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Searching for a Better Understanding of Mentally-Disordered Perpetrators of Violent Crime |
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Two New Computer Labs in McCormack Hall: Students Networked for Success |
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Forum Presents Views of Boston's Young Leaders |
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An enthusiastic group of young leaders took the stage at State Street Bank on February 9 for the fourteenth Forum for the 21st Century: "Boston's Young Leaders Speak Out." Speakers from various local organizations offered their perspectives on the many challenges and concerns facing Boston's youth today.
Chancellor Penney introduced the forum by reminding the audience of the importance of listening to young voices at UMass Boston, especially since it is the only public university in the city. Alan Khazei, co-founder and CEO of City Year, a national service organization dedicated to community service and leadership, and moderator of the event, remarked on the number of "firsts" that have occurred in Boston. Boston had the first public school (Boston Latin School), the first public park (Boston Common), and the first public library. Khazei would like to see Boston become the first city to truly empower and support its youth.
Vuong Nguyen, a recent immigrant from Vietnam now a junior at Boston College High School, stressed the importance of improving young people's tolerance of other cultures when asked what troubled him most about life in Boston. Nguyen cited personal experience of people making fun of his accent and cultural differences, and said that he feels "very separate because of [his] ethnicity."
Responding to the question "What can be done to make diversity work better for our city?" William Dorcena, president of the board of directors of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, said that business leaders should become more involved in Boston neighborhoods. He sees strengthened relationships between neighborhood residents and business leaders as a way of bridging a socio-economic gap. If business leaders knew what was going on in the neighborhoods&emdash;what residents are working on and the struggles they face&emdash;a strong collaboration might be developed.
Annissa Essaibi, president of the Columbia/Savin Hill Civic Association and Dorchester activist, pointed out that city and state officials, while concerned about problems facing Boston's neighborhoods, "don't live and work in them every day" and base legislation on the views they get from a building overlooking the city.
When asked about her goals as a young leader, Karilyn Crockett, a co-founder and director of Multicultural Youth Tour of What's Now (MYTOWN), said she'd like Boston's focus to be on creating a climate of inclusion, "so that everyone can feel at home." MYTOWN attempts to build that connection by hiring young people to research individual families' historical roots to the city
Kerry Thompson, director of South Boston Catholic Youth Ministry, offered his insights into possible solutions for problems facing youth, with specific reference to young people living in Southie. Thompson sees a collaboration of churches, local organizations, and communities in supporting young Bostonians as a method of decreasing crime and suicide among youth.
Reverend Ray Hammond, founder and pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, served as commentator for the event. Look for the next forum to take place in the fall.