To: Mayor Michelle Wu

The city of Boston has high numbers of youth related violence and gang activity. Over the last few years there have been serious gun violence crimes among teens in the Boston, MA area. Some recent incidents such as,  Alyssa King 17 was killed in the town of Dorchester during the middle of a spring day in April of 2020 (https://www.wcvb.com/article/boston-police-investigating-shooting-in-residential-dorchester-neighborhood/32161504 A 16 & 17 year old were arrested for bringing a gun into an East Boston school in November of 2021, (https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/gun-found-in-students-backpack-at-boston-school/2569274/ . As recently as March of 2022 a teen brought a gun into his school located in Dorchester, MA. (https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/03/26/teens-charged-guns-linked-to-shooting-at-boston-school/ In this incident a week prior a 17 year old student and teacher were shot outside of the school in the parking lot. We think that if some kind of intervention was brought into the lives of these teens in the last two years violent crimes at the age of 16 & 17 can be prevented. 

We are proposing that the city provides mentorship for teens aged fourteen to sixteen. The program can be implemented through a community center, providing a structured time for teens to come and learn specific skills and trades. The program can provide relationships between community members and the youth, helping them create bonds and support systems. Mentors will provide emotional and social support while also working on the youth member’s future goals. Since the mentorship program is aimed at preventing violence, intervention will also be aimed at treating trauma related to gun and gang violence. 

We’re calling on you to provide funding for the mentorship program, giving the youth within Boston a chance to build their future.