Get Ready! Get Set! Dream Big!

St. Stephen's Youth Programs have begun our nineteenth summer of the B-SAFE Program (Bishop's Summer Academic and Fun Enrichment Program)!

As in previous summers, the goal of B-SAFE is to build communities where all people feel safe, feel big, and feel connected. B-SAFE 2018 will be one of our biggest communities ever:
24 days of program
90 adult staff
120 Counselors-in-Training and Teen Organizers
35 Junior CITs (paid internship)
500 elementary and middle school participants
130 field trips full of adventure
35,000 hours of academic programming
1 community

Earlier this month, all B-SAFE staff--all our adults and teens--gathered at Epiphany School for training and coaching on B-SAFE's values, policies, and programs. On Monday, July 9, B-SAFE welcomed young people through the doors of our sites and started the work of helping them to grow, learn, and thrive.

One of B-SAFE's chief goals, in addition to building academic skills and having fun, is to develop the leadership of young people and adults. This summer, fully half of our Lead Counselors and Teaching Specialist positions will be filled by young adults who started their connection to B-SAFE as participants or teen staff. For our 30-person senior leadership team, including Site Managers and Teen Staff Managers, 75% either participated in B-SAFE as a young person or are getting a promotion from a different role within SSYP.

Latasha Scott served as a B-READY YLC Lead Counselor this past school year; this summer she will be a B-SAFE Teen Staff Manager. In the fall, Latasha will return to B-READY as the YLC Site Coordinator and Massachusetts Promise Fellow.

Walid Harkous has served for several years as a Counselor-in-Training for several years. This summer, Walid will be the Site Assistant for the JCITs at St. Augustine and St. Martin. He just graduated from the O'Bryant and will be a first-year student at Wentworth University in September.

Angie Hyppolite worked as a Teen Organizer this school year, helping to lead B-PEACE's campaign to get a meeting with the CEO of Smith and Wesson (still waiting...). This summer, Angie will be the Site Assistant at Holy Spirit. A few weeks ago, she graduated from Boston Day and Evening Academy; in September, she will be starting at The Base.

Vicky Ajene worked this past B-READY year as an amazing Creative Arts Specialist. This spring and summer, as the YLC Academic & Program Administrator, Vicky is one of the top leaders making B-SAFE happen. Vicky has worn many hats at SSYP, starting nearly ten years ago as a teen Counselor-in-Training. In September, she returns to SSYP in a year-round, full-time role: Manager of Academic and Enrichment Programs.

Each of these leaders earned their new responsibilities through hard work, dedication, and love for young people. Congratulations to each of them and all the other staff stepping into new leadership roles. And now, let the fun begin!

More information at www.ssypboston.org/blog/ St. Stephen's Youth Programs is located at 419 Shawmut Avenue, Boston.

Liz Steinhauser, Senior Director of Youth Programs since 2003, offers over 20 years of experience working with young people in a variety of settings, including a special expertise in working with young people in urban areas from lower-income families.