Youth Lead the Change
Boston youth ages 14-25 have the power to spend one million dollars every year through a participatory budgeting process.
The mission of Youth Lead the Change is to engage Boston’s youth in the democratic process by giving them the power and resources to effect tangible change in their communities. The program aims to build leadership skills, enhance civic participation, and strengthen the connection between young residents and city government. OYEA is now accepting ideas for YLC and we need your help to reach our goal of collecting 1000 ideas!
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Have questions? Contact:
Youth Engagement and Advancement
Idea Collection
We want to see your ideas in the form above! Tell us what you would call it, what you would build, where it would happen, who it would help and how.
It should check the following boxes:
- It is a "capital" expense, meaning it calls for building or creating something physical. (Ex: Adding shelter beds, not hiring additional staff.)
- It's something the City of Boston government can do. (Ex: Happens in schools or on streets, not on the MBTA.)
- It would cost up to $1 million. (Ex: Renovating an existing space, not building one from scratch.)
Whatever it is, we want to hear your idea! These criteria are simply meant to help you submit the best idea possible.
Promotion Resources
Want to help share YLC idea collection with other youth? Educators, youth workers, and youth leaders can use our Partner One-Pager to bring idea collection to classrooms, programs, and organizations. Our partner resources include a lesson plan and presentation for groups and a social media toolkit to help spread the word:
Program Overview
Youth Lead the Change is a groundbreaking participatory budgeting program in the City of Boston, designed to empower young residents ages 14 to 25 to directly determine the allocation of $1 million in city funds. As the first youth-focused participatory budgeting initiative in the United States, this program invites young people to identify community needs, propose innovative solutions, and vote on projects that will positively impact their neighborhoods. Through this process, participants gain valuable civic engagement experience while fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility for their community. By involving youth in the decision-making process, the program not only empowers them to take an active role in shaping their communities but also helps build a more inclusive, responsive, and equitable city. Through Youth Lead the Change, Boston is setting a new standard for youth engagement and civic participation, ensuring that the voices of young people are heard and valued in shaping the future of the city.
2023-2024 Winning Projects
Boston Shelters 2.0: Funding improvements to emergency shelters. Renovations will enhance the capacity and quality of life of those sheltering there!
- 1825 Total Votes
- 23% of all Votes
Next Level Sports: Upgrading youth sports facilities such as gyms, swimming pools and other spaces at Boston community centers!
- 1284 Total Votes
- 16% of all Votes
Check out our 2023-2024 results sheet for more information about this year’s participatory budgeting process.
Program Goals
- Civic Engagement: Increase youth participation in local government by involving them directly in the decision-making process.
- Community Improvement: Address the needs and priorities of Boston’s neighborhoods through youth-led projects that enhance quality of life.
- Youth Empowerment: Ensure that the diverse voices of Boston’s youth are represented in the distribution of city funds.
- Stronger Community Connections: Build a stronger relationship between Boston’s youth and city government, fostering trust and collaboration.
Structure and Process
Structure and ProcessYoung people from across Boston are invited to submit project ideas that address community needs through a capital project. Ideas can be submitted online, through workshops, or during community meetings.
The Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement team work together to research, refine, and develop project proposals based on the ideas submitted. They collaborate with city officials and community experts to assess feasibility and impact.
Once proposals are finalized, all Boston residents aged 14-25 are encouraged to vote on the projects they believe will make the most significant impact. Voting takes place online and at designated locations throughout the city.
The projects that receive the most votes are funded and implemented by the City of Boston, with ongoing support from the OYEA team.
Funded Projects
Who's Involved:
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Have questions? Contact:
Youth Engagement and Advancement
