PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES
YOUTH HAVE POWER
At Teen Empowerment, we believe in the power of youth to effect meaningful change in their communities. Operating in Boston and Somerville, MA, as well as Rochester, NY, Teen Empowerment takes a unique approach by employing youth as catalysts for positive transformation.
Our dedicated teams of youth organizers, at and across all locations, work throughout the year to identify pressing issues and develop strategies to address them. Together, we implement initiatives that engage a large number of their peers and community adults. With annual employment of more than 110 youth leaders, we mobilize over 6,000 individuals to participate in community change initiatives.
We extend our impact by providing consulting and training services to assist other service providers in adopting our effective methods. As part of our commitment to sharing knowledge, we offer our book on interactive group facilitation, Moving Beyond Icebreakers. Join us as we empower youth, inspire action, and build stronger, more vibrant communities.
“Without TE I feel like my voice (and my community’s voice) would not have been heard”
— Youth Organizer
OUR CORE PROGRAM
Our Core Youth Organizing Program prepares youth to work in the human service industry, in public service, and brings their voice to community boards and councils. The program operates at each of our three locations in Boston, Somerville, and Rochester.
Our Youth Organizers (YOs):
Lead social justice campaigns and art for social justice campaigns that reach 2,000 additional youths
Lead initiatives that inform, mobilize, and create strategies to address issues in their community, reform institutional racism, and change policies.
Facilitate group meetings
Participate in consensus-based decision-making with their peers
Build partnerships for peace
Youth Peace Conferences
Teen Empowerment has been fostering youth engagement and social change through its empowering Youth Peace Conferences since 1993. Each year our conference:
Serves as an interactive platform for youth from diverse backgrounds
Empowers participants to explore and address community-related issues that directly impact their lives
Employs a variety of mediums including theater, dance, music, poetry, video, and public speaking as a way to create lasting social change
Fosters engaging group discussions, enabling youth to voice their concerns, share experiences, and spark new ideas
In addition, Teen Empowerment also hosts an annual conference in Somerville, further amplifying the opportunities for youth to come together, build connections, and inspire one another toward positive change.
Arts for Social Change
Teen Empowerment's Arts for Social Change Project harnesses the transformative power of the arts — including music, dance, video, poetry, and visual arts — to drive social change. Through creativity and activism, our young artists inspire, provoke thought, and catalyze meaningful dialogue, fostering a more empathetic and engaged community.
TE Studios (Boston) is our youth-run artist collaborative, producing original, professional-quality and socially-conscious music and performance arts.
Donate Today to
SUPPORT YOUTH-LED SOCIAL CHANGE
TE’s extraordinary impact in the communities we serve has lasted more than 30 years! With your generous support, we will continue our efforts to fulfill TE’s youth empowerment mission.
Make a generous one-time or monthly donation today.
