Hyde Square Task Force Inc

AT HYDE SQUARE TASK FORCE, YOUTH ARE AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO. WE BELIEVE YOUTH HAVE IMMENSE POTENTIAL, YET AT THE SAME TIME RESEARCH TELLS US THAT THEY FACE MANY OBSTACLES. WHEN HSTF WAS FOUNDED IN THE LATE 1980S, A COALITION OF NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FELT A SENSE OF URGENCY TO ADDRESS THE VIOLENCE AND ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES FACING THE HYDE/JACKSON SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD OF JAMAICA PLAIN. HSTF NOW ENGAGES OVER 1,000 YOUTH AGES 6-25 IN COLLEGE AND CAREER PREPARATION, AFRO-LATIN ARTS MASTERY AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT, AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING INITIATIVES. IN DOING SO, WE ENSURE THAT YOUTH HAVE THE ARTS AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED AND DESERVE IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND THAT THEIR VOICES AND CULTURES ARE VALUED AND CELEBRATED IN BOSTON'S LATIN QUARTER AND BEYOND. OUR WORK IS GUIDED BY OUR MISSION: TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS OF YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES, SO THEY ARE EMPOWERED TO ENHANCE THEIR OWN LIVES AND BUILD A STRONG AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT AND ORGANIZING HYDE SQUARE TASK FORCE, INC. (HSTF) HAS PLACED A RENEWED EMPHASIS ON PROVIDING FREE, ACCESSIBLE, AND YEAR-ROUND AFRO-LATIN CULTURE-BASED PROGRAMMING IN BOSTON'S LATIN QUARTER. WE ORGANIZE A SIX-WEEK LATIN QUARTER SUMMER SERIES WITH MUSIC PERFORMANCES, ART-MAKING, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. WE HOLD A SERIES OF OTHER EVENTS DURING THE YEAR, INCLUDING A HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL IN THE FALL, AND A THREE KINGS DAY CELEBRATION IN THE WINTER. OUR CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS GOING A LONG WAY TOWARDS BUILDING A DYNAMIC AND VIBRANT LATIN QUARTER. HSTF BELIEVES IT IS CRITICAL TO SUPPORT OUR YOUTH LEADERS AS THEY TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES, AND AS THEY TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITY. OUR YOUTH LEADERS HAVE ORGANIZED AND ADVOCATED FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGES WHICH HAVE BEAUTIFIED AND REJUVENATED THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

LIVING SAFELY IN JACKSON SQUARETHE LIVING SAFELY IN JACKSON SQUARE COALITION IS A CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIP FOCUSED ON REDUCING THE CAUSES OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA THAT TOO OFTEN LEAD TO ADVERSE HEALTH IMPACTS AND CAN CREATE OBSTACLES TO GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT. THIS PLACE-BASED COALITION INCLUDES LOCAL NONPROFITS, SCHOOLS, CHILD WELFARE, LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROPERTY OWNERS AND MANAGERS, RESIDENTS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, WHO WILL WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A COLLECTIVE IMPACT APPROACH THAT ADDRESSES CHILDREN'S HEALTH, WITH A FOCUS ON FAMILY STABILITY, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, AND IMPROVED SAFETY.

ARTS & CULTURAL PROGRAMS HSTF'S RENOWNED ARTS AND CULTURE-BASED PROGRAMMING IS ROOTED IN AFRO-LATIN CULTURE, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. ANNUALLY, OVER 100 YOUTH TRAIN IN AFRO-LATIN DANCE, MUSIC AND THEATRE. WE CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUTH TO EXPLORE THEIR CREATIVITY FULLY. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, YOUTH GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF DIVERSE AUDIENCES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. OUR PROGRAMMING IS STRENGTHENED BY MULTIPLE PARTNERSHIPS WITH SEVERAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, AND SEVERAL OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THROUGH OUR COLLABORATION WITH BPS, WE BRING AFRO-LATIN DANCE TO SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. ORHOOD.

HIGH SCHOOL & COLLEGE SUCCESS HSTF YOUTH BENEFIT FROM ACCESS TO OUR HOLISTIC MULTI-YEAR COLLEGE AND CAREER SUPPORT. THE MAJORITY OF THE YOUTH WE SERVE COME FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND ARE FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS. THEY FACE INNUMERABLE BARRIERS AS THEY STRIVE TO COMPLETE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AND SECURE STABLE EMPLOYMENT UPON GRADUATION. OUR PROGRAMMING IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO BUILD UPON OUR YOUTHS' STRENGTHS AND ENSURE THEIR SUCCESS. YOUTH ARE PAIRED WITH CARING MENTORS (FROM LOCAL COLLEGES AND THE COMMUNITY) AND ARE SUPPORTED BY SEASONED PROGRAM STAFF TO STAY ON TRACK OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURE. EVERY YEAR, 100% OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS GRADUATE, AND OVER 80% ENROLL IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.