The Boston Opportunity Agenda

City of Boston's Office of Youth Engagement & Advancement (OYEA) is launching the first-ever citywide youth needs assessment to focus on Boston residents ages 14 to 25 during afterschool and after-work hours. Encourage young people to take the survey so that their voices help shape future policies, programs, and resources in Boston! ???? Survey: https://buff.ly/40ZoQ9c ???? More info can be found here: https://buff.ly/40SkfWj #YouthSpeaksBoston #YouthSpeakBostonListens #TurnYourVoiceIntoAction

Our friends at ?????? ???????????? ???????????? are hosting a special ?????????? ?????? ?????????? session on the power of reading and discussing stories with your little ones! ??? Event Details Date: Thursday, November 21, 2024 Time: 8:00 - 9:00 PM Whether you’re nurturing a newborn or a curious preschooler, this event is designed to help you make reading an enjoyable and valuable part of your daily routine. This interactive session will explore: ?? The impact of reading and storytelling on your child’s development. ?? Creative ways to make reading an enjoyable part of your daily life—even on busy days! ?? How to build language and thinking skills through conversations about book. ?? Practical tips for reading with your child at any age. ?? Register: https://buff.ly/3YRQ6E1

Join the Office of Workforce Development for the?3rd Annual?Apprenticeship Fair tomorrow! ???Tuesday, November 19, 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. ??Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library ??https://lnkd.in/ghJJGwti Explore apprenticeship programs available in Boston?from various industries including Hospitality, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Construction, and more!

?? An exciting opportunity for youth of color to make a difference with CHANGE Lab's Youth Advisory Board (YAB)!?? What is the YAB? Youth of color, ages 12-17, from the Greater Boston area, who share their voices and co-create projects that directly impact their communities! What does the YAB do? ?? Meets monthly to identify relevant health issues. ?? Provides feedback and critiques on CHANGE Lab research initiatives. ??? Facilitates youth-focused research. What can members expect? ? Attend 1-2 hour monthly meetings. ?? Share ideas about community needs. ?????? Guide youth-focused health equity research at Northeastern University. ?? $25 e-gift card per hour! Know a young person who would benefit from this experience? Sign up here ??Jhttps://lnkd.in/etFB6Ey8 Learn more about the CHANGE Lab and the YAB here ?? https://lnkd.in/eU-b7fUr

Transforming Boston’s education landscape from cradle to career means supporting students and families holistically — including by building a strong, healthy community. Thank you, Tibrine da Fonseca, PhD, for advancing collective public health initiatives in our city with the Boston Public Health Commission! ??The Boston Community Health Needs Assessment is a survey designed to understand and improve the health and well-being of our city. By participating, you can help shape health goals and guide funding to develop programs that improve the well-being of Boston residents. ??Take the survey today! https://lnkd.in/e8emgJvv

??Reading to children is one of the most effective ways to build language, listening skills, and foundational knowledge—all while creating lasting connections. The Basics Boston is encouraging parents to read and discuss stories with their children, from the earliest stages, as part of their 5 Basics Principles that help every child thrive. ?????? Learn more about why reading with your child is so important: https://lnkd.in/drhi_Uq2 Don’t forget to visit your local library https://lnkd.in/d4bjS9tX ???

"Getting students in the door at college is the first step. The goal should be getting them out of college with a degree two or four years later." ICYMI ??: Boston Globe Media sheds light on a key challenge in higher ed: college completion. DPH Data shows that only 55.1% of students in Massachusetts public colleges graduate within 6 years. Plus, persistent racial disparities mean Black and Hispanic students are completing degrees at lower rates than their white peers. Breaking down barriers and boosting access to support services is essential for helping students earn degrees and unlock job opportunities & higher earnings ??. What strategies do you think are most effective in supporting student success? Read the Editorial Here: https://lnkd.in/eUaDvtR3

Don't miss this upcoming event focused on career-connected learning for Boston's young people hosted by The Boston Foundation and EdVestors. ?? Date: Thursday, November 14, 2024 ? Time: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM ?? Location: The Edgerly Center for Civic Leadership, Boston Foundation Register & learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eFskrv38

The BOA team was honored to attend the 2024 National Community Leadership Summit hosted by Vital Village Networks. This impactful two-day gathering focused on fostering radical connection and renewal for collective liberation. We left feeling inspired, uplifted, and deeply connected to our community!

ICYMI: ??American Educational Research Association recently released findings from a 26-year longitudinal study on the impact of the opportunity gap on children's futures. The study reveals that the opportunity gap is an even stronger predictor of educational attainment ?? and future earnings ?? than childhood poverty alone. This underscores the urgent need to invest in initiatives that expand opportunities for low-income children —like community school models and policies that address multiple aspects of a child's environment ????. Read more: https://lnkd.in/guqJcd-d