A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to an update on Summer Programs

To the Honorable, the City Council: Please see below an update from the Department of Human Service Programs, Community Safety Department, Cambridge Police Department, and the Cambridge Public Health Department regarding opportunities for youth engagement throughout the summer. Summer is fast approaching and the City of Cambridge remains committed to ensuring a wide variety of programming for young people to enhance well-being, create more community connections and reduce incidents of violence. This memo serves as an overall update on the planning by the city to provide supportive, engaging and innovative programming and opportunities for community building for the Summer of 2024. Building on many years of commitment to providing comprehensive programming for young people, this update will outline how the Department of Human Service Programs, Community Safety Department, Cambridge Police Department, and the Cambridge Public Health Department are working collaboratively to offer opportunities for youth engagement throughout the summer. This document is not intended to provide a comprehensive list of all the summer programming across the city. Many community-based organizations provide a wealth of support and opportunities for engagement with young people. The following is meant to provide an overview of what the City of Cambridge is doing directly and providing funding to support. Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) Teen Summer Programs Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program (MSYEP) The goal of MSYEP is to serve as a young person's first job experience and exposure to the world of work. The program is open to Cambridge residents ages 14 through the summer after completing high school. MSYEP prioritizes low-income teens in its application and enrollment process and hires a staff of young adults, almost all from Cambridge, to ensure a successful summer for the teen and the worksite. Teens are placed in public sector and non-profit jobs throughout Cambridge and in surrounding communities for six weeks during the summer. They work 20 hours a week and are paid minimum wage by the City. There are 25 MSYEP sites across the community with a STEAM focus. During Summer 2024, MSYEP will run from July 1 – August 9 and teens will make $15 per hour. There will be between 850 and 900 teens participating in this summer’s program. Nearly half of the youth in MSYEP are placed in Summer Work and Learning sites, which offer participants a valuable educational and employment experience using the community’s resources to expose youth to potential educational or career paths.

This summer, the 27 Summer Work and Learning sites will host teens in a variety of learning and work experiences, including a new site with Lemelson MIT which will host 25 teens at The Foundry doing design work related to engineering innovation in the field of sports. The Foundry is also hosting a STEAM and dance inspired program to attract more young women to the field through the pathway of dance and movement. Summer Teen Internships offered by Cambridge Youth Centers Cambridge Youth Programs (CYP) operates three special paid daytime programs, described below, for teens in collaboration with the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program. Additionally, the Youth Centers will be open for both drop-in and enrichment activities nightly from July –August between the hours of 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Young people can participate in fun activities including movie nights, dance and cooking classes, art classes, game tournaments and fitness programs, just to name a few. Moses Youth Center: Boys to Men is a leadership empowerment Internship for self-identified young men focusing on Wellness (Physical Fitness/Nutrition), Self-Care, Financial Literacy, Career Exploration, and Weekly Culture Dialogues centered around Social Justice, Music, Fashion, Art, and Sports. Moses Youth Center: Blooming into Womanhood: This empowering program for self-identified young women seeks to help participants embark on a journey of self-discovery, self-awareness, and self- reflection. Through an intimate, supportive network of other young queens, they can discover their unique strengths, passions, and perspectives and use them to become catalysts of positive change and leaders. In engaging and hands-on projects, they will work together to contribute to the betterment of their community while also finding their purpose and potential. Sessions will also focus on creative self- expression through movement, writing and/or art. These young queens will learn to become confident, powerful agents of transformation! Russell Youth Center: Rites of Passage Program: The internship will provide opportunities for interns to develop 21st century skills, gain real-world experience, and contribute to the betterment of their community. The overall goal of this internship is to be a forceful catalyst for the beginning of the youth’s transition into young adulthood. Our program Elders (Teen Program Staff) serve as stewards to help youths navigate the challenges and activities we will be facilitating. These challenges and activities are designed to enrich our interns through exposure to a new thought and process, but also draw internally from their own lived experience to add introspection and acceptance. In this, we seek to foster growth and transformation. We understand that our youths have genius, and we seek to honor their brilliance by creating an environment where they have the space to share their gifts, knowledge, and interests. TEEN NIGHT LIVE: Hosted by Cambridge Youth Programs at Moses and Russell Youth Centers during Summer 2024, Teen Night Live invites Cambridge teens, ages 14 – 19, to come together and build community through games, events, music, sports, field trips, cookouts, and more! In addition, centers will have 2 “Coin” events, providing a paid incentive for participants and may include activities like roller skating, a 3 on 3 basketball tournament, dance, self-improvement workshops and cooking from nature competitions. Beginning in July 2, teens can join Teen Night Live from Tuesday - Friday from 6 –9 p.m. at Russell Youth Center, and Monday – Thursday from 6 – 8 p.m. at Moses Youth Center. Middle School / Pre-Teen and Teen Programs Cambridge Recreation Summer Basketball Leagues Last summer, more than 380 young people participated in Recreation Summer Basketball Leagues. For players, coaches, and staff, the leagues offer more than skill-building and competition; they foster lasting relationships and build community. In Summer 2024, Recreation is excited to add a new league, “Level Up,” for female athletes ages 12-14.

The following Summer Basketball Leagues will run the week of July 1 through mid-August: • Medina Dixon Instructional Basketball (Girls, Ages 8- 11 ), Ahern Field • Level Up (Girls, Ages 12-14), Ahern Field • Davonte Neal Instructional League (Co-ed ages 8-11), Sennott Park • Sharif Moustafa Instructional League (Co-ed ages 9-13), Glacken Field • Kito Jackson League (formerly Fast Break League) (Boys ages 12-14 / grades 6-8), Hoyt Field • Eurie Stamps, Sr. League (Boys 15 – 19 / grades 9-12+), Hoyt Field The Cambridge Summer Food Program serves nutritious dinner meals at Summer Basketball League sites. The dinner meals are open to all Cambridge residents ages 18 and under; youth do not need to participate in the leagues to get a meal. For Summer Basketball information, visit www.cambridgema.gov/Leagues Co-ed Youth Street Hockey League The Cambridge Street Hockey League (SHL), a new athletic offering in summer 2024, gives young players a chance to sharpen their skills and have fun this off-season. This outdoor, co-ed league will focus on skills, drills, and game competitions among friends. • Leagues open to 8 – 9 year olds and 10 – 12 year olds of all gender identities • New and experienced players welcome • Sneakers, sticks, mouth pieces, and water bottles required SHL will run Tuesday and Thursday evenings, July 2 – August 8, 2024 (no league on July 4) Registration accepted through July 2. For more information, visit www.cambridgema.gov/Leagues Cambridge Basketball Lab The Cambridge Basketball Lab is a co-ed, free-of-charge basketball and mentorship program for Cambridge Public School students in middle and high school. Youth go in the evenings to develop their basketball skills. They also build long-term mentoring relationships with caring adults and be exposed to basketball technology while working on their game. The Lab will operate a summer launch pilot at the CRLS main gym from 4-7pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from July 5 to August 18. Registration details will be announced on their website. The Cambridge Basketball Lab is a community program supported by Cambridge Recreation. Learn More Jr. Golf Program at Fresh Pond Golf Course The Jr. Golf program welcomes Cambridge youth ages 7-16 to learn to play or improve their golf game. The league is held on Tuesday mornings from 9 a.m. - noon at the Fresh Pond Golf Course. Youth will be involved is skill clinics at the start of each session, then participate in match play on the course to learn and refine mechanics, club selection and scoring. Swim Instruction at Gold Star Pool Gold Star Pool will be open to Cambridge residents June 24 through Labor Day. Cambridge residents of all ages can enjoy the facility’s two ADA-compliant pools for open swim 7 days of the week, free of charge.

Cambridge Recreation's aquatics staff provide swim lessons to local summer camps every weekday at Gold Star Pool. On average, more than 750 Cambridge children receive swim instruction from Recreation staff each summer. This includes instruction to the Department of Human Service Programs' summer programs for Kindergarten – 8th graders. Gold Star Pool also hosts the following programs: • Adaptive Physical Education Program offers swim instruction and aquatic orientation for more than 50 students with disabilities in Kindergarten through 12th grade. • Safety Where it Matters (S.W.I.M), for youth ages 14-18, is a Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program (MSYEP) work and learning site that trains swimmers of all levels and abilities to become lifeguard certified. • Swim Recovery Program, a collaboration with Cambridge Public Schools, targets young people in Cambridge who missed swimming lessons during the pandemic in strengthening their swimming skills. This program prioritizes youth from low-income households. War Memorial Recreation Center Summer Youth Programming The War Memorial Recreation Center offers recreational programming for kids, youth, and adults year- round. During the summer, the facility offers a range of swim classes for children of all ages, including Toddler / Preschool classes, Water Exploration, and aquatics programs focused on skill-building. Cambridge youth ages 5-18 can also participate in the Sea Dawgs competitive swimming team. Registration for Summer programming opens in mid-June. In addition to recreational classes, the facility is open for Family Swim every weekday during the summer. Camp Rainbow Camp Rainbow is an annual summer camp offered by the Department of Human Service Programs’ Recreation Division that serves Cambridge residents with disabilities, ages 6-22. Participants enjoy a variety of experiences, including outdoor activities, swimming, field trips, arts & crafts, and cooking. Camp Rainbow takes field trips to local attractions every Wednesday of camp sessions. Camp Rainbow's mission is to enhance the lives of its participants by providing a recreational experience that emphasizes their abilities. During Summer 2024, Camp Rainbow will run from July 8 – August 16 at the King Open / Cambridge Street Upper School Complex. CYP Pre-Teen / Middle School Summer Programs Offered Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. during the following sessions: Mini-session: July 1 – 5; Session 1: Week 1 and 2 (July 8-19); Session 2: Weeks 3 and 4 (July 22 – August 2); Session 3: Weeks 5 and 6 (August 5 – August 16) More than 390 Cambridge youth (rising 4-8th graders) will be participating in CYP’s 2025 Pre-Teen / Middle School Summer Programs. Empowerment Program at Frisoli Youth Center: “Joyful Discoveries,” is centered around empowering youth through creativity, community engagement, and self-expression. Each week, youth will dive into different themes, from art and music to nature exploration, connecting with the natural world and gaining a new appreciation for the outdoors. We will use the outdoor space to host workshops and reflection sessions, allowing youth to learn, play, and grow in a setting that encourages physical activity, and creativity. Combining creativity, community engagement, leadership development, and outdoor experiences, “Joyful Discoveries” offers a unique summer experience that empowers youth to discover joy, express themselves authentically, and make meaningful connections with their peers and the world around them.

Sports Leadership Academy at Moore Youth Center: Summer 2024 will be the summer of the “Olympic Games” at the Sports Leadership Academy. This theme will live in the program in several ways. A strong team needs to understand the strengths and areas of growth of all its members. Over the course of the summer, young people will self-evaluate their skill level in a specific sport each week and compete in different small activities and games. Youth will be partnered according to skill level to promote peer leadership and connection. Young people will explore sports that are unfamiliar in hopes that they find a new interest or passion they will also learn different Olympic events. Discovery Program at Russell Youth Center: In the Discovery Program young people will explore different theatrical themed activities that will help them to explore the performer side of them. A side that may not have known existed or has been locked away due to fear of not being accepted. They will explore all facets of creative expression through Theater, movie making, & performing arts related activities. Doing so will allow young people to grow into their best selves, learn to overcome obstacles through trial and error while wondering about how they can grow and learn more about their new discovery. My Best Summer at Gately Youth Center: Think about the best summer you’ve ever had! What made that summer epic? Did you make new friends? Gately presents “MY BEST SUMMER”. The purpose is to have young people demonstrate the ability to reflect on their goals and outcomes for the summer. They will display multiple moments of competence and build exciting new relationships. Youth will explore 6 different clubs: “sports,” “anime,” “outdoor,” “gaming,” “art/STEAM,” and “My Best Self.” This Summer is a chance to find your inner and outer Best Self by connecting with staff and peers, to build relationships to achieve goals, community, and embrace culture. Cambridge Summer Food Program The Cambridge Summer Food Program provides free breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals to Cambridge youth ages 18 and younger. No identification (ID) is required to get a meal and vegetarian options are available at every location. Last year, the program served more than 61,000 nutritious meals to Cambridge youth. Beginning July 1, 2024, free breakfast meals will be served from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. and free lunch meals will be served from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at parks across the city. Youth can also enjoy sports, games, and crafts. with Cambridge Recreation staff in the parks from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Free dinner meals are provided at Recreation Summer Basketball League locations. Youth do not need to participate in the leagues in order to get a meal. The program also provides snacks to the Screen on the Green Family Movie Night series and provides lunch to eligible summer camps and community programs. More information: www.cambridgema.gov/SummerFood Screen on the Green Family Movie Nights and Danehy Park Summer Concert Series The Department of Human Service Programs’ Recreation Division offers family friendly evening programming every week at local parks during July and August: • Danehy Park Summer Concert Series every Tuesday evening at Danehy Park, local musicians perform live music. • Screen on the Green Family Movie Nights every Wednesday at a rotating park location. Family friendly entertainment starts at 7:15 p.m. Movies are shown outside on a theater-sized screen. (The event moves indoors during inclement weather). Free snacks are provided through the Cambridge Summer Food Program

Programs serving Youth Adults Next Up is a program of the Office of Workforce Development which supports high school graduates age 18-24 who are not enrolled in college or a training program and need help planning their next step. The program provides paid internships, workshops, career coaching and opportunities for hands-on exploration through “field visits.” Cambridge Works, the City’s transitional jobs program, serves Cambridge residents between the ages of 18-35 who have difficulty finding full-time jobs due to limited work experience, a gap in their work history, legal challenges, or personal issues. The program provides participants with a 3-month, paid temporary job placement, professional development classes, support from a case manager, and job search support for full-time employment. Over the summer, staff from DHSP’s Office of Workforce Development will be recruiting eligible residents for the fall cycle of Cambridge Works. www.cambridgema.gov/CambridgeWorks The College Success Initiative (CSI) serves Cambridge residents 18 and older who are underrepresented in higher education, including immigrant students, first-generation college students, and students from low-income households. CSI is designed to support students in completing a post-secondary degree within 6 years and to coordinate a community of partners committed to the persistence of Cambridge students. Students are referred to CSI through Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS), the Community Learning Center’s Bridge to College Program, and Just-A-Start’s YouthBuild program. www.cambridgema.gov/CollegeSuccess Cambridge Police Department (CPD) The Cambridge Police Department has a number of unique volunteer and employment programs this summer designed specifically for young residents interested in a career in public safety. As part of the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program, CPD will once again host a Youth Police Academy, which is a six-week program that serves up to 30 teens and introduces them to a career in public safety. Youth workers learn about the role and function of Cambridge Police Officers and varying units within the Department, including the Traffic Unit, Explosive Ordnance Unit, and Special Response Team. They are also able to learn about and practice OUI stops, traffic stops, handcuffing, baton techniques and self- defense. Participants gain understanding about juvenile law, rights, and responsibilities with Strategies for Youth and the role of the Cambridge Fire Department, Emergency Communications Department, and Pro EMS in public safety. In mid-August each summer, the week-long Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Youth Public Safety Academy is held for Cambridge residents 8-12 years old. The camp is designed to expose our youngest residents to role models in public safety—including the Cambridge Police and Fire Departments — as well as teach valuable life and safety lessons. Junior Cadets participate in a series of activities throughout the camp, visiting with local police and fire officials, learning how to make evacuation plans for emergency situations, and participating in exercises designed to demonstrate the power and importance of teamwork. In addition, CPD is excited to be partnering with several local organizations to host opportunities for youth engagement throughout the summer. A few highlights include: • Weekly game nights throughout the City with the Cambridge Housing Authority and other partners. • The Cambridge Police and community partners run basketball leagues five nights a week (Monday through Friday) throughout the summer from 6-10 p.m. In addition to offering basketball, these leagues provide game room/social recreation and informal mentoring opportunities for teens. Other special events that encourage community involvement include

Danehy Park Family Day, Ethiopian Pride Day, 362-364 Rindge Avenue, Just-a-Start and Winn Properties Summer Barbeques, National Night Out, Cambridge Bike Giveback events, Community Clean-Up and Peace Walks, Monthly Coffee with a Cop and Pizza with the Police outings, Soccer Nights, Screen on the Green, Book Bike Reading, and much more. To ensure the safety of our youth and the community, CPD has held ongoing regional multi-jurisdictional agency meetings with the Somerville, Malden, Everett and State Police. This has resulted in: • Enhanced information sharing and regional gun violence prevention strategies • Overviews of critical incidents and any concerns • Forward-looking planning To complement these meetings, CPD has initiated a foot patrol deployment in areas in which there historically has been an increase in violent crime in the summer months. That has included: • Modifications to Central Square and Harvard Square Patrols leading to more frequent police officer visibility and engagement. • Enhanced community engagement in The Port neighborhood. • Outreach by officers and staff in the Family and Social Justice Section. Part of this will include aftercare support for overdose survivors. That support includes providing survivors with valuable items such as backpacks or small duffel bags containing clothing, supplies (including Narcan) and personal hygiene products, transportation to treatment or clinical care services, assistance with vital documents to aid reinstatement of identification documents, and communication services so individuals can communicate with care providers to aid in their recovery and harm reduction. The Cambridge Police Youth Boxing & Fitness Program is a collaborative initiative between the Cambridge Police Family Social Justice Section and the Cambridge YMCA. Established in 2011, it has garnered national recognition and has become a cornerstone of the Cambridge community, as well as a flagship program of the Cambridge Police Department. The program is administered by a Cambridge Police Officer, a Social Worker from the Cambridge Police Department, and partners from the YMCA. This inclusive, non-contact, fitness-based boxing program is designed for Cambridge youth of all genders. It emphasizes self-defense, physical and mental health, peer mentorship, relationship building, family support, social-emotional learning, inclusion, and individual growth within a group setting. The program is committed to accessibility, equity, and, above all, ensuring that participants have fun. This summer, our boxing program will team-up with the Frisolli Youth Center and will be running a program twice a week for the summer. For more information about CPD, go to https://www.cambridgema.gov/departments/cambridgepolice Community Safety Department (CSD) Violence Prevention Program Funding • CSD has been seeking ways to support community partners that are aligned with their objectives of bettering the lives of Cambridge community members, specifically through the lens of violence prevention. CSD aims to play an important role in addressing this critical issue by providing partnership and funding to other local organizations delivering violence prevention programs and services. This collaborative funding model is intended to enhance the impactful work already being done and allow CSD to live out its mission of enhancing the well-being of the Cambridge community. The Request for Proposals was posted on May 30th and all applications are due by June 13th.

Outreach & Community Events: • Community Cookout | June 7th The CSD partnered with the Central Square Business Improvement District (BID), First Step and ACCESS (through Fenway Health) to host a Friday afternoon cookout for the Cambridge community. The goal of the event was for all folks who live, work, sleep and hang out in Cambridge to come together and break bread; while learning about CSD and the other organizations involved. Over 175 people attended from the City, partner organizations, and the many community members that the CARE Team supports. • Cambridge Arts River Festival | The annual festival, usually held in early June, began in the early 1970s. CSD was one of the many partners that came together for this immersive festival featuring local artists, vendors and community organizations. • Water Department Annual Festival: Fresh Pond Day. This event consists of music, activities, tours, and a section of community tables where City departments and partner organizations can interact with Cambridge residents and offer more information about what they do and the role that they play. CSD met many community members in the Fresh Pond area who came out for the event and had the opportunity to learn more about the Water Department and their partners. In the News: • The Boston Globe spent an afternoon with the CARE Team (within CSD) and learned more about the innovative work that the team is doing and the real impact that they have already had on the community. You can read the full article here. Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) For summer 2024, the Cambridge Public Health Department's youth initiatives are focused on providing employment and learning opportunities as well as offering community events. CPHD is welcoming youth from the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program to work in our Population Health Initiatives Division. CPHD is pleased to bring back Hoops N Health on June 15 at Hoyt Field. This community event includes a basketball tournament; a Family Health Fair (including blood pressure screening); a youth mental health workshop for 13-18 year olds focusing on mental health/social-emotional wellness; games and activities; live music; a Juneteenth Celebration; and community resources. The rain date is Saturday, June 22, 2024. The Cambridge Community Corps (C3) has again hired several young people to serve as part of its network of paid ambassadors. Corps members participate in trainings designed to make them effective communicators of public health information. Corps members address such public health topics as safety during periods of extreme heat; tick- and mosquito-borne diseases; and emergency preparedness. They visit parks throughout the city, conduct door-to-door outreach, staff tables at community events, and provide wellness education. C3 will continue to offer paid shifts over the summer to youth who are interested in participating. We welcome all over 16 years old to come work with us. If interested, please contact us at [email removed]. CPHD sponsored a June educational trip to Alabama for BIPOC students from the CRLS extension program. The Chief Public Health Officer and 2 staff members accompanied the group. The health department’s substance use prevention outreach and training activities will continue throughout the summer.

A CPHD mini-grant is supporting SHADE, an organization of youth “creating a community for teens by teens”. This summer, they will be hosting a weekly series of movie nights where teenagers can socialize and de-stress in a fun environment. CPHD’s literacy program staff will be offering 10 Book Bike events and two summer parties across the city (details in this flyer) and has also installed 8 StoryWalks in various parks. For more information about the Cambridge Public Health Department, go to www.cambridgepublichealth.org. Safer Homes, Safer Community: Cambridge Gift Cards for Guns On Saturday, June 8th Cambridge’s city departments, interfaith-based organizations, non-profit community and regional partners came together to host the 9th annual citywide “Safer Homes, Safer Community: Cambridge Gift Cards for Guns” initiative. This public health and public safety event provided residents with an opportunity to anonymously and safely dispose of their unwanted firearms and, in turn, reduce the risk of suicide, potential for wrongdoing in a home or on our city streets. In the first eight years of this event, public safety officials and community volunteers have collected hundreds of guns, handed out firearm safety locks, and shared extensive information about suicide prevention and gun safety. On June 8th, the organizers collected a total of 65 total guns (54 were BB guns – many that could easily be mistaken for real guns). Overall, more than 500 guns have been collected in Cambridge over the past 9 years. Together with 60+ community and faith-based organizations, the City helps people to turn in unwanted and unsecured guns in homes, especially where they pose a serious risk of harm to children, anyone with serious mental illness or at risk of suicide, and anyone at risk of domestic violence. For more information on Cambridge’s Gift Cards for Guns, please visit camb.ma/GiftCardsforGuns.