Youth programs & schools
Consistent priorityOut-of-school programs, mentoring, early education and school-based supports for children and teens.
Residents consistently ask for affordable after-school and summer programs, safe youth spaces, better-funded school buildings and food, child care, and tutoring and college access.
Theme grouped and summary written with AI from this theme's resident ideas.
281 ideas across three cycles
| Cycle | Ideas | Share of all ideas | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 81 | 6.6% | 3 of 20 |
| 2025–26 | 87 | 7.2% | 4 of 20 |
| 2026–27 | 113 | 8.5% | 4 of 20 |
Needs that keep coming back
Affordable after-school, before-school and summer programs
Residents want free or low-cost programs, including before-school care for working parents and options for older teens, available at schools and community centers.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Safe places and activities for youth and teens
Residents say young people have few places to go and ask for centers, teen spaces, sports and mentoring to keep them engaged and out of trouble.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Better school funding, buildings and food
Residents ask for more money for schools, repairs and cooling or ventilation, supplies, and fresher, better school lunches.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Affordable child care
Residents ask for free, subsidized or voucher-based child care so working and single parents can keep their jobs.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Free tutoring, test prep and college access
Residents want free tutoring, SAT and exam prep, and scholarship help so lower-income students have the same chances as peers with private support.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
2024–25
Ideas were wide-ranging, covering school resources and facilities, free indoor playgrounds, college and scholarship help, mentoring, and playground renovations at specific Dorchester schools.
2025–26
Affordable before- and after-school programs for working parents and complaints about school lunches and missing air conditioning were the most common themes.
2026–27
Volume rose to 113 ideas, many short general asks for education funding and youth programs, along with school lunch complaints from students, swim lessons, and youth money-management and career programs.
New in 2026–27
Free swim lessons, reusing old East Boston police stations as youth centers, new or renovated schools in Allston-Brighton, and student reports of pests in school lunches stand out as new or growing.
Funding so far
The winning projects, grants for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth and financial literacy workshops, address two narrower asks, but no winning project yet covers the recurring asks for affordable after-school and summer programs, child care, school buildings and food, or tutoring.
Projects are linked to themes by matching each project's description to the themes; this is not an official City classification.
Programs Supporting Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Youth
2024–25 · $250,000
This proposal will offer grants to nonprofit organizations to support youth ages 14-21 who are formerly or currently incarcerated, helping them build a brighter future.
Youth Financial Literacy and Empowerment Workshops
2025–26 · $250,000
This proposal provides financial literacy workshops at youth job sites, local events, and colleges for young people ages 14-24.
Departments that often lead this work
- Boston Public Schools
- BCYF
Suggested with AI; not an official assignment of responsibility.
Ideas in Youth programs & schools
17 ideas
2024–25: 6 · 2025–26: 5 · 2026–27: 6 (of 281 in this theme)
- Landscaped front area at Henderson Upper SchoolResident asks for a more beautifully landscaped front entrance with flowering plants at Henderson Upper School to relax students and benefit the neighborhood.2026–27Dorchester
- Teen programs, sports centers and cleaner streets in DorchesterResident asks for more sports centers, free swim lessons, after-school arts, free year-round teen gym memberships, cleaner streets and more green space in Dorchester and Ashmont to give teens more opportunities.2026–27Dorchester
- Help for parents with child careResident asks for assistance with child care for parents who cannot access these resources.2026–27Dorchester
- Teach youth about economy and worker empowermentThe resident asks for programs teaching young people about the economy, money and worker empowerment so they understand their importance.2026–27DorchesterSubmitted in Korean
- Foundation teaching money management to youthResident proposes a foundation to teach money management, since many young people don't know how to invest their money.2026–27Dorchester
- Youth programs including English classesThe resident asks for youth programs such as English classes, so young people have more time to prepare and stay out of trouble.2026–27DorchesterSubmitted in Spanish
- School-year and summer programs for kidsThe resident asks for programs for kids during the school year and summer where children from diverse backgrounds learn to respect each other and reduce discrimination.2025–26Dorchester
- Student participatory budgets in under-resourced schoolsResident asks that Boston schools with the most minority students and fewest resources get a participatory budget so students can fund projects improving their school.2025–26Dorchester
- Recording studio and content creation space for youthResident asks for a recording studio and content creation space so kids can pursue their interests and stay off the streets.2025–26Dorchester
- After-school homework help, tutoring and snacksResident proposes after-school homework help and tutoring with snacks, open to students of any background without discrimination.2025–26Dorchester
- Homework help for kidsResident proposes a homework help program open to anyone, so kids can get the help they need.2025–26Dorchester
- Youth multi-use space in Fields CornerResident asks for a multi-use space with a gym, classrooms and teaching kitchen in Fields Corner so nonprofits can offer youth programming, as the area near Town Field Park lacks resources.2024–25Dorchester
- Teen Empowerment-style programs for younger kidsResident wants programs like Teen Empowerment opened to younger children, held in community centers, to guide them toward a brighter future.2024–25Dorchester
- Age-based anti-bullying programs for children and teensCreate three anti-bullying programs for ages 5-7, 8-11 and 12-15 that teach about bias and discrimination, to build empathy and reduce disparities in bullying.2024–25Dorchester
- Accessible playground at Mather ElementaryBuild an inclusive playground and improve the building at Mather Elementary in Dorchester, which lacks quality facilities for differently abled children.2024–25Dorchester
- Renovate King K-6 School playgroundResident asks to renovate the King K-6 School playground at 77 Lawrence Ave, which has never been updated and is not accessible to all ages.2024–25Dorchester
- Student study help and grocery support spaceResident asks for a place where students can get help with their studies and groceries, and socialize with one another.2024–25Dorchester