I am 16 years old, live in Boston, and have been working as a senior youth organizer at the Center for Teen Empowerment (TE) for three years.
My experience at Teen Empowerment has opened a multitude of opportunities, encouraging me to grow and develop my skill set. My job has prepared me for the future, all while surrounded by a supportive community.
TE has broadened my perspective and furthered my awareness. My time at TE has shaped me into a confident and capable leader who can comfortably advocate for the community and make change.
These same benefits should be accessible to everyone as they help level the playing field against more privileged counterparts. Cutting access to these essential organizations would compromise the future and disadvantage the youth.
Youth jobs are necessary, not optional. A youth job means a lot more than what most adults think. Youth jobs keep young people alive and provide safe spaces. Youth jobs decrease violence and harm. These programs help develop the necessary skills and equip youth with the ability to succeed now and in the future. Without youth jobs, we miss out on valuable resources, opportunities and experiences that encourage growth. Many youths use the money they earn to support their families and meet their basic needs.
Unfortunately, many other young people in my community are in a position where they don’t have jobs. It’s not because they don’t want one or don’t try to get one, and it’s not because they aren’t ready. It is because the commonwealth and the city of Boston are failing to deliver. Currently, there are not enough youth jobs in Massachusetts for everyone who wants or needs one, and soon there will be far fewer.
Gov. Maura Healey proposed a 40% cut to the youth jobs budget for FY2027, and Mayor Michelle Wu eliminated school-year youth jobs from the city’s 2027 budget proposal. This is unacceptable.
When it comes to allocating funding, jobs for youth are always offered for cuts rather than
considered for increases. This is not the first time youth jobs have been cut; it’s happened many times over the last 20 years. The state and city are divesting from our youth. When is it going to be enough? When there are no jobs left?
The investment the city and the commonwealth have made in youth employment organizations over the last two decades has helped build the type of capacity we need to successfully support youth in the community, helping lower violent crime and increase youth achievement citywide. Making more cuts again this year could dismantle this important infrastructure and negatively impact youth for many years to come.
Currently, Teen Empowerment is working with a coalition of youth organizations in Boston to get funding for jobs restored in both the state and city budgets for 2027. Other teens and I have been working to get youth voices into the budget decision-making process. We have been holding rallies, testifying at hearings and trying to meet with elected officials. But it’s not easy.
These hearings and meetings are always scheduled during school hours. Public testimony is often not permitted to begin until late in the evening, when we should be doing homework, and our leaders often don’t take youth voices seriously.
Another thing we are doing is collecting data on the potential effects of the proposed budget cuts by surveying people ages 12- 24 in Boston. If you are a Boston youth, please fill out the survey at tinyurl.com/BostonYouthSurvey. This community assessment was designed by Teen Empowerment youth and adults and is a critical way to amplify the needs of young people in Boston. There are sections that give youth space to share more of their perspectives, opinion and personal lived experiences
We often hear that youth are the future, but we receive limited support. We are left with so little yet are expected to do so much. I’ve noticed that community organizations have already had to reduce the number of positions available for youth to work this summer and next year.
What do our leaders think the youth will be doing without these jobs? What will we youth do without the caring and supportive adults that youth jobs bring into our lives?
If you believe youth are the future, we can’t settle for short-term, unsecured and unguaranteed “solutions” like private funding. This is not a sustainable option. Our community needs the valuable resources, opportunities and experiences that these supportive youth jobs provide to encourage growth.
Jormanny Gonzalez is a Senior Youth Organizer for the Center for Teen Empowerment.
