Youth and advocates from across the state will gather at Old South Church (UCC) in Boston on Feb. 19 to rally for funding for youth jobs--advocating that teen employment can reduce street violence and enrich communities.
The B-PEACE for Jorge campaign of the Diocese of Massachusetts is once again a leading partner in the rally and is organizing Episcopalians to join this year's effort.
Parish groups and individuals are invited to join B-PEACE organizers at the diocesan offices (138 Tremont Street, Boston, at Park Street Station), at 10:30 a.m. The Very Rev. Jep Streit, Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, will offer a commissioning before the group walks to Old South Church together. The rally begins at 11 a.m. and all are welcome. The rally will include motivational speakers as well as training for young people on how to talk to their legislators. The rally concludes with the march to the State House, followed by meetings with legislators and their staff.
The Youth Jobs Rally began during the recession in 2009, when funding for youth employment programs was going to be slashed dramatically. B-PEACE in one of 40 youth and community organizations partnering to advocate equal access to employment and opportunity.
"Funding youth employment programs creates more opportunities for young people and has been proven to reduce youth violence," the Rev. H. Mark Smith, diocesan director of youth ministry, wrote in an e-mail. "With the raise in minimum wage, even if programs are funded at the same levels, hundreds of teen jobs will be lost this summer. It is important to show legislators that this needs to be a budget priority."
For more information, contact B-PEACE lead organizer Christine Duggan at christine@ststephensbos.org or 857-540-5586.