VIP Youth Organizing Institute

My name is Niasia, I have been with the Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative for about a year now and I hope to continue. My time with VIP has been an amazing experience. I have learned vital life skills such as professionalism, public speaking, and curiosity. I learned to have the confidence to speak my mind and share my opinions while doing it in a respectful way. I have learned to continuously ask questions to learn more. These are very important skills to have while working in a professional space. I am very grateful to have been able to be a part of this program and learn so much.

My name is Omar. I have been with VIP Youth Organizing Institute for two cycles. I started in the summer of 2018 and stayed for the academic year of 2019. One thing participating in the VIP Youth Organizing Institute has taught me is how to be an advocate for my community, and how to stand up for myself as a black young man.

​My name is Idiris and I am graduating from Boston Latin Academy in 2021. During my time at V.I.P I have learned countless things that will be beneficial to me for the rest of my life. For instance, my group and I facilitated a workshop focused on protective and risk factors to further the understanding on certain factors related to peer pressure among Boston youth. Also, through this experience working with V.I.P both during the summer and the academic year, I have strengthened my understanding of my violence prevention initiative for at risk communities. This job not only assists in academic and personal help, but also in becoming an active citizen and promoting advocacy for those who are struggling in this world. Essentially, my experience at V.I.P has been a wonderful experience where I matured as a person and also as an intellectual in my community.