For the latest announcements see the Dorchester Youth Council blog.

"I am excited to be a part of the SCI Dorchester Youth Council because I believe it is time for the youth to get involved. We are the youth of today, not tomorrow, and it is our time to shine."

- Dorchester Youth Council Member 2007 Member

The Dorchester Youth Council is coordinated by Social Capital Inc. (SCI) along with DotWell, a Health Services Partnership of the Codman Square Health Clinic and the Dorchester House Multi-Service Center. It consists of a diverse group of 12 to 17 year olds from the Dorchester community who work together to make a difference in the community, through distributing mini-grants to other youth projects and implementing other civic initiatives.

Members receive leadership training and ongoing support from adult advisors to coordinate this mini-grant process and address community issues of concern to them. As community leaders, they also encourage their peers to become active young citizens. Our members develop practical skills, learn the importance of leadership and teamwork, and gain a better knowledge of community issues.

Objectives:

• Promote youth involvement in service-learning and social capital building activities.
• Encourage youth-initiated approaches to community problem-solving.
• Develop the leadership skills of young people by engaging them in the grant process. Youth Council members and youth who apply for mini-grants will benefit by being involved in different aspects of the grant making process.

The Dorchester Youth Council is based on the model SCI developed for the Woburn Youth Council.

General Information: Youth Council meetings are held every Monday night including some weekends for trainings and activities.

How to Become a Member: Like other youth organizations, the Youth Council has several requirements for its applicants. Members must:

• Be between the ages of 12-17.
• Be a resident of Dorchester.
  Demonstrate an interest in making a difference in the community and developing leadership skills.
• Show the ability to work cooperatively with a diverse group of youth.
• Be an active member (i.e. members with two or more unexcused absences will not be able to continue).
• Have parental permission, as well as transportation to and from Youth Council meetings and functions.
• Youth Council Membership Application (see attachments below)

For more information or to see how you can get involved, contact our Youth Programs Coordinator, Leah Moschella, at 617.474.1422 or lmoschella@scidorchester.org.

Funding for the Dorchester Youth Council is provided in part by the Boston Globe Foundation, The Foley Hoag Foundation, The Miller Foundation, The Massachusetts Service Alliance, and Sovereign Bank.