CMA 2026-209 · Agenda item attachment · Jul 23 2026

CMA 2026-209 IN CITY COUNCIL July 23, 2026 To the Honorable, the City Council: Below is an overview of 2026 summer community programs provided by the City of Cambridge. 2026 Summer Community Programs Throughout the year and especially over the summer, the City of Cambridge offers a wide range of programs and opportunities to create stronger community connections and reduce the risk of violence. This memo summarizes work across the Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP), the Cambridge Police Department (CPD), and the Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD). A separate memo summarizes the work of the Community Safety Department, and the expanded role that Community Safety will play around violence prevention and neighborhood safety. 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 or 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 to give teens 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. Teens work 20 hours per week and are paid minimum wage ($15 per hour) by the City.

During the application process, teens can select their work site preference out of a variety of work experiences, from working with young children or older adults, to STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math)-focused sites, to landscaping, media and marketing, and more. During the program, teens also have opportunities to attend college tours, financial literacy trainings, and a variety of program-sponsored enrichment and social events. MSYEP 2026 began on July 6 and will run through August 14. This year's program is supporting more than 1,000 teens across over 100 worksites in the non-profit and public sector. More than half are Summer Work and Learning sites, which use community resources to expose youth to potential educational or career paths. Teen Programming offered by Cambridge Youth Programs Cambridge Youth Programs (CYP) offers year-round paid internships to Cambridge teens ages 14 and older. During the summer, CYP partners with the Office of Workforce Development to offer paid teen internships through the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program (MYSEP). As described above, the 2026 CYP teen internships began on July 6 and will run through August 14. Teens will work 20 hours per week and are paid $15 per hour by the City. 123 teens are participating in Summer 2026 CYP Teen Internships, which include: • Youth on the Record (Frisoli Youth Center) Through this internship, teens collect and create content to creatively share CYP stories through social media platforms. The CYP Social Media Team will be instrumental in sharing the experiences young people have in the CYP Pre-Teen/Middle and Teen Summer programs. They will film, edit, and post stories based on Youth Center themes, values, and experiences. Teens will also learn about digital engagement strategies and how to think about digital media and storytelling beyond the summer. • Boys II Men (Moses Youth Center) This is a leadership and empowerment program which helps self-identified young men grow into positive men and community leaders. Boys II Men creates a space where youth can experience importance of teamwork and community, gain valuable leadership skills, and learn about social responsibility. Throughout the six weeks, young Kings will focus on physical fitness and nutrition, self-care, financial empowerment, and weekly Culture Dialogues centered around sports, music, fashion / sneakers and social justice. • Blooming into Womanhood (Moses Youth Center) This empowering program for self-identified young women seeks to help participants embark on a journey of self-discovery, empowerment, leadership, and exploration of interests. Through an intimate, supportive network of other young queens, participants discover their unique strengths, passions, and perspectives and use them to become catalysts of positive change and leaders. • Word on the Street (Gately Youth Center) This youth-led media and leadership program empowers teens to explore storytelling,

entrepreneurship, and community impact through real-world experience. Participants build skills in event planning, digital media, and leadership while working collaboratively to design and execute a community-based project. This summer, Word on the Street will focus on leadership, creativity, and community engagement. • AI and Nature (Moore Youth Center) This program was developed to connect youth to their larger community. Young people will explore local spaces such as parks, waterfronts, hiking trails, and more where they will identify real-world problems that inhibit the conservation, maintenance, and use of public spaces. These can also be issues that affect sustainability, accessibility, and public design. Using technology, teens will work through the engineering design method to solve problems identified in the conservation and use of public commons by conducting research and developing creative solutions supported by technology and generative AI tools. Teens will learn how engineers, urban planners, and environmental scientists think by way of the engineering design method which consists of six principles; observe, define, research, ideate, prototype, and present. • Sankofa Sons (Russell Youth Center) This internship provides opportunities for teens to develop skills, gain real-world experience, and contribute to the betterment of their community. The overall goal is to support each young person’s transition into young adulthood. Our program Elders (Teen Program staff) serve as stewards to help teens navigate facilitated challenges and activities designed to expose teens to new thoughts and to examine their own lived experience. The program is designed to honor each teen’s brilliance by creating an environment where they have the space to share their gifts, knowledge, and interests. Teen Night Live: Drop-In Evening Program for Cambridge Teens Teen Night Live is an annual summer evening program open to Cambridge teens ages 14-19 and held at Cambridge Youth Centers from 6 - 9 p.m. on weekdays. The program invites Cambridge teens to register for a variety of activities and workshops, including gardening, painting, cooking, mindfulness, and more! The program also offers field trip opportunities. Teen Night Live includes "coin night activities," which invite teens participating in the Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program to get paid up to three hours per week. The 2026 evening program began on July 13 and will run through Friday, August 14 at Gately, Frisoli, Moore, and Russell Youth Centers. Summer Recreation Leagues and Programs Summer Basketball Leagues Each summer, close to 400 Cambridge young people (ages 8 – 19) participate in evening Summer Basketball leagues offered by DHSP’s Recreation Division. For players, coaches, and staff, the leagues offer more than skill-building and competition; they foster lasting relationships and build community. The following Summer Basketball Leagues began the week of June 29 and will run through mid- August: - Medina Dixon Instructional Basketball (Girls, Ages 8- 11), Tuesday and Thursday, Ahern

Field. - Level Up (Girls, Ages 12-14), Tuesday and Thursday, Ahern Field. - Davonte Neal Instructional League (Co-ed ages 8-11), Monday and Wednesday, Sennott Park. - Sharif Moustafa Instructional League (Co-ed ages 9-13), Tuesday and Thursday, Glacken Field. - Kito Jackson League (Boys ages 12-14 / grades 6-8), Tuesday and Thursday, Hoyt Field. - Eurie Stamps, Sr. League (Boys 15 – 19 / grades 9-12+), Wednesday and Friday, Hoyt Field. Free and nutritious dinner meals are served at Basketball League locations through the Cambridge Summer Food Program. Young people do not need to participate in a league in order to receive a meal. Co-ed Youth Street Hockey League Recreation’s Cambridge Street Hockey League, open to Cambridge 8 – 12-year-olds, offers young players the opportunity to learn hockey and have fun. The outdoor, co-ed league focuses on skills, drills, and game competitions among friends. All skill levels are welcome. The Street Hockey League is located on the Ahern Field Courts and runs on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from early July through mid-August. Free and nutritious dinner meals are served at Street Hockey League locations through the Cambridge Summer Food Program. Young people do not need to participate in a league in order to receive a meal. Junior Golf Program at Fresh Pond Golf Course Fresh Pond Golf Course’s Junior Golf program welcomes Cambridge youth ages 7-16 to learn to play golf or improve their game. The league is held on Tuesday mornings at the Fresh Pond Golf Course, July through early August. Each session includes skill clinics followed by match play on the course to learn and refine mechanics, club selection, and scoring. Swim Instruction at Gold Star Pool Cambridge Recreation's aquatics staff provide swim lessons to local summer camps at Gold Star Pool. On average, more than 750 Cambridge children receive swim instruction from Recreation staff each summer. This includes instruction to Kindergarten – 8th graders enrolled in the Department of Human Service Programs' summer camps and programs. 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, supports young people in Cambridge who missed swimming lessons during the pandemic in strengthening their swimming skills. This program prioritizes youth from low-income households. The War Memorial Recreation Center is also offering six levels of swim instruction for children this summer.

Camp Rainbow Camp Rainbow is an annual summer camp that serves Cambridge residents with disabilities, ages 6-22. Camp Rainbow's mission is to enhance the lives of its participants by providing a recreational experience that emphasizes their abilities. Participants enjoy a variety of experiences, including outdoor activities, swimming, field trips, arts & crafts, cooking, and field trips. Sessions run from early July through mid-August at the King Open / Cambridge Street Upper School Complex. Screen on the Green Family Movie Nights and Danehy Park Summer Concert Series DHSP’s Recreation Division offers family-friendly events at local parks every week during July and August: • Danehy Park Summer Concert Series: Enjoy live music from local musicians on Tuesday evenings at Danehy Park. • Screen on the Green Family Movie Nights: Enjoy an outdoor movie screening on Wednesday evenings at rotating park locations. Free snacks are provided through the Cambridge Summer Food Program. Summer Camps and Programs for Children in Kindergarten – 5th Grade Every summer, more than 1,500 Cambridge children participate in DHSP’s Community Schools Summer Camps (K-5th graders) and King Open Extended Day Summer Program (K-5th graders), and Cambridge Youth Programs’ Pre-Teen / Middle School Summer Programs (4-8th graders). 2026 summer sessions began in early July and run through August 14. Cambridge Youth Programs (CYP) Pre-Teen / Middle School Summer Programs Of the 1,500 young people enrolled in DHSP Summer Camps and Programs, close to 400 Cambridge pre-teens and middle schoolers (rising 4-8th graders) are participating in Cambridge Youth Programs this summer. Programs include: Gately Summer Program at the Gately Youth Center Youth and staff are focusing on music appreciation, including learning new skills and building relationships. Through summer activities, youth will also identify a champion who motivated, inspired and challenged them to be brave and curious, showed positive support, and overall created a safe environment for their summer experience. The culmination of the program will be a collective project presented to the community. Sports and Leadership Academy at the Moore Youth Center Summer 2026 is the summer of the World Cup at the Sports Leadership Academy. This will include learning about the World Cup, watching games, and exploring the joy the World Cup brings to the world. Over the course of a session, 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. Empowerment Program at the Frisoli Youth Center This program creates spaces where youth can proudly express themselves, explore leadership, build STEAM-related skills, and discover new joys. Empowerment teams will dive deep into bi- weekly themes, and youth can choose passion-focused tracks twice a week. We'll celebrate Black joy, culture, and leadership, emphasizing authentic expression and community connection. We will also be creating an "I/ It Feels Good" video showcasing the moments youth and staff experience joy. Discovery Program at Russell Youth Center Young people will explore different theatrical activities that will help them to explore the performer side of them- a side they 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 STEAM learning, theater, movie making, and performing arts. Doing so will allow young people to grow into their best selves and learn to overcome obstacles through trial and error. Cambridge Summer Food Program: Free Meals and Recreation Activities The Cambridge Summer Food Program provides free breakfast, receive a meal and vegetarian options are available at every location. Each year, the program serves close to 60,000 nutritious meals to Cambridge youth. The 2026 program began the week of June 29 and will run through the end of August. Monday through Friday, breakfast meals are served from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. and lunch meals are served from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at parks across the Cambridge. Dinner meals are served at Recreation Summer Basketball and Street Hockey League locations. The Summer Food Program coordinates closely with Recreation staff to bring recreational activities to Summer Food sites. Between 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., young people can play games and do activities with Recreation staff in the parks. The program is also in its second year of offering “Fun Under the Sun,” which brings a sport or game to a rotating Summer Food site twice a week during the month of July and welcome Cambridge youth of all skill levels to participate. The Summer Food Program also provides free lunch meals to eligible Cambridge-based summer camps. Programs Serving Young Adults Many DHSP programs serve young adults in Cambridge (residents over 18). DHSP staff are available as resources throughout the summer for current participants, prospective participants, or alumni of the following programs: Cambridge Works 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. The College Success Initiative (CSI) 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 six 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. Next Up Next Up is a program offered by the Office of Workforce Development which supports high school graduates ages 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.” The program typically begins in January, and staff support recruitment for the program year-round. Cambridge Police Department Violence Prevention Strategies Summer 2026 Deployment Plan This plan from the Cambridge Police guides summer deployment with a focus on visibility, proactive patrol, community engagement, and service-driven operations. It directs resources to key areas based on staffing, crime trends, special events, and supervisor direction. The plan is flexible and will adjust as conditions change. Police Staffing Update Nineteen new officers have been assigned to Patrol Operations. They have been paired with experienced Field Training Officers (FTOs) to support visible patrol, community engagement, and structured field training. This staffing also supports coverage across day and evening shifts (16 hours per day, 7 days per week). Deployment will prioritize: • Port Area. • Central Square. • Harvard Square. • Donnelly Field. These areas may be adjusted based on calls for service and current conditions. Police Deployment Model Units will primarily stage and respond from Central Square and Harvard Square. Assignments may be adjusted to meet demand and maintain response times. Daily directed patrol assignments focus on hot spot locations identified through crime analysis and supervisor input. Emphasis is on visibility, deterrence, and repeat problem areas. Crime Analysis continues to distribute

updated hot sheets as appropriate. Patrol Expectations Officers assigned to directed patrols maintain a visible presence using foot, bicycle, or cruiser patrol. Officers are expected to engage with community members when appropriate, address quality-of-life concerns, and support enforcement activity based on conditions and calls for service. Additional Shift Deployment in the Port Began on June 8th 3PM–11PM (Thursday–Sunday or as directed) has expanded to seven days a week. These patrols focus on high-activity areas with foot and bicycle patrol and routine community engagement. 11PM–3AM (Thursday–Sunday or as directed) expanded to seven days a week. These patrols focus on late-night activity areas and known hot spots. They maintain high- visibility patrol and respond quickly to emerging issues. They also adjust based on real-time conditions. Key Expectations The objective is to maintain a visible presence in priority areas. Data and field conditions are used to guide deployment. Expectations are to adjust quickly as conditions change, while balancing enforcement with engagement. A goal is to maintain clear communication across shifts and supervision. Increased Visibility Deployment is focused on visibility, flexibility, and responsiveness. Nineteen new officers with FTO supervision has increased capacity and presence. Resources are directed to areas of highest demand. Deployment adjusts based on conditions and staffing. Community engagement is part of daily patrol work. Supervisors are expected to make real-time adjustments. Supplemental Shannon Grant Bicycle Patrols To further strengthen violence prevention efforts, the Cambridge Police Department deploys supplemental bicycle patrols throughout the Port neighborhood funded through the Massachusetts Shannon Community Safety Initiative (Shannon Grant). These bicycle patrols complement the Community Action Team (CAT) daily foot patrol operations by increasing officer visibility while maintaining the accessibility and approachability unique to bicycle patrols. Officers patrol parks, playgrounds, public housing developments, neighborhood corridors, commercial districts, and community gathering spaces where youth and families naturally congregate. The supplemental bicycle patrol initiative is designed to: • Increase high-visibility public safety presence during peak evening and weekend hours. • Build trust through consistent, positive engagement with youth, residents, and neighborhood stakeholders. • Identify emerging conflicts and public safety concerns before they escalate. • Support violence interruption through proactive engagement and collaborative problem- solving. • Enhance coordination with neighborhood organizations, youth-serving agencies, and

community partners. • Increase officer accessibility in areas identified through crime analysis and community feedback. Funding through the Shannon Community Safety Initiative allows the Department to expand proactive patrols during the summer months and other periods of increased community activity. These supplemental patrols reinforce the City's broader violence prevention strategy by combining community engagement, environmental guardianship, and evidence-informed policing practices to strengthen neighborhood safety while reducing opportunities for firearm violence. Police Community Events 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. • Basketball leagues five nights a week (Monday through Friday) throughout the summer from 6-10PM in collaboration with Cambridge Recreation. • Other special events that encourage community involvement such as Danehy Park Family Day, Ethiopian Pride Day, Schochet Properties, HRI, Just-a-Start and Winn Properties Summer Barbeques, National Night Out, Cambridge Bike Giveback events, Coffee with a Cop and Pizza with the Police outings, Soccer Nights, Screen on the Green, Book Bike Reading, and much more. Regional Coordination Among Law Enforcement 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. Cambridge Police Youth Violence Prevention and Positive Youth Development Initiatives The Cambridge Police Department’s Family and Social Justice Section (FSJS) advance a comprehensive, relationship-centered violence prevention strategy that promotes positive youth development, strengthens protective factors, and connects young people and families with coordinated support before violence occurs. Through early intervention, multidisciplinary collaboration, behavioral health partnerships, mentoring, diversion, youth development programming, and sustained community engagement, FSJS helps create the conditions that support long-term community safety and well-being. Consistent with the City’s Violence Prevention Approach, FSJS recognizes that violence prevention extends beyond traditional enforcement. Effective prevention requires trusted relationships, early identification of emerging

needs, family engagement, access to behavioral health services, educational support, recreational opportunities, workforce development, and strong partnerships across government, schools, community organizations, and residents. These initiatives directly support the City’s priorities to respond & restore, prevent & strengthen, and connect regionally, while advancing the City Council’s direction to expand youth outreach, community partnerships, and evidence-informed violence prevention strategies. Safety Net Collaborative Safety Net is a multidisciplinary partnership among the Cambridge Police Department, Cambridge Public Schools, Cambridge Health Alliance, and the Department of Human Service Programs that coordinates services for youth and families experiencing complex needs. The collaborative provides an integrated response by identifying concerns early, coordinating behavioral health services, supporting families, promoting school engagement, and helping youth remain connected to school, family, and community while reducing unnecessary justice-system involvement. Through shared planning and coordinated interventions, Safety Net addresses many of the underlying conditions associated with community violence, including trauma, family instability, behavioral health challenges, substance use, and school disengagement. Juvenile Diversion FSJS administers a community-based diversion program that provides eligible youth with opportunities to accept accountability while avoiding formal court processing whenever appropriate. Individualized diversion plans may include behavioral health counseling, restorative practices, educational programming, family support, mentoring, community service, substance use treatment, and other supportive services designed to address the underlying circumstances contributing to the behavior. Rather than focusing solely on the presenting incident, diversion emphasizes long-term success by strengthening protective factors, supporting healthy decision-making, and reducing future justice-system involvement. In 2025, 12 youth participated in the Cambridge Police diversion program, with an additional participant referred through the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. Emerging Adult Diversion Recognizing that neurological and social development continues well beyond adolescence, FSJS partners with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office to provide diversion opportunities for emerging adults ages 18 through 26. Participants receive individualized support plans that may include behavioral health services, educational programming, housing stabilization, workforce development, counseling, restorative practices, and community service. The program focuses on addressing the underlying needs that contribute to justice-system involvement while promoting long-term stability, personal growth, and community safety. Five emerging adults successfully participated during 2025. Focused Deterrence Focused Deterrence is Cambridge’s collaborative community violence intervention strategy designed to engage individuals identified through collaborative case review as experiencing an

elevated likelihood of involvement in firearm violence, either as victims or participants. The initiative brings together community organizations, behavioral health providers, probation, social-service partners, community leaders, and law enforcement to develop individualized support plans that combine accountability with meaningful opportunities for change. Participants are connected with behavioral health services, housing resources, education, employment assistance, mentoring, and community-based support that provide practical alternatives to violence while strengthening long-term stability. Clinical Support and Behavioral Health Integration FSJS’s Clinical Support Unit integrates licensed behavioral health professionals directly into public safety responses involving youth and families. Police officers and clinicians work collaboratively to assess behavioral health concerns, connect families with treatment, coordinate ongoing support, and provide case management for youth experiencing emotional distress, trauma, developmental challenges, or family instability. This integrated approach recognizes that many youths are best served through coordinated behavioral health intervention alongside public safety rather than through enforcement alone, strengthening long-term community safety by addressing root causes before crises escalate. Community Firearm Safety FSJS supports the City’s Safer Homes, Safer Communities firearm safety initiative by providing residents with opportunities to voluntarily and safely dispose of unwanted firearms while distributing firearm safety devices and educational materials related to safe storage and suicide prevention. Reducing unauthorized access to unsecured firearms is an important component of a comprehensive youth violence prevention strategy and contributes to safer homes and neighborhoods. Cambridge Police Department (CPD) Youth Engagement Programs Youth Violence Prevention and Positive Youth Development Initiatives The Cambridge Police Department’s Family and Social Justice Section advances a comprehensive, relationship-centered violence prevention strategy that promotes positive youth development, strengthens protective factors, and connects young people and families with coordinated support before violence occurs. Cambridge Police Youth Boxing & Fitness Program The Cambridge Police Youth Boxing and Fitness Program is a nationally recognized youth development initiative conducted in partnership with the Cambridge YMCA. Serving students in grades 6 through 12, the non-contact program promotes physical wellness, emotional resilience, social-emotional learning, peer mentorship, leadership development, self-confidence, and healthy relationships with trusted adults. Approximately 150 young people participated during the reporting period. Beyond fitness, the program creates a consistent, supportive environment where participants build positive relationships and develop lifelong skills that strengthen resilience, healthy decision-making, emotional regulation, and positive community engagement.

Cambridge Youth Police Academy The Cambridge Youth Police Academy is a six-week leadership and career exploration program that introduces youth ages 14 through 18 to public service, civic engagement, leadership, teamwork, communication, and emergency preparedness. Participants receive hands-on instruction from numerous City departments while earning CPR and First Aid certification, learning conflict resolution, understanding their legal rights and responsibilities, and developing leadership skills. Twenty youth are participating in the 2026 Youth Police Academy, an increase from 16 participants in 2025. The academy provides meaningful summer employment while strengthening connections between young people, public safety professionals, and community mentors. Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Youth Public Safety Academy FSJS partners with the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Youth Public Safety Academy to expose young people to careers in public safety while fostering leadership, teamwork, civic responsibility, and positive relationships with first responders. The academy provides participants with hands-on experiences involving law enforcement, fire services, emergency preparedness, teamwork, and public service. By connecting youth with positive role models from multiple public safety disciplines, the program encourages civic engagement, strengthens trust in public institutions, and supports positive youth development. Although participation by Cambridge youth has varied in recent years, FSJS continues to collaborate with the Sheriff’s Office to identify opportunities to increase youth participation and regional partnerships that support violence prevention. Sports-Based Youth Development FSJS supports numerous sports-based initiatives that foster mentorship, teamwork, healthy lifestyles, leadership development, and positive relationships with trusted adults, including: • Cambridge Pride Basketball. • We Got Next Basketball League. • Soccer Nights. • Hoops ‘N’ Health. • Youth Golf Program. • Community basketball tournaments. Collectively, these initiatives provide structured, supervised environments during evenings, weekends, and summer months while strengthening social connections, promoting conflict resolution, encouraging positive decision-making, and increasing access to supportive adult mentors. The We Got Next Basketball League alone engaged approximately 144 middle-school students and 120 high-school students during the reporting period. Youth Center Partnerships and Positive Youth Development FSJS maintains strong partnerships with Cambridge Youth Programs, youth centers, neighborhood organizations, and community-based providers to expand opportunities for youth engagement beyond traditional policing. These partnerships include: • Empowerment Program (Frisoli Youth Center) • Sports Leadership Academy (Moore Youth Center) • SWAG Academy (Gately Youth Center)

• Boys to Men Leadership Program (Moses Youth Center) • The Hip Hop Transformation and Mental Health ACCESS (Cambridge Community Center) • Newtowne Court/Washington Elms Game Nights • Port Pride Celebration (in partnership with the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House) • Community block parties and neighborhood events These initiatives promote leadership, creativity, financial literacy, workforce readiness, cultural identity, wellness, and positive peer relationships while increasing access to trusted adults and community resources that support long-term well-being. These partnerships extend the City’s violence prevention network into neighborhoods where young people naturally gather, ensuring supportive adults are available in trusted community settings. Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) Summer Activities For summer 2026, the Cambridge Public Health Department's youth initiatives are focused on creating meaningful opportunities for youth leadership and engagement, while advancing projects that promote youth wellness. CPHD is welcoming youth from the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program to work in our Population Health Initiatives Division with the Youth Engagement unit. Teens will work on a number of projects, including analyzing focus groups to learn more about how Cambridge youth would like to be involved in decisions that affect them. So far, the team has engaged with 115 youth, with more focus groups planned this summer. The team will also be collaborating with Cambridge Community Television on a video project and the Harvard School of Public Health and Resilient Sisterhood Project on a youth menstrual healthcare access project. Additionally, the Youth Engagement Unit at large will continue work this summer with the Family Policy Council to create an action plan around Youth Wellness. The planning team will meet on July 22, 2026 to develop this plan. The unit will also work on re-dubbing the Mental Health PSAs in Amharic, Arabic, Bangla, Haitian Creole, and Spanish focusing on destigmatizing mental health among adults. CPHD once again hosted Hoops N Health on June 13 at Hoyt Field. This community event included 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 and community resources. CPHD’s family literacy program, the Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative, offers programs throughout the summer to support families as they talk, read, and connect with their kids. The Book Bike program brings books, activities, and food to parks around the City. There are 10 Book Bike events in the morning, two special summer parties in the evening, and additional events at housing developments. The Agenda for Children Literacy Initiative also puts up eight Story Walks at local parks each year. Story Walks are picture books hung page by page around a green space so that families can walk and read together. The Agenda for Children’s summer programming is conducted in partnership with other agencies, including the Summer Food Program, the Cambridge Public Library, and the Center for Families. For more details, including dates and locations, see the Book Bike flyer here, the StoryWalk flyer here, and our website with

additional events and programs here. The 2026 Teen Health Survey was completed this spring, in a collaboration between CPHD Epi, Youth Engagement, and Cambridge Public Schools. Results will be available to the public in August/September. CPHD staff are reviewing results and plans to share the data more widely. The School Health Department continues outreach to students missing required immunizations, needing primary care providers and health insurance during the summer months. School health is planning a Walk-in vaccine clinic for students at the Teen Health Center at CRLS on August 27 from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. The health department’s substance use prevention outreach and training activities will continue throughout the summer. In collaboration with the Council on Aging, the MBHP unit is hosting an Age Cafe, Community Conversations about aging. The series dates are June 15 and July 20 from 10-11 a.m. at the Senior Center in Central Square. The conversations are open to all. On August 12, we will collaborate with the HEAL team to provide a workshop for the residents of Washington Elms at the Pisani Center. The workshop will focus on the connection between healthy eating and mental health. A virtual overdose prevention training is scheduled on August 4 from 3-4 p.m. The comprehensive training includes information on signs and symptoms, risk factors and Narcan administration. Previous virtual training sessions were also held on June 2 and July 7. A Narcan distribution event is scheduled on August 11 from 1-3 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library in Central Square. CPHD will provide free Narcan and other harm reduction supplies. A previous distribution event was held on June 9. The MBHP unit is also preparing for International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31. CPHD is partnering with the Cambridge Police Department, the CARE Team, Access Drug User Health Program, and the Cambridge Public Library to hold a memorial event and resource fair in front of City Hall from 1:30-4 p.m. Additionally, this will kick off CPHD Recovery Month programming, which is observed in September and celebrates all stages of recovery from substance use and mental health challenges. The Cambridge Public Health Department is excited to launch its inaugural Community Advisory Group in August. A joint effort between the Community Engagement Division and Health Equity Unit, the initiative is composed of seven Cambridge residents who will contribute community voice and perspective to programs, services and plans from the public health department. CPHD hosted our first Public Health Innovation Lab on June 27. The Innovation Lab was established to test new health ideas, support grassroots projects, and build tools that ensure everyone in Cambridge has the opportunity to live a healthy life. Central to the Lab's mission is co-creation - working hand-in-hand with residents, City teams, and community groups to foster

true health equity. Guided by data from the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), the Lab is currently prioritizing two critical areas that deeply impact our constituents: Social Isolation & Healthcare Access & Navigation. CPHD’s Oral Health and HEAL teams participated in the Massachusetts Special Olympic Games held on June 6. The athletic competitions comprised track and field, tennis, powerlifting, swimming, and volleyball. The CPHD teams hosted promotional exhibits dedicated to supporting healthy athletes, with the Oral Health team providing sports mouthguards and dental care items tailored for individuals with special needs, and the HEAL team offering nutritional resources alongside interactive promotional giveaways. Representatives from the CPHD Oral Health and School Health divisions attended the Outbreak 2.0 Program on June 26 at the Public Health Museum in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. Hosted at the museum, this educational session was designed for area high school students interested in pursuing careers in public health, with invitations extended to all regional high schools. The representatives participated in a panel of healthcare professionals, engaging with students to offer guidance on career pathways. Spring/summer 2026: the HEAL team partnered with community performance artists and Cambridge Public Schools to host a community event that engaged residents in conversations about physical activity equity through an interactive and accessible format. The event highlighted findings from the Cambridge Physical Activity Assessment conducted by the HEAL team and encouraged community dialogue around opportunities to improve equitable access to physical activity. Before the conclusion of the school year, HEAL facilitated the School Wellness Policy Council in updating the policy. HEAL continues to work with CPSD throughout the summer and into the fall to move the policy forward and begin steps to implement wellness guidelines for the district. Throughout the summer, the HEAL team has participated in and supported a wide range of community outreach and health promotion activities across Cambridge. Between June and the end of August, the team has offered and will continue to offer health education and resources at community events including Special Olympics (June 6), Hoops & Health (June 13), Fresh Pond Day (June 13), Port Pride (July 11), CHA Housing Summer Youth Program (July 23), and the World Breastfeeding Week Celebration (August 3), as well as neighborhood events such as Book Bike and the East End House Block Party. HEAL staff have also collaborated with community partners through the CET 20th Anniversary Celebration, the EEH Seniors Workshop, and the Public Health Innovation Lab. The team has also continued to expand access to preventive health services through recurring monthly Blood Pressure Clinics and hypertension outreach in the community. The HEAL team has also worked closely with community organizations to build new partnerships, support existing programs, and provide technical assistance and physical activity equity resources while collaborating on new physical activity opportunities identified through community priorities. To support healthy food access and nutrition education, HEAL staff has participated in and will continue to support the Summer Food Kickoff, recurring Food for Free distributions at CCSC, Peabody, and MLK, Mass Farmers Market, Farmers Market Coupon

distribution, and a Transition House Cooking Workshop. The team is also completing the annual update of the Cambridge Food Resource Guide, a multilingual resource available in eight languages that connects residents with food assistance programs and other nutrition resources throughout the City. Very truly yours, Yi-An Huang City Manager

City of Cambridge A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a report on 2026 Summer Community Programs.