Roxbury Youthworks Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1981 in Boston that provides support services to at-risk youth involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. It operates several programs across Boston, including district offices that help over 150 youth transitioning from secure facilities back into their communities each year. Another program, GIFT, provides round-the-clock support to girls who have been victims of commercial sexual exploitation. RYI utilizes a positive youth development framework and draws on community relationships to help youth access needed resources and set positive life goals to avoid further legal issues. What makes RYI unique is its longstanding presence in the community, proximity of many staff who live in the neighborhoods served, and innovative programming

1.  SONGS AND NARRATION BY ROXBURY
YOUTHWORKS (RYI) YOUTH
 MURALS ON SLIDES #3 AND #21 BY RYI
YOUTH

2. OUR HISTORY
We are one ofWe are one of
the oldest people-the oldest people-
of-color-run, non-of-color-run, non-
profitprofit
organizations inorganizations in
the City ofthe City of
Boston.Boston.
RoxburyRoxbury
Youthworks Inc. wasYouthworks Inc. was
founded by the Honfounded by the Hon
(ret.) Julian T.(ret.) Julian T.
Houston in 1981.Houston in 1981.
Founder of RYI and current President of the Board Julian T. Houston
with Co-founder Hubie Jones

3. Today, we provide innovative,Today, we provide innovative,
community-based support services tocommunity-based support services to
youth up to 22 years of age that areyouth up to 22 years of age that are
involved with the child welfare and/orinvolved with the child welfare and/or
juvenile justice system.juvenile justice system.
RYI firstRYI first
began to helpbegan to help
decrease re-decrease re-
incarcerationincarceration
among youngamong young
men & womenmen & women
from Roxburyfrom Roxbury
District Court.District Court.
OUR HISTORY
Mural by RYI Youth

4. Our Mission
RYI’s mission is to help youth
that are caught in cycles
of poverty, victimization, and violence,
to transition successfully into adulthood.

5. Our Youth
We are youth between the ages of 13 to 22 who have had to grow up way too fast. We are allWe are youth between the ages of 13 to 22 who have had to grow up way too fast. We are all
unique and yet we have our own struggles in common.unique and yet we have our own struggles in common.
Our neighborhoods & streets, the places we all call home, and cannot imagine living without,Our neighborhoods & streets, the places we all call home, and cannot imagine living without,
are rich with culture, history, family, and friends.are rich with culture, history, family, and friends.
But they are also filled with violence. A desperate kind of violence that stems from feelingBut they are also filled with violence. A desperate kind of violence that stems from feeling
trapped by the cruel poverty that surrounds us.trapped by the cruel poverty that surrounds us.
From infancy many of us witnessed & suffered tragedies that no child should ever have toFrom infancy many of us witnessed & suffered tragedies that no child should ever have to
experience.experience.
We could have been a statistic, part of the voiceless, the dead, the forgotten, if we hadn’tWe could have been a statistic, part of the voiceless, the dead, the forgotten, if we hadn’t
found hope and the road to a better life at Roxbury Youthworks.found hope and the road to a better life at Roxbury Youthworks.
We struggle with substance use, physical and emotional neglect and abuse, hunger,We struggle with substance use, physical and emotional neglect and abuse, hunger,
poverty, and a school system that is failing us.poverty, and a school system that is failing us.

6. Racial & GenderRacial & Gender
Composition of Our YouthComposition of Our Youth

7. Where Our Youth Live
We also Provide Services toWe also Provide Services to
Youth in Chelsea and EastYouth in Chelsea and East
Boston, MABoston, MA

8. The Quality of Life of Our Youth
Income:Income:
Boston’s income inequality has a strong racial/ethnic component. More than one third of families of
color had annual incomes of less than $25,000—while almost half of Boston’s white families had
annual incomes of $100,000 or more.
(Source: A measure of Poverty:
A Boston Indicators Project Special Report, 2011, pg. 4)
With 42% of its children in poverty,
the Roxbury /Dorchester/Mattapan area represents
Massachusetts’ largest concentration of child poverty.
(Source: A measure of Poverty:
A Boston Indicators Project Special Report, 2011, pg. 4)

In the Roxbury/Dorchester/Mattapan corridor,
85% of families are headed by a single parent,
mainly mothers, & at least 20% of the adults
have no high school diploma.
(Source: Poverty’s Grip Tightens in Boston, Study Says;
Boston Globe, November 9, 2011)

9. The Quality of Life of Our Youth
Crime:Crime:
Though only about a quarter of Boston’s population is Black, Blacks accounted for over
half of all arrests made in 2008.
(Source: 2008 Crime Summary Report, Boston Police Department, pg. 64, & New
Bostonians Demographic Report, The Mayor’s Office of New Bostonians)
Over 50% of all arrests for violent crimes
in Boston in 2008 were in the
Roxbury/Mattapan/Dorchester neighborhoods.
(Source: 2008 Crime Summary Report; Boston Police Department, pg. 50)

In 2010, over 50% of aggravated assaults
& over 75% of homicides in Boston took place
in the Roxbury/Mattapan/Dorchester districts.
(Source: Part One Crime Reported by the Boston Police Department by Offense
& by District/Area, Boston Police Department, 2012)

10. The Quality of Life Of Our Youth
Education:Education:
20.7% of the BPS class of ‘09 dropped out; that is one in five students.
In 2009-2010, Roxbury had the highest annual dropout rate among Boston
neighborhoods.
(Source: Boston Public Schools 2009-2010: Student Dropout Rates)
On the 2007 Massachusetts comprehensive exam, 80 % of white BPS 8th grade students
were proficient or advanced in reading, compared with only 48% of African American or
Hispanic students.
In math, 52% of white students were considered proficient or advanced, compared with
20% of Hispanic students & only 14% of African Americans.
(Source: Council of the Great City Schools: "Beating the Odds: Analysis of Student Performance & Achievement Gaps" Boston results, 2007)

11. The Quality of Life of Our Youth
Health:Health:
The death rate from all causes is 30% higher in the poor neighborhoods of Boston;
residents are two & a half times as likely to die from diabetes, four times as likely to
die of HIV/AIDS, & twice as likely to die from injuries.
Of the 22 waste sites in Boston, half are in the predominantly Black & Latino
neighborhood of Roxbury.
(Source: Mayor's Task Force Blueprint: A plan to eliminate racial & ethnic disparities in health; Boston Public Health Commission, 2005)
Lead poisoning is concentrated in the Boston neighborhoods that are
predominantly communities of color: Dorchester, Mattapan, & Roxbury.
In Boston, asthma is more common among people of color. Boston’s Black &
Latino children are hospitalized for asthma at higher rates than White or Asian
children.
(Source: Mayor's Task Force Blueprint: A plan to eliminate racial & ethnic disparities in health; Boston Public Health Commission, 2005)

12. Organizational Structure & Governance
We operate 8 sites & a total of three programs across
Metro Boston in Roxbury, Dorchester, Hyde Park, &
Chelsea.
Our 38 member staff is made up of multi-cultural &
bi-lingual individuals most of whom reside in the
same communities we operate & where our youth
live.
RYI is led by Executive Director Mia Alvarado
RYI receives strategic, fiscal & executive oversight
from its volunteer multi-cultural 13 member Board
of Directors.
Mia Alvarado – RYI ED

13. Our Budget
Our Current Annual Operating Budget is $2.6 Million.Our Current Annual Operating Budget is $2.6 Million.
The majority of our funding - 89% - comes from TheThe majority of our funding - 89% - comes from The
Department of Youth Services for our District Office Programs &Department of Youth Services for our District Office Programs &
the Department of Children & Families for our GIFT & thethe Department of Children & Families for our GIFT & the
Dimock Street Lead Agency Programs.Dimock Street Lead Agency Programs.

14. Our Programs
RYI works with youth to prevent further incarceration, abuse &RYI works with youth to prevent further incarceration, abuse &
exploitation. We engage the most troubled youth and help them makeexploitation. We engage the most troubled youth and help them make
healthier life choices.healthier life choices.
RYI’s primary goal is to keep youth safe by strengthening theirRYI’s primary goal is to keep youth safe by strengthening their
engagement with their families & community.engagement with their families & community.
Our staff members work within aOur staff members work within a
positive youth development frameworkpositive youth development framework
& utilize their knowledge of, && utilize their knowledge of, &
relationships with community resources,relationships with community resources,
to access what is needed for each youthto access what is needed for each youth
& their family.& their family.
We run three distinct programsWe run three distinct programs
that include:that include:

15. District Offices (DOs)
OurOur Staff in our sevenStaff in our seven District OfficesDistrict Offices (DOs) guide youth who(DOs) guide youth who
transition from the Department of Youth Service (DYS) securetransition from the Department of Youth Service (DYS) secure
treatment facilities & residential placements back to their homestreatment facilities & residential placements back to their homes
& communities. The DOs support youth with setting positive life& communities. The DOs support youth with setting positive life
goals, helping them to understand the consequences of poorgoals, helping them to understand the consequences of poor
decision making & to recognize the rewards of positive actions.decision making & to recognize the rewards of positive actions.
Each year we serve up to 150 youth through our DO Programs.Each year we serve up to 150 youth through our DO Programs.

16. Big Cause for Celebration
The Department of Youth Services’ most recent statewide report
compared youth detention rates between 2003 & 2008 & found that in the
Metro Boston region, the number of incarcerated youth decreased
dramatically from 387 in 2003 to 130 in 2008. DYS attributed this
decrease in youth recidivism to the work of community partner
agencies such as RYI.

17. The GIFT Program
(Gaining Independence for Tomorrow)
Since 2008, GIFT has addressed one of the mostSince 2008, GIFT has addressed one of the most
disturbing issues facing young people today:disturbing issues facing young people today:
The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC).The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC).
RYI Life Coaches provide round the clock, intensiveRYI Life Coaches provide round the clock, intensive
supports to our GIFT girls throughout their recoverysupports to our GIFT girls throughout their recovery
from commercial sexual exploitation, including thefrom commercial sexual exploitation, including the
guidance and resources that the girls need to achieveguidance and resources that the girls need to achieve
their goals.their goals.
In the past 4 years, GIFT has served 150 youth that have been victimsIn the past 4 years, GIFT has served 150 youth that have been victims
of CSEC. Most of these Youth have been "pimped out" by numerousof CSEC. Most of these Youth have been "pimped out" by numerous
adults &/or arrested for their acts.adults &/or arrested for their acts.

18. Facts About the Commercial
Sexual Exploitation of Children

19. Big Cause for Celebration
RYI is a founding member of the Suffolk County
DA’s Support to End Exploitation NOW (SEEN)
Coalition.
GOVERNOR PATRICK SIGNS ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING LEGISLATION
Drastically increasing punishment for offenders and protection for victims
On November 22, 2011, as a result of SEEN’s work, Governor Patrick signed
Massachusetts’ new human trafficking legislation which defines child sexual
exploitation as trafficking of a person under 18 for sexual servitude, punishable by
five years to life imprisonment. The legislation also establishes a civil remedy for
victims to sue perpetrators - for rape, torture, & terror.
Our GIFT Program girls took
part in this effort by
testifying at the MA State
House about their
victimization through
commercial sexual
exploitation.

20. What Makes Us Unique?
Parent Time Group – A weekly support group for parents of DYS
Involved youth. The goals of Parent Time include:
 To support parents as they navigate the DYS system.
 To provide a save place for parents to express their feelings and relieve
stress.
 To provide parents with the opportunity to meet other parents facing
similar issues.
 To help parents gain a little more insight into their children’s behavior.
We construct & keep a safety-net of community supports around our
youth.
We work with law enforcement, child-serving public agencies & other
non-profits to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children through
public awareness campaigns & legislative action.
Our staff know how to access quality community services for our
youth & also know how to navigate the complex social services
system from a professional and a personal vantage point.
Many of our staff live in the same neighborhoods as our youth. This
proximity allows them to have first hand knowledge of the obstacles
that our youth face on a daily basis.
The Civic Action Corps Initiative – Through a grant from the
Department of Labor, RYI and three Roxbury based non profit
organizations collaborate to provide; educational assistance, life
coaching, health services, skills training in the building trades,
and a stipend to young people who have been involved with the
Juvenile justice system.
Thinking for A Change - Our DYS Youth who
participate in, and complete the 25 module,
Thinking for A Change violence prevention
curriculum receive a stipend for every hour
that they spend in class and on homework and
also full funding for driver education classes.
We have remained innovative & have
implemented programming in response
to the changing needs of our youth.
The most recent of these include:

21. Why Roxbury Youthworks Inc., Needs Your
Support
It will be difficult for them to
win this battle without your
help. The financial and moral
support of individuals like
you, will provide our Boston
Youth the opportunity to
break out of the cycles of
violence, poverty and
victimization and into happy
successful futures.
Our Boston Youth are fighting
a daunting economic and
racial battle that causes them
to live in conditions that
mirror those of developing
third world countries.
Boston cannot afford to lose another generation of inner
city youth to incarceration, drug use, early death, child
commercial sexual exploitation and violence. The
economic, human and creative losses are much too
costly to ignore.
Mural By RYI Youth