Cambridge Teens Complete Mural at Moses Youth Center

This spring, talented Cambridge teens painted a mural inside the Moses Youth Center at 243 Harvard St. The artists, participants in Cambridge Youth Programs' Blooming into Womanhood and Boys II Men teen internships, chose to depict Cambridge educators and civil rights activists Bob and Janet Moses, the Youth Center's namesakes. They also incorporated visual representations of math and science education that the Moses' championed, especially for young people of color. The mural was in progress during the solar eclipse in April, and the artists marked the historic moment by including the measurement of peak eclipse totality in Cambridge on the mural's top right corner, above an algebra equation. The mural was designed in partnership with MathTalk and the ART+BIO Collaborative.

Cambridge Youth Programs (CYP) offers year-round internships to Cambridge teens. This summer, CYP will partner with the Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program to offer the following internships:

Boys II Men Summer Program at the Moses Youth Center. This leadership and empowerment program helps self-identified young men grow into positive men and community leaders. Youth learn the importance of teamwork, gain valuable leadership skills, and develop life-long learning in self-care, social responsibility, and the importance of community. Young Kings in the program also focus on physical fitness and nutrition, financial empowerment, and weekly Culture Dialogues centered around sports, music, fashion/sneakers, and social justice. 

Blooming into Womanhood at the Moses Youth Center. This empowering program for self-identified young women seeks to help participants embark on a journey of self-discovery, self-awareness, and self-reflection. Through an intimate, supportive network of other young queens, participants can discover their unique strengths, passions, and perspectives and use them to become catalysts of positive change and leaders. Teens engage in hands-on projects, working together to contribute to the betterment of their community while also finding their purpose and potential. Sessions will also focus on creative self-expression through movement, writing and/or art. These young queens will learn to become confident, powerful agents of transformation!

Rites of Passage at the Russell Youth Center. The overall goal of this internship is to be a catalyst for the beginning of a young person's transition into young adulthood. Teen Program staff serve as stewards to help youths navigate challenges and activities designed to enrich teens by exposing them to a new thought and process, but also draw internally from their own lived experience to add introspection and acceptance. The internship fosters growth and transformation while honoring teen brilliance by creating an environment where they have the space to share their gifts, knowledge, and interests. 

Beginning in July, CYP will also host Teen Night Live, where Cambridge teens, ages 14 – 19, can come together and build community through games, events, music, sports, field trips, cookouts, and more! More details will be announced soon.