Summer VIP Youth Organizing Institute:

The VIP Youth Institute hires youth organizers who live in the neighborhoods of Dorchester, Mattapan, and Roxbury for a six-week intensive summer program. During the six weeks, youth will build relationships with one-another, learn about the root causes of violence, understand the public health approach to violence prevention, identify different types of power, learn how 'isms' work and identify their role in preventing community violence. In addition to the violence prevention workshops, the youth organizers will visit each of the eight VIP coalition sites to learn from a panel of community partners on what is currently being done to prevent violence in the communities.

Near the end of summer, the youth organizers will develop and present their own violence prevention strategies to the Boston Public Health Commission and VIP partner agencies.

VIP Academic Youth Institute:

In 2017, VIP launched the academic year Youth Organizing Institute. During the school year, VIP youth organizers develop a series of peer-facilitated violence prevention workshops and present them to schools, youth groups, afterschool programs and any other interested groups or organizations. They also look for opportunities to collaborate with other youth leaders in Boston on common areas of interest and participate in peer to peer learning experiences.

Meet some of our VIP Youth Organizers

​	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 Orgnaizing 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.

How to apply to be a Peer Organizer:

The VIP Youth Organizing Institute has two sessions. One that takes place during the academic school year and the other runs during the summer. Both sessions require completion of an application through the Department of Youth Engagement and Employment (YEE) Successlink.

Once the application is completed, an in-person interview will take place. The interview will be conducted by current youth organizers and a decision of placement will be made within a week. Each cycle requires a new application be completed.

Upcoming Workshops and Events featuring VIP Youth Organizers:

• Peer Leadership Institute

• Jackson Mann Community Center

• Roxbury Youth Programs

• Youth Rally for Community Violence Prevention
  

Past Presentation Locations:

• Boston Area Health Education Center
  

• Our Mattapan Youth Council

• Peer Leadership Institute

• Project R.I.G.H.T. Inc.

• Roxbury Youth Programs

• Youth in Public Health Summit at Harvard School of Public Health