Some of the past achievements of Boston youth activist groups include:
- Youth AffordabiliT Coalition’s “Youth Way on the MBTA” campaign achieved extended hours and days for the youth pass at an affordable rate, offering more access to public transportation for Boston youth
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- Boston Student Advisory Council‘s proposal to have a district-wide survey for BPS students to offer constructive feedback for their teachers was approved by the Boston School Committee in 2010 and implemented in the 2010-2011 school year. This ensures that student voice is heard in teacher evaluations.
- Roxbury Environmental Empowerment Project’s “Asthma-Diesel” campaign, in which they fought to reduce harmful pollution from diesel vehicles that is poisoning our community and causing a childhood asthma epidemic. In 2011, they got Brigham and Women’s Hospital, along with six other Partners Healthcare hospitals, to commit to reducing diesel emissions on all current and future construction projects
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- After 3 years of advocacy and action, Hyde Square Task Force‘s “Sex Education in BPS Schools” campaign has persuaded the the Boston School Committee to pass a policy that calls for Comprehensive Sex Education in Boston schools and for condoms to be available in every BPS high school.
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- In 2003, when budget cuts resulted in decreased summer jobs funding, the Boston Youth Organizing Project took action. Through their efforts, Boston Connects gave $750,000 to summer jobs, the City Council voted in favor of restoring $1 million dollars of funding from the proposed cuts, the Private Industry Council and Chamber of Commerce of Boston worked to get the number of small business positions up.
Sources
1. VicTory [Online Video]. Press Pass TV. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjrKfE-4NR8
2. REEP Asthma Diesel. REEP. Retrieved from http://vimeo.com/19811453
3. Sex in School: Does Ignorance Keep Us Safe?. Hyde Square Task Force – Intercultural Productions. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lA09isnXTQ