H.Y.P.E. Youth Program
Humboldt Youth Partnering for Empowerment
Summer 2008
Summer 2008
The H.Y.P.E. Program (Humboldt Youth Partnering For Empowerment) develops creative ways to reach at-risk youth and promote non-violence in the Humboldt Ave. neighborhood of Boston, especially during the summer-evening period. Humboldt Youth Partnering for Empowerment (H.Y.P.E.) is a program for youth in the Humboldt Avenue area of Roxbury. This is the third summer that CMS will sponsor H.Y.P.E. along with four neighborhood churches: Bethel Pentecostal, Greater Generations Tabernacle, Pleasant Hill Baptist, and St. Mark Congregational. H.Y.P.E. offers:
- job readiness training
- increasing self-esteem programs
- community-building instruction
- sessions on growing as an empowered individual
- sports and recreation
- movie nights in Trotter Park
- a basketball tournament
- “Teen Cafés” with music and performances
Youth may engage in structured activities, such as open-mike, talent shows, and discussions on topics related to the following Program Focus Areas: Employment Skills, Personal Development, Education, Spiritual Development, and Leadership Development. Activities take place two or three evenings per week from 6 PM to 9 PM. Some Saturday activities, such as field trips or sports events, are also offered.
Last summer over 230 young people attended H.Y.P.E. events. A key element of H.Y.P.E.’s success is its use of peer leadership. Most of the summer staff are the same age or a little older than the participants, creating a sense of trust and common understanding. H.Y.P.E. events are available at no or low cost.
City Mission Society (CMS) has joined with four collaborating churches from the Humboldt Ave. neighborhood to form H.Y.P.E. The four churches include Bethel Pentecostal Church, Greater Generations Tabernacle, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, and St. Mark Congregational Church. H.Y.P.E. is a unique collaboration, bringing together the social service experience of CMS and the strong knowledge of the neighborhood and its residents provided by churches that make up the heart of this neighborhood.
H.Y.P.E works to reduce youth violence by means of an empowerment model whereby the youth participants have the opportunity to learn skills and participate concretely in activities that promote a regard for the community, for one’s peers, and for oneself. H.Y.P.E recognizes the natural interests and drives that teenagers have and provides productive channels to direct them. This process begins during the recruitment process when potential participants are surveyed about the topics and activities they would like to see covered during the summer.
For more information or to offer assistance, contact Paul Baxter at pbaxter@cmsboston.org or call 617-742-6830, ext 204.
See a gallery of photos from the H.Y.P.E. program!
Program Information Sheet [Adobe PDF]
