Join the Dorchester Youth Council

November 25, 2009 by Dorchester Yout...

To whom this may concern,

           I am writing this letter to inform the youth of Dorchester about a great opportunity to help your community through real social and physical change. I serve with Social Capital Inc. (SCI), an organization whose mission is to strengthen communities by connecting diverse individuals and organizations through civic engagement initiatives. Dorchester needs you! Youth are a powerful force of change and we are recruiting and training teens to connect with and engage citizens through community service learning projects.

           We are looking for youth aged twelve to eighteen to become positive agents of change within their own community and the surrounding areas. As a Youth Council Member, you will have the opportunity to identify areas of need in your own community and work towards solving them. Your responsibilities will include recruiting and engaging your peers to participate in teaching, learning, reflection, and action that combines relevant social community-based curriculum with meaningful service throughout the community. In previous years Youth Council Members have been put in charge of organizing a Safe Love Dance in Dorchester. The Safe Love Dance is an opportunity for youth to bring people together to celebrate each other and exemplifies the mission of strengthening communities and fostering camaraderie by building networks of youth to work together towards positive missions. Another event planned and run by the Youth Council is the Trick or Treat Canned Food Drive, which happens on Halloween. During this community service learning project the Youth Council Members recruit other youth to go out into the Melville Park and Ashmont Hill neighborhoods to Trick or Treat for canned food, which helps to combat poverty and hunger in the Dorchester community. Our youth partner agencies will act as a resource for teen leaders and will assist in the identification of community service learning opportunities which engage your neighborhood. Your work will yield influential results. Peaceful, close-knit, active communities are best built by collaborations with youth.

           Social Capital Inc. has learned through evaluations and experience that Youth Council Members grow exponentially from this program. Positive community service experiences will allow you to develop leadership qualities. Becoming a Youth Council Member opens up great career and educational opportunities. In addition to the personal benefits of this position, you will be helping your own community and neighborhood to become a more stable environment for people of all ages. Our first meeting was held on October 15^th, but we will be holding meetings for the Youth Council every Monday from 6-730 PM. The meetings will be held at the Dorchester House Multi-Service Center in the Teen Center, the address is 1353 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or want to learn more about this great opportunity I can be reached by phone: (617)-740-2580 or email: Keith.Pernell@dotwell.org. This is a great opportunity to do something positive with your time and improve yourself and your community as a whole.

I look forward to working with you to build a strong, connected community.

Sincerely,

Keith Pernell
SCI Dorchester Youth Leadership Coordinator
Email: Keith.Pernell@dotwell.org
Phone: 617.740.2580

*For more information about the Dorchester Youth Council and the DotWell Teen Center, visit our Youth page.

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