Posted by:
Elizabeth Clay, Director of Grassroots Governance
Last week, Roca, a non-profit organization serving young people in Chelsea hosted the Governor's Office of Civic Engagement for a discussion about their Massachusetts. The conversation started with education- from the strengths and weaknesses of local high schools (good: supportive programs like college prep, bad: teachers who encourage students to drop out of school) to the high cost of college.
We were talking with AmeriCorps members between the ages of 18-22 who have grown up in Chelsea, East Boston, Revere and Lynn, and they had a lot of good things to say about local development over the last decade. They noted better parks and playgrounds, improved public transportation (though they would prefer if the MBTA operated 24 hours) and strong community-city partnerships. A few said they would consider moving to other places, such as New York for the entertainment industry or Southern cities for a lower cost of living. For now, they are all making a difference in their communities through service and have a ton to contribute- and the Commonwealth will be a better place if they stay.
Members of Young Mothers Corps and Youth STAR AmeriCorps at Roca in Chelsea
The "What's Your Massachusetts" young adult listening tour will wrap up at the end of the year with a report to Governor Patrick which we will share on this blog. If you haven't made it to a meeting, share a thought with us in the comments here, and take a look at resources for young adults at the Live here. Work Here. Play Here. page.
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