2024 Summer Safety Plan

Page Sections

PLEASE NOTE:

You can read the full version of the plan on this website. We also have a downloadable pdf version.

Still have questions? Contact:
Community Safety

617-635-3722

send an email

1 City Hall Square, Room 806

Boston, MA 02201
United States
Planning for Summer Safety

We're committed to meeting and working with our community members to ensure that all Bostonians have the necessary resources and support to have a safe, healthy, and active summer in 2024.

Summer Safety planning

About the Planning Process

The Mayor’s Community Safety Team (CST) is charged annually with the preparation and distribution of a plan focused around coordinating across City departments and providing resources to prevent, intervene and recover from acts of community violence. Historically, this plan was built internally and then rolled out to the public - under the Wu Administration, Senior Advisor for Community Safety Isaac Yablo has prioritized the importance of building a plan for community, by community. This year, the Community Safety Team undertook the most extensive community engagement strategy in the City’s history in assembling the plan.

This strategy to build Boston’s Plan for a safe, healthy and active Summer encompassed a three-step process:

PREPARING THE PLAN February - March

Engaging community stakeholders in an in-depth conversation to begin conceptualizing and building out what a safe, healthy and active Summer will look like. Members of the community identified as issues specific to their street, block, and neighborhoods.
PREVIEWING THE PLAN April - early May

Engaging community stakeholders in an in-depth conversation to preview the plan, hear from constituents, and make changes where necessary. Members of the community had the opportunity to make the necessary changes to the plan, based on what is relevant to their community.

PUBLISHING THE PLAN May

Branding the plan to ensure the community is aware of the programming and resources that will be available during the Summer months. Ensure the plan is translated. Members of the community helped to strategize around the branding and marketing of this plan, informing us of the best way to spread the plan by neighborhood.

Dear Boston,

I’m excited to present the City’s Plan for a Safe, Healthy, and Active Summer. Hopefully, it looks familiar. After all, you helped us make it! Together with our Community Safety Team and Offices and Departments across the City, all of you—faith leaders and community advocates, educators and coaches, parents and students—contributed to the most thorough summer safety plan community engagement process Boston has ever seen.

Through more than 25 meetings across nine neighborhoods, this summer’s plan was informed by resident insights and experiences at every step of the way. Because safety is personal—it means something a little different for every person. To truly make Boston safe for all of us, we knew we needed a plan built by all of us.

Safety, justice, and peace are not seasonal projects. This summer safety plan is the foundation for our ongoing, year-round efforts to address the root causes of violence through a public health lens, and create the conditions for healing. Together, thanks to you, we are creating a Boston where every community is whole.

With love and gratitude,

- Michelle Wu Mayor of Boston

The CST met with numerous community stakeholders, and hosted 27 public meetings across nine neighborhoods — one meeting focusing on each step of the plan. Meetings were held in BCYF Community Centers, ensuring that all community members had safe and accessible options to meet with the Community Safety team. In these meetings, we received input that transcended neighborhood borders, demographics, and socioeconomic statuses. Consistent themes across these engagements included concerns around community engagement, youth employment, perceptions of neighborhood safety, street safety and prioritizing around key dates, times, weekends and holidays. These concerns, coupled with data and historical knowledge allowed us to form our goals for the summer:

Perceptions of Neighborhood Safety: Despite Summer 2023 being the statistically least violent summer (in terms of shootings), perceptions of safety among community do not align with these accomplishments

Community Engagement: Members of the community pushed for the City do to a better job of sharing information and connecting to the folks that are doing grassroots work in the community
Youth Employment: Members of the community expressed that local, neighborhood-based employment is something that should be expanded citywide, on a year-round basis
Strategizing around key dates, times of day, weekends and holidays: Ensuring that the City is prepared on certain days where violence has been known to increase
Street Safety: Members of the community expressed ongoing concerns about the influx illegal Dirtbikes, ATVs, and motorized scooters on city streets.

Our Plan to End Violence

Throughout our engagement for this Summer Safety Plan, we heard a common refrain: What is the City’s long-term approach to addressing violence? How is the City of Boston thinking about addressing root causes of violence? Over the past 18 months, the Community Safety team, in partnership with the Boston Public Health Commission, has worked towards an answer to these questions, and we are now proud to present the City’s first Plan to End Violence.

The Plan to End Violence is a long-term, sustainable, and visionary approach to violence prevention Boston has consistently led in innovative violence prevention strategies, as evidenced by our strategy in the following pages. But our larger vision for Boston is not just one where we just reduce violence through a seasonal, band-aid approach – but where we end violence, holistically and year-round. This includes avoiding the pitfalls of systemic violence by fundamentally reimagining community engagement’s impact on policy and centering the lived experiences of those most impacted by violence.

The Summer Safety Plan will remain a part of this long-term strategy, and the City will continue to ensure that whenever violence takes place, we mobilize whatever resources are needed to restore safety for our residents. But we believe that any incident of violence is too many, and we are committed to building systems that will not just maintain peace or stability, but guarantee safety, health, and joy for all our residents.

We used community’s input as a foundation for the Plan, which contains both ongoing work in the City and new investments and proposals that would take our violence prevention strategy to the next level. From February to December 2023, we ran a rigorous process with over 500 voices heard, including:

Qualitative data from ~15 focus groups, across grassroots engagements, with young people, with residents in the crescent (Roxbury, Mattapan, Dorchester), East Boston, and impacted neighborhoods, and/or with providers;
An adult survey on forms of violence and level of trust in institutions, public and private;
A survey for young people, designed by young people and administered primarily by young leaders in Start Strong; and
Notes, testimonies, and evidence from various other forums, working group conversations, listening sessions, and other kinds of engagements concerned with violence prevention in Boston.

Below are the core themes we identified as a result of this engagement.

Download the graphic

The framework, which we’ve also used to organize this Summer Safety Plan, is as follows:

Prevention: Creating conditions for peace, or what public health professionals call “primary prevention.”
Intervention: Addressing what leads to harm, or “secondary prevention.”
Recovery: Healing after violence, or “tertiary prevention.”
Reinvestment: Investing in workforce, data, and impacted communities at scale.

Whereas our City has traditionally prioritized “Intervention,” the Plan also details a vision for how the City should be involved in generating peace, facilitating healing, and supporting communities in supporting themselves. Here are some examples of the expansive ways we’re thinking about violence prevention.

Prevention: Creating conditions for peace

Investing in BIPOC mental health workforce + mental health accessibility, youth voice
Equity-driven and place-based investments
Strengthen approach to youth jobs, support CBOs
Invest in Early Childhood based Fatherhood initiatives

Intervention: Addressing what leads to harm

Expanding programs serving “proven risk” youth + adults, BIPOC DV/SV survivors, restorative approaches
Investment to integrate co-occurring cycles of violence model across siloed workforce

Recovery: Healing after violence

Refining our protocol for responding to incidents
Investment in holistic supports, including housing for families impacted by violence
Strengthening our Office of Returning Citizens

Reinvestment: Investing in workforce, data, and impacted communities at scale

Supporting our priority workforce groups (e.g. pay, relief staffing, clinical services, career pathways
Enhancing evaluation infrastructure in Violence Prevention and ongoing community engagement + data dashboard.

Understanding common themes across city neighborhoods and the needs, concerns, and desires of constituents that were presented during the Summer Safety meetings, coupled with the themes that arose during the 2023 engagements to build a long term violence prevention strategy and data that we have access to as a city, the Plan for a Safe, Healthy and Active Summer 2024 was created.

The Mayor’s Office, in tandem with other City of Boston Departments, worked with constituents of the communities most impacted by community violence to develop a comprehensive plan for a safe, healthy, and active Summer. This strategy is a part of a more broad, year-round framework that aims to end all forms of violence by acknowledging the root causes and social determinants of violence, while also proactively intervening in conflicts to prevent violence from occurring or escalating. These programs and initiatives represent the work that City departments are currently participating in, while also highlighting the existing gaps in services that we want to address. Centering the safety and well-being of the community, we create pathways to opportunities so that all Bostonians can thrive.

Six Goals of the Summer

Scaling up community and youth activities, mentor programming, and employment opportunities for persons residing in communities impacted by community violence.
- Summer creates the need for greater engagement in prevention activities, programming, and employment outside of the classroom, particularly in communities that experience heightened levels of community violence.
Ensure neighborhoods are supported and connected to resources to help them respond to and recover from incidents of community violence.
- Because levels of community violence typically increase during Summer months, there is a greater need to ensure that constituents/survivors are proactively connected to trauma services and other trauma-informed community health initiatives.
Strengthen intervention and recovery efforts that are relevant to and accessible by the most at-promise populations.
- Summer requires data-driven focus on opportunity-youth and young adults that are engaged in, and are impacted by community violence, aiming to connect them to intervention and recovery-oriented services that are both accessible and relevant to the population.
Increase positive police presence, community engagement efforts, and informal social control mechanisms in “hotspot” locations during peak times of violence.
- Summer requires us to focus violence reduction efforts on the parks, playgrounds, and other open spaces that experience much of the community violence that takes place across the City.
Reinvest into communities and community members across the city with a focus on those disproportionately impacted by acts of community violence.
- Increasing social cohesion through city-funded, constituent-led efforts brings us together as a city and paves the way for a safe, healthy and active summer - built for community, by community.
Ensure the city's gun violence intervention strategy is active and supported by both providers and community members.
- In April 2023, Mayor Wu recently convened a multi-day workshop on evidence-informed violence intervention strategies, which resulted in an outline comprehensive violence intervention strategy. Since May of 2023, aspects of this strategy have been rolled out, and will continue to be in place on a year-round basis.

Prevention: Creating conditions for peace

Prevention

FutureBOS

FutureBOS has hundreds of opportunities for youth ages 14 - 18 and young adults ages 19 - 24 living in Boston. Most employers start reviewing applications by March 15, but don't forget to check back regularly as new opportunities will be added. Visit the FutureBos website for more information.

Many of the city Departments, Cabinets, and Bureaus listed below have employment opportunities available via FutureBOS including the Mayor’s Office, Human Services Cabinet, Equity & Inclusion Cabinet, Boston Public Schools, Boston Police Department, Boston Housing Authority and more. See specific opportunities below.

Boston Public Schools 'Summer Stuff'

Boston Public Schools is committed to ensuring that students have access to necessary resources throughout the summer, and provides a number of programs for BPS students and families across the city. The BPS Summer Stuff webpage has more information about all available programs listed - visit bostonpublicschools.org/summer

Summer Mental Health Services

The Department of Social Work has a team of clinicians that support the summer learning programs, high impact crisis incidents along with regular check ins for students who access mental health support during the school year. The team can be reached via a summer learning site, Student Support Hotline: 617-858-7881 or socialwork@bostonpublicschools.org
Summer Eats

Boston Public Schools and the City of Boston partner with Project Bread to ensure that students have access to healthy and nutritious meals across the city throughout the summer. For a full list of feeding sites available this summer, visit projectbread.com/summereats
Summer Jobs, Internships and Volunteering Opportunities

BPS partners with local businesses and organizations to regularly post new jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities for students. A full directory of these are available on bostonpublicschools.org.
Summer Learning

Throughout the Summer, Boston Public Schools has opportunities for new or returning students to further their education - either through regaining credits or building foundations for future success. Programs below have limited capacity, and residents should contact Boston Public Schools for more information.
Exam School Initiative

The Exam School Initiative (ESI) supports expanded access for Black, Latinx, multilingual learners and other students from historically marginalized backgrounds to the district’s 3 exam schools. Students in grades 4, 5 and 7 are invited centrally through a school nomination process. This program has a projected 400 seats, and includes all elementary and middle schools. This year’s program targets ELA and Math instruction, as MAP test prep and hands-on training in STEM and the arts.
Extended School Year

Boston Public Schools offers the Extended School Year (ESY) Program for students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs). Extended School Year offers full day, 5 hour programs. Focuses include academic instruction based on IEP goals, including reading, math, self regulation, early childhood education, evidence based reading methods, enrichment programs such as First Responders Day, Einstein’s Workshop, Whale & Dolphin Conservation, Minis with a Mission, and Joe’s Crazy Critters. Additionally, BPS provides related services, including: applied behavior analysis, adapted physical education, mobility, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language therapy and vision, behavioral supports and intervention transition, pre-vocation and vocational programs - including cosmetology, auto shop, and woodworking classes. See the appendix for a list of BPS ESY Sites.
BPS Division of Student Support “Summer Fun”

The Division of Student Support is hosting events and workshops throughout the summer for students across the city. Programming includes Summer Sports Camps, College & Career Access and Exploration, Mentoring, Educational Courses and Mental Health Access. A full list of programs offered is available in the Appendix. For more information, call the BPS Helpline at 617-635-8873 or email Cory McCarthy at cmccarthy2@bostonpublicschools.org

Community Connection Coordinators

Under the collaborative efforts of the Office of Safety Services and the Division of Student Support within Boston Public Schools, Community Connection Coordinators engage students with a proactive focus on providing access to resources and support tailored to the student's individual needs in pursuit of building positive relationships in accordance with BPS strategic goals. The desired outcomes of the position are to 1) add value to the district’s Multi-Tiered levels of support for non clinical resources at tier three that primarily focus on supporting students and their families’ needs through a public health lens, including addressing food insecurity, providing resources for stable housing, mental health support, and economic opportunity; 2) filling a gap of having dedicated BPS staff working shifts that extend beyond the school day in order to be more visible in the community; making more authentic connects with students, families, community based organizations, and attend neighborhood specific meetings; and 3) keeping school based staff informed of community based opportunities for success, and activities for our students, families, and staff as well as barriers that may be impeding access to student learning or safety. These positions work through a trauma informed lens to increase the use of restorative practices and increase the focus on enhancing the conflict resolution skills of our young people.

Human Services Cabinet

The mission of the Human Services Cabinet is to provide equitable access to high quality services, resources, and opportunities so that every Boston resident - especially those with the greatest needs - has what they need to thrive. In pursuit of this mission, the departments in the Human Services Cabinet meet residents where they are - in their homes, neighborhoods, and communities - to break down barriers to critical resources. The work of the Human Services Cabinet spans across multiple diverse communities including returning citizens, aging citizens, youth, veterans and more.

BCYF Summer Programming

Boston Centers for Youth & Families offers many summer classes and programs for youth. These aren’t only a lot of fun — they also keep children active over the summer months so they are prepared for the return to school in the fall. Visit the BCYF website for a complete list of summer programs and events.

BCYF SuperTeens (July 8 - August 16)

The BCYF SuperTeens Program is a six-week leadership program for 13 and 14 year olds. Teens meeting all program requirements will be eligible to receive a stipend at the end of summer.

BCYF Camp Joy (July 8 - August 2)

BCYF Camp Joy provides high-quality programs for children and young adults aged 3 to 15 with special needs, and their siblings aged 3 to 7. Our structured and enriching programs promote peer-to-peer socialization, foster individual growth and development, and connect participants and their families to new opportunities and valuable community resources.
BCYF Girls Leadership Corps (July - August)

BCYF Girls Leadership Corps (GLC) provides girls ages 12-14 with workshops and activities. Workshop topics will include self-defense with Girls LEAP, leadership skills, empowerment with the YW F.R.Y.E. Initiative, and more. The Girls Leadership Corps program participants will plan activities that Boston girls will be invited to register for, including Summer Girls Nights, various workshops and field trips.
Girls Nights

Designed specifically by and for girls between the ages of 6 and 18, Girls Nights connect them with necessary resources and opportunities to help establish a sense of unity and self-awareness while enjoying a positive and fun experience with their peers. Tentative Girls Nights include Codzilla, Boston Bowl, Chez Vous, Zoo Lights, Movies, Beach Party, Aquarium, and Crafternoon at a BCYF center and other fun activities.

BCYF Snap Shot Teen Photography Program (July 5 - August 16)

BCYF’s Snap Shot Teen Photography program is a unique summer job program for ages 16 to 18 that introduces participants to all aspects of photography. Teens receive a paycheck while participating in the program. Led by a professional photographer, the program includes opportunities to conduct photo shoots, visit museums and art galleries, learn digital photo editing, engage in online personal development workshops, and serve as a staff photographer for BCYF. Interested youth should apply to Snap Shot through the SuccessLink Summer Jobs Program at Boston.gov/Youth-Jobs. Select “BCYF Snap Shot” from the summer job spreadsheet on the website.
BCYF Fun Fests (July - August)

BCYF brings neighborhood fun to four centers each summer to draw families out for fun summer activities, including music, games, hands-on activities, programming information and a cookout. All events are on Thursdays from 5pm-7pm. 2024 dates and locations include:

July 18: BCYF Blackstone - Community Center South End;
July 25: BCYF Curtis Hall - Community Center, Jamaica Plain
August 8: Charlestown - Doherty Park or Community Center (TBD)
August 22: BCYF Marshall - Community Center, Dorchester
Licensed Day Programs and Camps

BCYF operates Camp Joy, a DPH/ISD Licensed Medical Recreational Camp for disabled children between the ages of 3- 15. Select BCYF community centers run DPH/ISD Licensed Summer Camps serving youth aged 6-12 in partnership with their Site Councils, they include: BCYF Nazzaro, BCYF Paris Street, BCYF Roche, BCYF Shelburne and BCYF Tobin Community Centers. Select community centers, in partnership with their volunteer councils, host EEC Licensed Summer Programs for children between the ages of 3 - 12, they include: BCYF Hennigan, BCYF Hyde Park, BCYF Jackson Mann, and BCYF Vine Street Community Centers.

Youth and Teen Summer Recreational Programs (Municipally Exempt Certification)

All BCYF Community Centers will operate recreational summer programs, akin to Summer Camps for youth ages 6 - 18. Activities will include: Sports: Basketball Clinics, Baseball/ Softball Clinics, Volleyball Clinics, Golf Clinics, Pickleball Club; Arts and Crafts Clubs, STEM Activities and Science Lab Clubs, Computer Classes, Teen NIghts, Family Events, Movie NIghts, Field Trips and Outings, Special Events such as community BBQ’s and Pool Parties, Traveling Storytellers and the Mobile Makers STEM Van. These programs will be free of charge to all Boston families. Visit the BCYF website to register.

Youth Engagement and Advancement

Community Events Calendar

Initiative launched in Summer 2024 to provide a centralized calendar of free events aimed at teens. Since its launch, the calendar has been turned into a year-round tool that is updated daily to reflect the many events happening across the city hosted by the City of Boston and its community partners. As we enter Summer 2024, OYEA will continue its investment in ensuring this calendar is up to date and filled with as many free and exciting events for teens as possible. OYEA aims to have this calendar be a tool for teens, parents, and community partners to use to engage young people in safe events aimed for them.

Boston After Dark: June 21 - August 30

OYEA is mounting a campaign to mobilize their Youth Partner Network to host events on Friday nights, 6 - 9 p.m., June 21 - August 30, because a lot of the problematic activities that teens engage in typically happen on Friday nights. BCYF is supporting this strategy by adding more special events to their Friday evenings in the summer.

Fill the Gap week(s): June 22 - July 7, and August 17 - 31, 2024

Summer 2023 saw a flare of disorderly behavior during the gap weeks between school and summer jobs. This year these weeks fall roughly during June 22-July 7th, and August 17-31st. Our goal, with the support of our partners, is to saturate these weeks with activities for teens and actively promote these opportunities to families using the OYEA community calendar and social media outreach.

Youth Mental Health and YouthLine Resource Connection

OYEA will launch a new tool for resource finding and sharing this Summer, the Mayor’s YouthLine. Historically, this initiative has been a phone number staffed by teens where young people could call in for support in finding events, services, and resources aimed at their demographic across the city. This initiative has not functioned as such since the last decade. OYEA is bringing back this initiative in a new and updated way to address the needs of current young Bostonians. The YouthLine will now serve as a central resource hub to connect youth to a variety of programs available to them including events, sports teams, jobs, after school programs, community centers, food accessibility, LGBTQ+ services, mental health services, and so much more. This new and improved YouthLine initiative has been created to better serve modern youth, including multiple components such as a user-friendly interactive online database filled with 350+ resources, a walk-in desk in the Tobin Community Center staffed with trained team members, and easily accessible staff connected by phone, email, and intake form. This initiative aims to help connect young people and families to necessary resources and services in their neighborhoods and beyond to assist in creating healthy, well-served communities this summer.

Parks and Recreation

The Parks and Recreation Department offers free athletic programs, clinics, and camps in neighborhood parks throughout Summer Months. Visit the Parks and Recreation website for the complete 2024 Summer Guide.

SPORTS CENTERS

Parks Department Sports Centers offer free summer camp alternatives to Boston youth. Each location offers instruction in several popular sports from July 8 through August 23. All Sports Centers are offered free of charge to Boston residents and open to boys and girls ages 7 to 14. Parents may register their children for just one week or the entire summer. Visit boston.gov/sports to register.

EAST BOSTON SPORTS CENTER

July 8 - August 23, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
East Boston Memorial Stadium, East Boston
Contact: Damien Margardo, 617-961-3083 or damien.margardo@boston.gov

GARVEY PARK SPORTS CENTER

July 8 - August 16, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Garvey Park, Dorchester

Contact: Charlie Conners, 617-961-3093 or charles.conners@boston.gov

HUNT-ALMONT PARK SPORTS CENTER

July 8 - August 23, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Hunt-Almont Park, Mattapan
Contact: Woodley Auguste, 617-961-3084 or woodley.auguste@boston.gov

RONAN PARK SPORTS CENTER

July 8 - August 23, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Ronan Park, Dorchester

Contact: Woodley Auguste, 617-961-3084 or woodley.auguste@boston.gov

WHITE STADIUM SPORTS CENTER

July 8 - August 23, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
White Stadium, Franklin Park, Jamaica Plain
Contact: Woodley Auguste, 617-961-3084 or woodley.auguste@boston.gov

Parkarts Performing Arts

Citywide Neighborhood Concerts: July 8 - August 7

Neighborhood Concerts are presented by Bank of America with support from Berklee College of Music and College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving. Concerts will run from Monday, July 8th, 2024 through Thursday, August 7th, 2024. Visit the Neighborhood Concert Series Webpage to find the full schedule of concerts.
Tito Puente Latin Music Series: July 11 - August 15

Created in honor of Latin music icon Tito Puente, this series celebrates 18 years of bringing live Latin music with a strong salsa influence to Boston parks. The series is sponsored in part by Berklee College of Music and Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción. Free salsa lessons will be led by MetaMovements at select concerts. All concerts start at 7 p.m. All locations are wheelchair accessible. Visit the Tito Puente Latin Music Series Webpage for the full, six-concert schedule.
Mayor Wu’s Movie Nights: August 8 - 29

This series is presented by Bank of America with additional support by College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving, and in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment. All shows start at dusk (approximately 8 p.m.). Visit the Parks Movie Nights Webpage for the complete movie schedule.
Rosalita’s Marionette Puppets: July 11 - August 9

Rosalita’s Marionette Puppets featuring marionettes made by professional actor-puppeteer Charlotte Anne Dore. Performances start at 11 a.m. Each event is free, but young children must be accompanied by an adult. Groups of six or more must make prior arrangements by calling the Parks Department at 617-635-4505. The puppet performances are part of our arts and crafts workshops taking place on the same day from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Visit the Rosalita’s Marionette Puppets Webpage for the full performance schedule.
Golf Course Summer Concert Series: July 10 - August 14

Sponsored by Bank of America, the Golf Course Summer Concert Series features live music on summer nights at City golf courses. Shows will run July 10th, 2024 through August 14th, 2024 (beginning at 6:00pm), and will be held at one of two golf courses: William J. Devine Golf Clubhouse (1 Circuit Drive, Dorchester) and George Wright Golf Clubhouse (420 West Street, Hyde Park).

Parkarts Participatory Arts

Arts and Crafts Workshops: July 9 - August 14

Our arts and crafts workshops are led by local artists. They're held Tuesday through Friday from Wednesday, July 9th, 2024 through August 13th, 2024, and run from 10:00am-12:00pm. These drop-in workshops encourage kids to explore their creativity through projects like mask making, crayon art, watercolor and much more. Supplies are provided by the City. This series is completely free and open to Boston residents. These workshops will take place in various parks throughout the City of Boston. Registration is encouraged, and pre-registration is required for groups of 8 or more. Please email Shannon.murphy2@boston.gov to register.

Frog Pond Spray Pool Opening: June 25

Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston Parks Commissioner Ryan Woods, and The Skating Club of Boston will kick off the 2024 summer season as the Boston Common Frog Pond spray pool reopens on Tuesday, June 25. The day will include a fun and exciting celebration at 11 a.m. followed by the opening of the spray pool. The Frog Pond spray pool is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. until September 2, 2024. Visit the 2024 Frog Pond Spray Pool Opening Webpage for additional information

ParkActive

Summer Fitness Series: May - August

Presented in partnership with the BPHC, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the Boston Parks Fitness Series offers free fitness programming in Boston parks. Programming will be both in-person and virtual, with classes led by certified fitness instructors. Classes include Afrobeat Cardio, Beginner Salsa, Chair Yoga, Dance Fit, Family Zumba, HIIT, Kick It by Eliza, Line Dancing, POUND Fitness, Strength & Conditioning, Tai Chi, Total Body Burn, Yoga and Zumba. Everyone is welcome, regardless of fitness level. Classes will run from May through August 2024. Visit Boston.gov/fitness to find the full schedule and additional details, or call 617-961-3047 or 617-534-2355.
Boston Public Library Summer Learning

BPL has expanded the classic summer reading programming into a broader summer learning agenda, including STEM programs. We have targeted programs by age group at all locations with an emphasis on underserved youth, including English Language Learners. Visit BPL's website for more information.

Boston Housing Authority

The Boston Housing Authority seeks to engage youth during the summer through work opportunities, targeted programming, and events. Leading up to the summer, BHA youth workers have been advertising at its developments summer camps and programming opportunities available through community partners to encourage enrollment among BHA kids. For more information, visit the Boston Housing Authority website.

Youth Employment

For those not enrolled in summer programming outside developments, the BHA partners with the SuccessLink program to provide employment opportunities across its developments for youth. This provides teens living on BHA properties the opportunity to not only earn money, but gain experience working for the largest housing authority in New England. For more information about SuccessLink and other summer jobs, visit the FutureBos website.

Youth Programming

For those not enrolled in the SuccessLink program or summer camps, the BHA will have its youth centers open for drop-in use as a safe space where youth can hang out, play games, and socialize. At specific developments, like the Mildred C. Hailey Youth Center, the BHA is seeking to bring in community partners to offer new programming like recording studio sessions and will continue to build out ad hoc programming with partners as opportunities arise. Meanwhile, the BHA will offer summer programming for youth at targeted developments. Members of our youth council will be working with Spoke on arts programming and leadership development throughout the summer. The BHA will also expand a Green Infrastructure summer program piloted last year for youth at Franklin Field and on the youth council in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Green Infrastructure. The six-week program will see youth learning about green infrastructure, studying greenery at their sites, conducting site visits to green infrastructure in their community, and building a green infrastructure project at the Franklin Field development. For more information, contact my’kel.mcmillan@bostonhousing.org or molley.morley@bostonhousing.org

Unity Days

Tenant Task Forces at BHA developments will host their Unity Day events in August. This annual event is an opportunity to build community at each development, through games, activities, and food. The event is for all ages, but will aim to engage teenagers to build their connections to the community and opportunities to get involved. For more information on Unity Days in your neighborhood, contact your Neighborhood Liaison from the Office of Neighborhood Services.

Targeted Summer Programming - Mildred Hailey and Franklin Field Youth Centers

As awardees of the Summer Activation Mini Grant, youth centers at the BHA’s Mildred C. Hailey and Franklin Field sites plan to hold a series of large summer events to support teens already connected to the center and engage teens not involved. Planned events include field days, movie nights, karaoke nights, and back to school events. These events will have games, food, and prizes, and will have space for local vendors and community groups to connect with residents. The goal of these events is to not only provide entertainment for youth, but to also advertise the youth center and encourage engagement in upcoming Fall programming. The events will activate spaces immediately outside the teen centers to show they are fun, safe spaces for teens to access. For more information, contact my’kel.mcmillan@bostonhousing.org or molley.morley@bostonhousing.org

Equity and Inclusion Cabinet

The Equity and Inclusion Cabinet works to advance racial justice, and social, economic, and health equity in the city of Boston.

Black Male Advancement

The Office of Black Male Advancement works to empower Black men and boys in Boston. They work to ensure they have equitable access to opportunities in the City. As part of our work, we focus on policies, programs, resources, as well as local and national partnerships. Their goal is to ensure Black men and boys have support to thrive and share in our City’s prosperity. BMA also directs and supports the efforts of MBK Boston and the Black Men and Boys Commission.

Youth Employment

My Brother’s Keeper Boston- Young Black Leaders Summer Youth Employment Program (in partnership with the Office of Youth Employment and Opportunity)-Youth will be paired with Black male serving nonprofits to expose young Black leaders to various career paths that serve as building blocks for their professional development and personal success. Each site offers unique work experience opportunities.

LGBTQ+ Advancement

The Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement is dedicated to the protection, promotion and empowerment of Boston’s LGBTQ+ community. In addition to Pride Month programming in June, LGBTQ+ Advancement is working with City partners to ensure a safe, healthy and active summer in Boston.

Reimagining Community Policing (collaboration w/ Boston Police Dept. LGBTQ+ Community Liaison)

In response to community concerns regarding BPD’s policing practices at events such as festivals, parades, and protests, MOLA is working with BPD’s LGBTQ+ Community Liaison Deputy Superintendent Dahill and various community groups to co-create guidance, policies, and best practices for these scenarios.

Monthly Public Safety Meeting

MOLA promotes and attends the citywide monthly public safety meeting hosted by BPD’s LGBTQ+ Community Liaison Deptuty Superintendent Dahill. This meeting is a public space for community members to share concerns and updates directly with law enforcement. Detective Webster of BPD’s Civil Rights Division shares a monthly update from any LGBTQ+ related hate crime incidents. There are also often representatives from other agencies such as the Boston Regional Intelligence Center (BRIC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Office..

Boston Pride Celebration

Boston’s citywide pride celebration, hosted by Boston Pride 4 the People, will be Saturday, June 8 on Boston Common. BP4TP has been working with various city departments, including BPD, Parks, MOLA, and the CST to ensure safe and fun festivities. MOLA’s Beyond Mini Grants program allows community-based organizations serving the LGBTQ+ community in Boston to apply for up to $10,000 in funds. Visit the “Community Reinvestment" section below.

Immigrant Advancement

The Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) strives to strengthen the ability of immigrants to fully and equitably participate in economic, civic, social, and cultural life in Boston. MOIA also promotes the recognition and public understanding of the contributions of immigrants to the City.

Youth Work-Experience Opportunity

The City of Boston is partnering with community-based organizations to recruit and offer work experience opportunities to immigrant youth, ensuring that their program involvement is engaging, meaningful, and a building block for their professional development and personal success. Organizations will provide leadership development and professional skills attainment in a culturally and linguistically sensitive manner, offering access to programs that are essential to their economic and social inclusion. In collaboration with nonprofit organizations across the City, we seek to support program models that offer immigrant youth the 21st-century skills to succeed when they enter the workforce as well as early exposure to various careers. Eligible youth should fill out the interest form, visit the Immigrant Advancement Youth Program website for more information.

Boston Police Department

(Local Districts & Bureau of Community Engagement)

Members of the Boston Police Department’s Bureau of Community Engagement are active across all of Boston, and through community programming opportunities, work to establish meaningful connections with community members outside of law enforcement. Most districts are hosting events and programming throughout the summer. Examples include walks in the neighborhood with senior citizens, games of Bocce at Langone Park in the North End, sports programming with St. Peter’s Youth Center on Bowdoin Street, open workouts at the Back Yard Boston Gym, working with HEAL Boston distribute free food to combat hunger, and more. For more information on events in your district - contact the Bureau of Community Engagement, or reach out to your district Captain and Community Service Officer directly.

BUREAU OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

James Chin, Superintendent, james.chin@pd.boston.gov
Nicole Grant, Deputy Superintendent, nicole.grant@pd.boston.gov
Steven Ciccolo, Lieutenant, Steven.Ciccolo@boston.gov

Community Building | Empowerment Initiatives

Open Streets Boston

Open Streets Boston events help people experience streets as public spaces where communities thrive. City streets transform into vibrant, pedestrian-friendly boulevards where people can dream, play, and explore. During these free, family-friendly events, Open Streets Boston will temporarily close major thoroughfares to car traffic. This opens them to people biking, walking, rolling, and connecting with neighbors and local businesses

NOTE: The event time for all routes is 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Dorchester - Sunday May 5, 2024

Dorchester Ave

Between Ashmont Street. and Linden Street

Roxbury - Saturday June 22, 2024

Blue Hill Ave

Between Warren Street and Dudley Street

Jamaica Plain - Sunday July 21, 2024

Centre Street

Between Lamartine Street and South Street

Hyde Park - Sunday August 11, 2024

River Street

Between Hyde Park Avenue X River Street and Fairmount Avenue X Davidson Street

East Boston - Sunday September 15, 2024

Meridian Street

Meridian Street between Maverick Street to Porter Street, Bennington Street from Porter Street to Day Square

Allston / Brighton - Sunday October 20, 2024

Harvard Avenue

Between Harvard Avenue and Brighton Avenue from Cambridge Street to Commonwealth Avenue

City Hall Plaza Activations

As the epicenter of the City of Boston, City Hall Plaza is a place where all Boston residents, visitors, and newcomers have access to participate in arts and cultural events. The Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture collaborates with other City departments and agencies like the Mayor's Office of Tourism, Sports, and Entertainment to program the Plaza. This Summer, this City of Boston will be hosting numerous community art and cultural programs. For more information, visit Boston.gov or email Billy Dean Thomas billydean.thomas@boston.gov

Adopt a Block

The City of Boston will bring back the Adopt a Block initiative, featuring “Unity Walks” from June to August. These walks represent a concerted effort to expand the presence of our faith community beyond the walls of our respective places of worship. The Unity Walks aim to foster a stronger sense of unity and connection among residents by bringing together people of all faiths to walk side by side, engaging with neighbors, and sharing in moments of solidarity and understanding. In addition to promoting community cohesion, safety is a paramount concern. The presence of faith leaders and community members during these walks not only symbolizes solidarity but also a sense of security within our neighborhoods. For more information, reach out to Faith Based Liaison William Dickerson william.dickerson2@boston.gov

SUMMER 2024 UNITY WALK SCHEDULE

June 13 - 6 p.m.

Malcolm X Park - 131 Dale Street, Roxbury

June 26 - 6 p.m.

Grove Hall Plaza, Roxbury

July 2 - 6 p.m.

Harambee Park - 15 Talbot Avenue, Dorchester

July 25 - 6 p.m.

Walker Playground - 528 Norfolk Street, Mattapan

August 8 - 6 p.m.

Community Interfaith Prayer, Meditation, Reflection

Almont Park - 40 Almont Street, Mattpan

August 21 - 6 p.m.

Community Interfaith Prayer, Meditation, Reflection

Ramsay Park - 1931 Washington Street, Lower Roxbury

Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Initiative

The Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Initiative is a program of the Division of Violence Prevention at Boston Public Health Commission. VIP works in six micro-neighborhoods averaging 900 households. These neighborhoods have high rates of gun violence but strong community infrastructure. Each VIP neighborhood has its own resident coalition coordinated by a local community organization. VIP coalitions ensure that residents have the knowledge and resources they need. They make residents feel empowered to be part of the solution and create sustained change in their communities

Intervention

Boston Public Schools Division of Intensive Student Support

Boston Public School’s Division of Intensive Student Support primarily works with students who are court involved, DYS involved and DCF involved. The Division is responsible for coordinating services between students, families, schools and community partners to ensure that they are actively seeking to remove barriers for this population in accessing their education. Additionally, members of the Division serve as liaisons between students and families, attorneys, probation and the juvenile courts. The Division works through summer vacation to ensure that students are connected to programming and provided wrap-around support, whether it be at home, in school, in the community or in court. The Division will continue to connect with their students who are in custody and support students with their transition back into the community upon release. To get in contact with the Division of Intensive Student Support, contact Nicole Robbins, the Assistant Director of Intensive Student Support, at NRobbins@bostonpublicschools.org.

Youth Options Unlimited (YOU) Boston

The YOU Boston Summer Youth Employment program places court involved and at-promise Youth Ages 14-24 in paid, supervised work opportunities with community-based organizations. Summer cohorts include Culinary & Kitchen Operations, Entrepreneurship, Health and Wellness, Intro to Cosmetology, Media & Production, Barista & Customer Service, DJ & Music Appreciation, and Youth Advocacy program. Youth are paid $16+ an hour and work between 15-25 hours a week between July 8 - August 23, 2024

PowerCorps Green Jobs

PowerCorpsBOS is a green jobs program. It provides young adults with training, career readiness support, and connections to employers in the green industry. An “earn and learn” program, PowerCorpsBOS pays members to participate in hands-on training that prepares them for living-wage careers. Over the course of its ten-month training program, PowerCorpsBOS teaches Corps members a variety of transferable soft skills and technical forestry skills. These skills can be used in the green industry and beyond. Summer Programming will run from July-August, 2024.

Grassroots

“GrassRoots” is an intensive 5-week program anchored by the Community Safety Team that aims to expose young adults (18-24) to the basic skills needed to enter high paying employment industries. The program prepares participants to obtain high-paying employment in these industries through: (1) career readiness and job training, (2) peer-to-peer mentorship, and (3) classroom and hands-on learning experiences. Program participants are referred to the program through community partners including law enforcement, and those make up Boston’s CVI ecosystem. The Summer Cohorts will begin in late June, 2024. For more information, visit the Community Safety website.

Operation Exit

Operation Exit provides the knowledge and skills required to apply for and enter into a state-registered Building Trades apprenticeship program. Using intensive case management and placement services, Operation Exit helps participants achieve their career goals. Potential candidates are referred to us through our partners. The Summer Cohorts will begin in late June, 2024. For more information, visit the Community Safety website.

Recovery: Healing after violence

Community Healing and Response Network (CHRN)

Formally known as the Neighborhood Trauma Teams, the Community Healing and Response Network offers services for individuals, families, and communities affected by community violence. Services include:

Access to support hotline 24/7, 365 days a year (617-431-0125)
Immediate support services for any individual affected by community violence
Support for individuals and families during community events. Events include vigils, memorials, and funeral services
Referral to ongoing behavioral health services for individuals and families
Trauma education and support at community meetings
Community outreach to distribute basic trauma health information
Community coping/healing groups. Support is available to all residents who feel affected by community violence.

You can access services by calling the hotline or the Neighborhood Trauma Team Network. All services are free and private. Visit the Neighborhood Trauma Team Network Webpage to find catchment area contacts, and the Healing After Trauma Brochure.

Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI) Boston / Men’s Health Initiative (via the Boston Public Health Commission)

A state-funded program that operates out of the Boston Public Health Commission, SSYI utilizes a comprehensive public health approach to outreach, engagement, case management and service delivery to increase positive outcomes for adolescents and young adults ages 17-24. A year-round program, all clients are referred by public safety agencies who have identified these individuals as those most at-risk of being victims or perpetrators of firearm violence.

Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Health Supports

Center for Behavioral Health and Wellness (via the Boston Public Health Commission)

The Center for Behavioral Health and Wellness (est. 2022) at BPHC helps to provide resources to improve mental health for everyone in Boston. The Center envisions a community where everyone feels supported and can thrive. The Center aims to promote and improve mental health and wellness for everyone in Boston by removing the stigma associated with finding support and treatment for mental health issues. While the Center does not provide direct clinical services, BPHC provides many mental health services, resources, and programs and collaborates with a host of external partners to provide population-specific external supports and resources including LGBTQ, BIPOC, Black/African-American, AAPI, South Asian, Refugee and Immigrant, Native and Indigenous Peoples, LatinX, Veterans, those impacted by Food Access, or those in need of Grief Support or Peer Support.

Heightened Community Concerns

Fire Safety and Fireworks

Fire prevention is just as important as fire fighting. Summer is a time for fun, but it is important to make sure you and your family are being cautious when using grills, or are around other potentially dangerous materials! On average, grills cause about 10,600 household fires per year. July is the peak month, followed by June, May, and August. As a reminder during Summer Months:

Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors
Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill
Never leave your grill unattended

Contact Lieutenant and Community Education Officer Hank Perkins (henry.perkins@boston.gov) and Community Education Coordinator Michelle McCourt (michelle.mccourt@boston.gov) to request a Fire Education Presentation or to request Fire Hats.

Additionally, as a reminder, Fireworks are dangerous and illegal in Massachusetts. Illegal fireworks pose significant dangers to the safety of our residents and their property. To combat issues related to illegal fireworks within the city, the Mayor’s Office has partnered with the Community Engagement Cabinet and the Boston Police Police Department. Please refer to the City of Boston’s official Firework Safety Guide and or Firework Safety Web Page for information, resources, and advocacy tools to help you push towards positive change in your community.

Dirt Bike / ATV Safety

It is illegal to drive a dirt bike, ATV, or any other off-road vehicle on public roads in the city of Boston. Community members with information relative to the illegal operation/storage of these recreational vehicles who wish to assist in these ongoing investigations anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to assist any such investigations in an anonymous manner. Additionally, the Boston Police Department’s Summer 2024 Reveler Action Plan will go into effect. Visit the appendix for more information on this plan.

Problem Properties

To address crime and blight in our neighborhoods, the City created the Problem Properties Task Force in 2011. The Task Force represents a consortium of City departments and agencies. As part of our work, we identify “problem properties.” These properties often soak up the City’s public safety and neighborhood resources. In some cases, these addresses are centers of drug use, violence, or other crimes. In other cases, they are visual blights that pose a safety hazard. In all cases, owners have allowed their properties to become chronic problems. Through our enforcement authority, the Task Force holds property owners responsible. We empower the City to levy fines against absentee landlords. We also give citizens a way to address quality of life issues. For more information on the task force, how to designate a property, or to view the “problem properties” map, visit the City’s Problem Properties Webpage.

After-Hours Parties

After-hours parties have caused significant neighborhood-level safety concerns in the past. Because many of these parties are often unsanctioned and have not been permitted as approved , the City of Boston will be enforcing all complaints that come in as a result of these unsanctioned gatherings. The purpose of the BPD Party Line is to give residents a direct contact for reporting the occurrence of loud parties. Residents are encouraged to use this resource as a means of preventing late night disorderly behavior and reduce incidents of possible further criminal conduct. Please call the Party Line at 617-343-5500, contact your local police district, and submit a report to Boston 311. Please see the appendix for Massachusetts General Laws (MGLs) (16-26) regarding Unreasonable Noise and Disturbing the Peace.

Firearm Violence

While firearm violence is a significant challenge year round, the Months between June and August present significant challenges. While Summer 2023 saw the lowest shooting victim total since 2005 (58), and lowest incident total since 2009 (42), the City remains committed to reducing firearm violence as one victim is one too many. For specifics on the strategy to reduce community violence during the Summer months, see the “Summer 2024 Community Violence Reduction Strategy” section below for more information.

Gun Violence Reduction Strategy

Gun Violence Reduction Management Team

Led by the Community Safety Team, Boston’s Gun Violence Reduction Management Team is comprised of public health providers, law enforcement, schools, nonprofit leaders, the public housing authority, and hospitals. The Team meets on a weekly basis to discuss updates related to Boston’s CVI strategy, discuss current and emerging trends, and Boston’s Summer strategy to reduce community violence is comprised of a management team that works to execute four key strategies:

Engage “high-risk” individuals with high-quality services and supports: Rigorous research indicates that individuals at the highest risk for violence, at any age, can benefit significantly from high quality behavioral health supports. Building on city efforts already underway, the city performed a needs analysis to confirm how many individuals are at the highest risk for violence and to assess their needs. Based on that analysis, the mayor’s office has developed a plan for expanding services to offer 100% of those at the highest risk for violence the help they need. The city will soon work to develop an integrated citywide database to track services and ensure accountability. In addition, the city will work to expand support for hospital-based intervention programs to ensure services and support are available citywide when individuals are admitted to emergency rooms for violent penetrating injuries.
Weekly and bi-weekly incident review meetings: Proactively responding in a coordinated manner to recent incidents of violence is a hallmark of many evidence-informed approaches to reducing violence. Beginning in June, the Boston Police Department and Boston Public Health Commission will convene weekly and bi-weekly meetings respectively to bring together law enforcement, public health, and violence intervention workers to ensure coordinated responses to recent conflicts that have or may become violent.
Increase positive presence and environmental investments in the micro-places where violence concentrates: Research indicates that both increases in positive police presence in locations where violence concentrates, and investments in violence-prone locations, particularly by remaking physical settings, can both yield reductions in violent crime when done correctly. According to the Boston Regional Intelligence Center, there are approximately 150 geographic micro-locations where serious violence concentrates in the city. Focus locations or “opportunity zones” for Summer 2024 encompass Streets, Parks, and Developments across multiple neighborhoods (see the appendix for the complete list of locations).
Place-based partnership meetings: Within the aforementioned areas where violence concentrates, the Mayor’s office will pilot regular placed-based partnership meetings between law enforcement, other city services, and community stakeholders in several impacted areas where violence concentrates. The goal of the meetings is to increase law enforcement visibility without aggressive enforcement, while at the same time investing in engaging activities in these spaces and improving the physical environment of these areas. Each partnership group will establish its own mini-plan for preventing violence in its area.

Appendix

Summer Guides

Boston Public Schools

List of Extended School Year Sites

School Name	Grades	Times
Blackstone School	Kindergarten - Grade 6	9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Edison School	Kindergarten - Grade 6	9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Lee School	Kindergarten - Grade 6	8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
McKay School	Kindergarten - Grade 6	8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Mildred School	Kindergarten - Grade 6	9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Roosevelt School	Kindergarten - Grade 6	9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tobin School	Kindergarten - Grade 6	9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tynan School	Kindergarten - Grade 6	8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Carter (at the Lila G. Frederick)	Grade 7 - Grade 12	9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Charlestown	Grade 7 - Grade 12	8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Madison Park	Grade 7 - Grade 12	8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Henderson (at the Lila G. Frederick)	Kindergarten - Grade 12	9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Horace Mann-Public Day (at the Lila G. Frederick)	Kindergarten - Grade 12	9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Mel H. King South End-Public Day	Kindergarten - Grade 12	8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
STRIVE (at Madison Park High School)	SP	8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Division of Student Support’s 'Best Summer Ever' Program List

Cory McCarthy, Chief of Students, Boston Public Schools

BPS Student Support will host the following events this summer:
Athletics: Sports in Action
- Summer Sports Camps
  - Strong Girl Summer (All Ages)
  - Strength and Conditioning
- You Got It Girl Sports & More Camp (Girls 5-16)
  - Mentoring, Mindfulness & Youth Development
- ESports (Ages 7-18)
  - 4 Teams
  - STEM and JR. Cloud Engineering
- BPS Athletics Camps
  - Junior Golf
  - Boys Basketball Camp
  - BPS Football Preseason Combine
Sports Management and Sports Leadership Summer Pathway Special Programming
Hair Braiding Entrepreneurship Camp (1 Week)
Double Dutch Challenge (1 Week)
College Send Off
6-Won-7 Sunday Program
Environmental Justice Internships and Green Career Exploratory
Boston Design Academy
BPS Comic Con (Ages 7-14)
- To improve literacy skills through engaging and relatable content.
- To foster creativity and imagination in storytelling.

Mentoring (REACH 1000) (in collaboration with the Office of Black Male Advancement)

Mentor Registration Link | Mentee Registration Link
Vision: Empowering Boston's youth to lead with confidence, achieve with purpose, act with agency, and succeed beyond boundaries.
- College and Career Access and Exploration
  - Opportunity Lab
  - Summer College Tours
Urban Financial Literacy for Middle School (Ages 11-14)
Rhymes With Reason Literacy Powered Through Music

List of Summer ‘24 'Opportunity Zones'

Dorchester

Talbot Avenue corridor (priority streets include Helen Street, Millet Street, Southern Avenue, Wheatland Avenue, Whitfield Street and surrounding areas) - Dorchester
Humboldt Avenue corridor (and surrounding Grove Hall area)
Bowdoin Street & Geneva Avenue area (priority streets include Topliff Street, Draper Street, Longfellow Street and surrounding areas)
Four Corners area (priority streets include Erie Street, Ellington Street, Morse Street, Michigan Avenue, Columbia Road, Washington Street, and surrounding areas)
Harambee Park area
Roberts Playground area
Ronan Park area
Reverend Loesch Family Park area
Franklin Field Development
Franklin Hill Development

Hyde Park

Wood Avenue Corridor (priority streets include Ayles Road, Westminster Street, Reddy Avenue, Rosa Street, and surrounding areas)
Ross Field area
Fairmount Development

Roxbury

Dudley Street Corridor (priority streets include West Cottage Street, Brooke Avenue, Vine Street, Mt. Pleasant Avenue, and surrounding areas) - Roxbury
Humboldt Avenue Corridor (and surrounding Grove Hall area) - Dorchester
Walnut Avenue Corridor (priority streets include Walnut Park, Westminster Ave, Crawford Street, Abbotsford Street and surrounding areas)
Malcolm X. Park
Madison Park Fields
Madison Park Development
Alice Taylor Development
Mission Main Development

Mattapan

Cummins Highway Corridor (priority streets include Almont Street, Itasca Street, Orlando Street, Brockton Street, Favre Street and surrounding areas)
Almont Park
Walker Playground

East Boston

Eagle Hill area (priority streets include Condor Street, Falcon Street W/E Eagle Street, Border Street, Meridian Street and surrounding areas)
LoPresti Park

Charlestown

Charlestown High School area (priority streets include Medford Street, Monument Street, Tufts Street, O'Reilly Way, Walford Way, Polk Street and surrounding areas)

South End/Lower Roxbury

Ramsay Park
Lenox Development
Tremont St corridor (between Massachusetts Avenue and West Dedham Street and surrounding areas)

Jamaica Plain

Mildred C. Hailey Development

South Boston

West Broadway Development
Mary Ellen McCormack Development

Boston Police Department

2024 Boston Police Reveler Action Plan

Justification

Organized groups of individuals are congregating in certain public areas of the City of Boston in large numbers that can exceed 200 - 300 vehicles and large crowds. These groups are engaging in activity ranging from quality of life infractions to serious criminal activities. These activities involve extreme reckless operation of a variety of vehicles with total disregard for public safety. Other criminal activity includes firearm violence, assaults, public consumption of alcohol, open drug consumption, fireworks, playing loud music. Various violations of the auto laws, such as drag racing common with these gatherings.

Recently, Emergency Deployment Teams (EDTs) have been needed to disperse these crowds which have challenged the officer’s orders to disperse and confrontations have occurred. The primary locations affected are on B-2 (Roxbury), B-3 (South Dorchester/Mattapan), C-6 (South Boston), C-11 (Dorchester), E-13 (Jamaica Plain) and E-18 (Hyde Park) on Thursday nights through Sunday nights, Sunday night being most active. These gatherings have become the primary source of 911 calls and community complaints to the Boston Police Department during the mild weather months due to its impact on the quality of life of our residents and peace within neighborhoods.

Mission

To improve the quality of life in the neighborhoods and to restore peace through a concerted approach between members of the Boston Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, City of Boston partner agencies, residents and community stakeholders. The immediate goal is to enforce violations of laws of the commonwealth and City of Boston ordinances that contribute to the aforementioned disturbance within the community through citations, seizures, criminal complaints, intelligence, and investigative follow-up. The safety of the officers and the community we serve is paramount. As such this operation will be executed with the highest regard for public safety. The long- term mission is deterrence and changing behavior.

Goals

Prevent the groups from congregating.
Identity offenders of violations, and organizers of large- scale disturbances and operators of off high vehicles
Enforce laws of the commonwealth and city ordinances.

Enforcement:

To ensure that this plan will be impactful, the Boston Police Department will not be publishing the Identified Gathering locations. However, Boston Police Officers and members of the Mass State Police along with other City agencies will respond to gathering locations to prevent groups and their vehicles from congregating, enforcing MGL’s and City of Boston Ordinances.

Resources:

Boston Police Department (including but not limited to Uniform Patrol Officers, the Boston Police Auto Theft Task Force, the Boston Regional Intelligence Center (BRIC), & the Crime Scene Response Unit)
Boston Transportation Department
Massachusetts Transit Police
Massachusetts State Police

Community Support

Reporting Late-Night Reveler activity to the police is crucial for maintaining public safety. Here's how members of the community can assist the police in reporting such activity:

Call Emergency Services: If you witness late-night reveler activity or any illegal activity that poses an immediate threat to public safety, dial 911 emergency services immediately. Provide them with all the necessary details, including the location, number of individuals involved, and any other relevant information.
Non-Emergency Police Line: In cases where the situation doesn't pose an immediate threat but still requires police intervention or awareness, you can call the non-emergency police line by contacting your local police department (see the contact list by department below).
Provide Detailed Information: When reporting late night reveler activity, provide as much detail as possible to the authorities. This includes the exact location, the time of the incident, descriptions of the vehicles involved, and the number of participants. Please prioritize your safety and avoid putting yourself in harm's way to capture footage.
Encourage Others to Report: Spread awareness within the community about the importance of reporting such incidents to the authorities. Encourage others to be proactive in reporting any late-night reveler activity they witness.

District Contacts

District	Front Desk	Comm. Serv. Office	Captain	Station Address
A1 (Downtown)	617-343-4240	617-343-4627	Sean Martin Sean.Martin@pd.boston.gov	40 New Sudbury Street, Boston, MA 02114 20 Vine Street, Boston, MA 02129
A15 (Charlestown)	617-343-4888	617-343-4627	Sean Martin Sean.Martin@pd.boston.gov	300 East Eagle Street, Boston, MA 02128
A7 (East Boston)	617-343-4220	617-343-4752	Dean Bickerton Dean.Bickerton@pd.boston.gov	300 East Eagle Street, Boston, MA 02128
B2 (Roxbury)	617-343-4270	617-343-4278	Haseeb Hosein Haseeb.Hosein@pd.boston.gov	2400 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02119
B3 (Mattapan)	617-343-4700	617-343-4717	John Flynn John.Flynn@pd.boston.gov	1165 Blue Hill Avenue, Boston, MA 02124
C6 (South Boston)	617-343-4730	617-343-4747	Joseph Boyle Joseph.Boyle@pd.boston.gov	101 West Broadway, Boston, MA 02127
C11 (Dorchester)	617-343-4330	617-343-4524	Shawn Burns Shawn.Burns@pd.boston.gov	40 Gibson Street, Boston, MA 02122
D4 (South End)	617-343-4250	617-343-4457	Steven Sweeney Steven.Sweeney@pd.boston.gov	650 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118
D14 (Brighton)	617-343-4260	617-343-4376	Wayne Lanchester Wayne.Lanchester@pd.boston.gov	301 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02135
E5 (West Roxbury)	617-343-4560	617-343-4564	Warren Hoppie Warren.Hoppie@pd.boston.gov	1708 Centre Street, Boston, MA 02132
E13 (Jamaica Plain)	617-343-5630	617-343-5623	Richard Driscoll Richard.Driscoll@pd.boston.gov	3347 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02130
E18 (Hyde Park)	617-343-5600	617-343-5611	Christopher Hamilton Christopher.Hamilton@pd.boston.gov	1249 Hyde Park Avenue, Boston, MA 02136
Headquarters		N/A	N/A	Schroeder Plaza, Boston, MA 02120

Reporting Loud Parties (Massachusetts General Laws)

M.G.L Ch. 16-26 UNREASONABLE NOISE

16-26.1 General Prohibition and Definitions

No person shall make or cause to be made any unreasonable or excessive noise in the City, by whatever means or from whatever means or from whatever source.
As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
- dBa shall mean A-weighted sound level in decibels, as measured by a general purpose sound level meter complying with the provisions of the American National Standards Institute, “Specifications for Sound Level Meters (ANSI S1.4 1971)”, properly calibrated, and operated on the “A” weighting network.
- Loud amplification device or similar equipment shall mean a radio, television, phonograph, stereo, record player, tape player, cassette player, compact disc player, loud speaker, or sound amplifier which is operated in such a manner that it creates unreasonable or excessive noise.
- Unreasonable or excessive noise shall mean
  - Noise measured in excess of 50 dBa between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or in excess of 70 dBa at all other hours; or
  - In the absence of an applicable noise level standard or regulation of the Air Pollution Control Commission, any noise plainly audible at a distance of three hundred (300′) feet or, in the case of loud amplification devices or similar equipment, noise plainly audible at a distance of one hundred (100′) feet from its source by a person of normal hearing. Penalty, see subsection 16-32.6 16-26.6

DISTURBING THE PEACE

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons in a residential area within the City of Boston to disturb the peace by causing or allowing to be made any unreasonable or excessive noise, including but not limited to such noise resulting from the operation of any radio, phonograph or sound related producing device or instrument, or from the playing of any band or orchestra, or from the use of any device to amplify the aforesaid noise, or from the making of excessive outcries, exclamations, or loud singing or any other excessive noise by a person or group of persons, or from the use of any device to amplify such noise provided, however, that any performance, concert, establishment, band, group or person who has received and maintains a valid license or permit from any department, board or commission of the City of Boston authorized to issue such license or permit shall be exempt from the provisions of this section. Unreasonable or excessive noise shall be defined as noise measured in excess of 50 dBa between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. or in excess of 70 dBa at all other hours when measured not closer than the lot line of a residential lot or from the nearest affected dwelling unit. The term dBa shall mean the A-weighted sound level in decibels, as measured by a general purpose sound level meter complying with the provisions of the American National Standards Institute, “Specifications for Sound Level Meters (ANSI S1.4 1971)”, properly calibrated, and operated on the “A” weighting network.

Any person aggrieved by such disturbance of the peace may complain to the police about such unreasonable or excessive noise. The police, in response to each complaint, shall verify by use of the sound level meter described herein that the noise complained of does exceed the limit described herein and if so, may thereupon arrest and/or make application in the appropriate court for issuance of a criminal complaint for violation of M.G.L. c. 272, S. 53, which sets forth the penalties for disturbing the peace. Penalty, see subsection 16-32.6

M.G.L Ch. 16-26.9 PROHIBITION AGAINST LOUD AMPLIFICATION DEVICES IN OR ON RESIDENTIAL PREMISES

It shall be unlawful for any person in any area of the City to operate a loud amplification device or similar equipment, as defined in subsection 16-26.1, in a dwelling house or on the land or other premises of such dwelling house.

Penalty, see subsection 16-26.11, 16-32.6

M.G.L Ch. 16-26.11 PENALTIES

Any person who violates subsections 16-26.7, 16-26.8, or 16-26.9 shall be fined fifty dollars and no cents ($50.00) for the first violation in any twelve (12) month period, one hundred dollars and no cents ($100.00) and for the second violation in any twelve (12) month period, and two hundred dollars and no cents ($200.00) for the third violation and each subsequent violation in any twelve (12) month period. The enforcing person shall make a record of the complaint, such record to include the following information, to the extent that it is available: (i) name and address of person in violation, (ii) name and address of landlord of person in violation, if applicable, (iii) date of violation, (iv) time of violation, (v) location of violation, (vi) source of violation, and (vii) motor vehicle registration number, if applicable. If the person in violation refuses to provide the above-required information or if any information provided proves to be false, then said person shall be punished by a fine of an additional one hundred dollars and no cents ($100.00).
The Air Pollution Control Commission shall keep and make available to the public and all persons authorized to enforce these provisions, and the certification or the information there appearing by an enforcing official to a court shall establish a rebuttable presumption of the accuracy thereof. No person, being the landlord or person in charge of a residential structure shall permit, allow, or suffer repeated violations of these ordinances after notice thereof and shall be fined at the time of the third such violation and at the time of every violation thereafter within twelve (12) months of the first violation by a fine of one hundred fifty dollars and no cents ($150.00) and by a fine of three hundred dollars and no cents ($300.00) for each violation thereafter. It shall be a defense that the landlord or person in charge of a residential structure has made and documented good faith efforts, including but not limited to the seeking of a court order, to prevent violations.
For all other violations of these sections, the penalties for such violations are:
1. (i) for the first violation in any twelve (12) month period, one hundred dollars and no cents ($100.00),
2. (ii) for the second violation in any twelve (12) month period, two hundred dollars and no cents ($200.00), and
3. (iii) for the third violation and each subsequent violation in any twelve (12) month period, three hundred dollars and no cents ($300.00).
The enforcing person shall provide a person in violation with a written notice of the violation and fine. If applicable, a copy of each notice of violation shall be sent to the person in violation’s landlord and to the school, college, or university at which the person in violation is enrolled.

All fines issued under these sections may be recovered by the noncriminal disposition procedures promulgated in G.L. c. 40, s. 21D, which procedures are incorporated herein by reference; provided, however, that if a person in violation fails to follow the procedures and requirements of G.L. c. 40, s. 21D, then the fine or fines shall be recovered by indictment or by complaint pursuant to G.L. c. 40, s. 41.

M.G.L. Ch. 16-32.6 VIOLATIONS; FINE ESTABLISHED

Any person violating any provision of the sections enumerated in subsection 16-32.4 hereof shall be punished by a fine of ten ($10.00) dollars for each offense except that the following so-enumerated sections shall carry the following for violations thereof; and not only the person actually doing the prohibited thing, but also his employer and every other person concerned in so doing shall be punished by such fine.

Subsection 16-1.14 Three hundred ($300.00) dollars;
Subsection 16-1.17 Fifty ($50.00) dollars;
Subsection 16-1.19A For the first violation in any twelve (12) month period: fifty ($50.00) dollars, for the second violation within twelve months of a prior violation: one hundred ($100.00) dollars, and, for the third or subsequent violation within twelve (12) months of a prior violation: two hundred ($200.00) dollars;
Subsection 16-1.20 Fifty ($50.00) dollars, except where the material disposed of is in excess of one cubic yard, where the fine shall be three hundred ($300.00) dollars, and except that a violation of the terms of the first paragraph of subsection 16-1.20 shall carry a penalty of two hundred ($200.00) dollars;
Subsection 16-1.20A Fifty ($50.00) dollars, for the second or subsequent violation: two hundred ($200.00) dollars;
Subsection 16-1.26 Two hundred ($200.00) dollars;
Subsection 16-2.5 One hundred ($100.00) dollars;
Subsection 16-4A For the first violation in any twelve (12) month period: fifty ($50.00) dollars, for the second or consequent violation: two hundred ($200.00) dollars;
Subsection 16-8.1 Three hundred ($300.00) dollars; Subsection 16-12.2A Fifty ($50.00) dollars, except that for the second violation within twelve (12) months of a prior violation: one hundred ($100.00) dollars, and, for the third or subsequent violation within twelve (12) months of a prior violation: two hundred ($200.00) dollars;
Subsection 16-12.7 Fifteen ($15.00) dollars;
Subsection 16-12.8 Twenty-five ($25.00) dollars;
Subsection 16-12.10 Twenty-five ($25.00) dollars;
Subsection 16-12.14 Fifty ($50.00) dollars;
Subsection 16-12.17 Twenty-five ($25.00) dollars;
Subsection 16-12.18 Fifty ($50.00) dollars;
Subsection 16-12.19 Fifteen ($15.00) dollars;
Subsection 16-23.1 Three hundred ($300.00) dollars;
Subsection 16-23.3 Three hundred ($300.00) dollars;

Any person under the age of thirty (30) who violates any of the foregoing provisions may, on application to, and approval by, the Judge hearing a complaint with respect to such violation, or any Judge of the Court to which the notice under G.L. Chapter 40, Section 21D is returnable (as the case may be) in lieu of paying such fine, perform such public service reasonably related to the violation as the Judge shall require and upon completion of such public work, the fine shall be reduced by five ($5.00) dollars for each such hour of service, to the extent of such fine

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Planning for Summer Safety

We're committed to meeting and working with our community members to ensure that all Bostonians have the necessary resources and support to have a safe, healthy, and active summer in 2024.

Summer Safety planning

2024 Summer Safety Plan

PLEASE NOTE:

About the Planning Process

Our Plan to End Violence

Prevention: Creating conditions for peace

Intervention: Addressing what leads to harm

Recovery: Healing after violence

Reinvestment: Investing in workforce, data, and impacted communities at scale

Six Goals of the Summer

Prevention: Creating conditions for peace

EAST BOSTON SPORTS CENTER

GARVEY PARK SPORTS CENTER

HUNT-ALMONT PARK SPORTS CENTER

RONAN PARK SPORTS CENTER

WHITE STADIUM SPORTS CENTER

Parkarts Performing Arts

Parkarts Participatory Arts

ParkActive

BUREAU OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

A1 and A15 - DOWNTOWN, CHARLESTOWN

A7 - EAST BOSTON

B2 - ROXBURY

B3 - MATTAPAN

C6 - SOUTH BOSTON

C11 - DORCHESTER

D4 - SOUTH END

D14 - BRIGHTON

E5 - WEST ROXBURY, ROSLINDALE

E13 - JAMAICA PLAIN

E18 - HYDE PARK

Community Building | Empowerment Initiatives

SUMMER 2024 UNITY WALK SCHEDULE

Intervention

Boston Public Schools Division of Intensive Student Support

Grassroots

Recovery: Healing after violence

Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI) Boston / Men’s Health Initiative (via the Boston Public Health Commission)

Community Reinvestment

Summer Activation Mini-Grant (via the Mayor’s Community Safety Team)

Wake Up the Night Grant (via the Office of Nightlife Economy)

Block Party Grants (via the Office of Civic Organizing)

Returning Citizens Support Mini-Grant (via the Office of Returning Citizens)

Small Community Grants Program (via the City of Boston Treasury)

My Brother’s Keeper Grant Program (via the Office of Black Male Advancement)

Beyond Pride Mini-Grants (via the Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement)

Mayor’s Youth Sports Grant Program (via the Community Engagement Cabinet)

Design Fund Grant (via GrowBoston)

Community Development Block Grant (via the Workers Empowerment Cabinet)

Neighborhood and Downtown Activation Grant (via the Arts and Culture Cabinet)

Immigrant Heritage Month Mini-Grants (via the Office for Immigrant Advancement)

2024-2025 Immigrant Youth Advancement Grant Program (via the Office for Immigrant Advancement)

Bridge the Gap Mini-Grant (via of Office of Veterans Services)

2024 Enhancing Behavioral Healthcare Access for Older Adults Grant (via the Age Strong Commission)

Heightened Community Concerns

Fire Safety and Fireworks

Dirt Bike / ATV Safety

Problem Properties

After-Hours Parties

Firearm Violence

Gun Violence Reduction Strategy

Gun Violence Reduction Management Team

Appendix

List of Extended School Year Sites

Division of Student Support’s 'Best Summer Ever' Program List

List of Summer ‘24 'Opportunity Zones'

2024 Boston Police Reveler Action Plan

Community Support

District Contacts

Reporting Loud Parties (Massachusetts General Laws)