small groups but got a lot done. Smart. It’s good to see youth talk about effects in community. Racism, oppression effects education. Needs this discussion in politics. Always invite friends. Learned from brainstorms. Took health care discussion immediately. Amazed at how much young people know. Learned that everyone is going through the same things. The discussion on food was productive. Got a chance to discuss things about it. Learned things about health care. It was great. Learned about education. Jobs affecting people. All four-discussion topics add up. Taking, hope, appreciate of youth and recognition of how smart youth are.  There was leadership, accountability and respect. Needs more people in the room.