Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement

@oyea

The official Bluesky account of the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement. Uplifting the voices and advancing the lives of young people ages 14-25 through City programs and services. www.boston.gov/oyea-links

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Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· 1d

Happy International Youth Day, Boston! As you continue to inspire new ideas for Boston's future, we are here if you need any support. Visit Boston.gov/youthline to find our resource directory, community calendar, and newsletter sign-up so you can stay in touch!

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· 2d

Last week we hosted Boston After Dark at Commonwealth BHA! Swipe through for some of the highlights and don't miss out on our last three weeks of Boston After Dark events! Boston.gov/after-dark

a wide shot of a sunny teen room filled with youth engaged in various activities

two teens smile at the camera as they sit and eat dinner side by side

a teen smiles and poses for a caricature

teens line up in front of a table to receive airbrush tattoos inside a sunny room

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· 8d

Last week we brought Boston After Dark to Draper Pool! Our youth DJ, portraits, ice cream, and barbeque helped make this a great night. Thanks to everyone who joined us, and make sure you come back this week! boston.gov/after-dark

kids crowd around staff as they pull a raffle drawing

teens line up for buffet dinner in front of a wall that says Mary Draper Pool House

two teens pose side by side smiling at the camera outside

teens chat and eat ice cream while playing on a swing set

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· 9d

We had a blast last Thursday with our Partner Network for our annual Partner Celebration! We enjoyed great food, music, and company. Special thanks to Tiki Cove and their staff for hosting us in their amazing space ✨

Crowded tropical-themed bar with people socializing under netted ceiling decor and lush green plants.

Two friends warmly embrace in a lively indoor gathering with tropical decor and smiling guests around them

People serving themselves food from a buffet line in a warmly lit restaurant with tropical decor.

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· 13d

Last weekend, our community showed OUT for Boston After Dark! We tripled the fun for our Boston teens last Friday at Moakley Park, BCYF Tobin, and BHA Franklin Field. Make sure you check out the next event by you! Go to boston.gov/after-dark

Group of diverse young people standing outdoors near parked cars and trees on a sunny day.

Three young people playing a large outdoor Connect Four game on a blanket in a park near parked cars.

youth play video games inside a mobile video game truck

Group of teens wearing black Boston shirts gathered outside a building with green leaf decorations and a 'Welcome to the Tobin' sign.

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· 17d

Last week's Friday night programming featured Boston After Dark at both Mildred Hailey BHA and Menino YMCA! We had all the usual music and fun, plus a sundae bar and video games! Make sure you don't miss out on the rest of this summer's festivities: go to boston.gov/after-dark

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· 21d

Last weekend, we activated the newly renovated Copley Square with our first-ever Select Markets vintage market collaboration!! Thanks to the thousands of you that came out to enjoy the weather, shopping, caricatures, tattoos, and music with us. A special thanks to Select for being great partners! 🔜🤫

Three young women laughing and looking at their portrait in front of a seated artist at an outdoor event with tents and people in the background.

Crowds browse stalls at an outdoor market with historic and modern buildings in the background on a sunny day.

Tattoo artist carefully working on a young woman's forearm outdoors at a shaded park area.

Shoppers browse and sort through piles of clothes at an outdoor market stall on a sunny day.

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· 22d

Introducing our 2026 Summer Ambassadors! They'll be hosting civic engagement workshops and town halls for their peers, with lots of fun Boston activities in between. Reach out to myc@boston.gov if you'd like to host a workshop for your youth group and for other collaborations!

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· 27d

Boston After Dark was a blast last Friday! 🎉 At BCYF Menino and BCYF Nazzaro, we had ice cream, free food, basketball tournaments, caricature drawings, games, and DJs from YOU Boston 🏀 Don't miss the events near you this summer, go to Boston.gov/after-dark

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Jul 1

Last Friday, we kicked off Boston After Dark 2026 with over 100 attendees at BCYF Blackstone! Shoutout to YMCA, Boston Centers for Youth & Families Boston Housing Authority and Boston Children's Hospital for supporting the fun all summer long🤝 Check out the events near you at Boston.gov/after-dark

Group of teenagers socializing near a playground on a sunny day, some holding drinks and a colorful ball.

Group of people gathered outdoors near a table with informational materials in a community event setting.

Young people playing basketball on an outdoor court with colorful graffiti covering the brick wall behind them.

Three boys standing outdoors holding colorful soccer balls with a brick building and trees in the background.

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Jun 30

This month we launched our Youth Access Series in partnership with DICK's House of Sport, which allows youth-serving programs to bring young people to the store throughout the summer to use the various sporting facilities. Check availability and sign-up for a time slot at at boston.gov/oyea-links.

Two young people climb an indoor rock wall

Person holding a yellow bat preparing to swing inside a batting cage with a digital baseball game screen showing a stadium and scoreboard.

Person practicing soccer shots inside an indoor sports cage with a digital target screen showing shot accuracy.

Five young people stand and smile at the camera inside DICK's House of Sport

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Jun 26

Food, DJs, giveaways, and more are all back at Boston After Dark! Don't miss the events in your neighborhood every Friday night this summer. Check boston.gov/after-dark for the details!

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Jun 24

This year, our OYEA Professional Development Series hosted 22 free trainings led by 14 different youth work experts. See you back in September for more free opportunities -- stay tuned here and on boston.gov/professional-development

a room full of professionals seated and listening to workshop presenters

Group of people attentively listening to a presenter in a conference room with notebooks and water bottles on the table. They are seated in a row and all looking down at their notes

Instructor demonstrating CPR techniques to a diverse group of adults in a spacious training room with mannequins on the floor.

A large paper divided into three columns labeled Know, Want to Know, and Learned, filled with colorful sticky notes containing handwritten text.

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Jun 17

Boston After Dark is back this summer 2026! Mark your calendars for our on Friday, June 26 from 5 to 7pm at BCYF Blackstone ⚽ Check out boston.gov/after-dark for events in your neighborhood all summer long🎉

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Jun 11

#TBT to our collab with Don't Tell Comedy in April! We welcomed young adults into City Hall for a free Boston After Dark comedy show and had a blast enjoying free food, portraits by Nick Shea, and an amazing show! Sign up for our newsletter for more free 19+ events coming soon! 📸: Varun Mummadi

A young man stands on stage speaking into a microphone in front of an attentive seated audience inside a modern venue with large windows.

Three people standing near a buffet table filled with trays of various cooked dishes in a large indoor dining area.

Audience members attentively watching a presentation or performance in a dimly lit room.

A man sketches a portrait of a woman sitting across from him in a casual indoor setting with a sign reading 'Drawing of You'.

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Jun 8

Last week, we welcomed our Partner Network to our beautiful new City space at 26 Court Street! Thank you to our youth-serving colleagues from across City departments who came to share their knowledge and engage with the Network. We hope everyone has a great summer!

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· May 28

Youth-serving providers are invited to join us on Thursday, June 11 for a free training on combatting compassion fatigue. In this two hour event, participants will enjoy free breakfast, network, and be reminded of their youth work "why." To register, visit boston.gov/professional-development.

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· May 11

Check out our next four professional development workshops, completely free for Boston-area youth-serving professionals. Learn more and RSVP today at boston.gov/professional-development. See you soon!

Schedule of OYEA professional development workshops in Boston from May 13 to June 3 with topics on youth engagement, restorative justice, coaching, and mental health.

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Apr 28

Today we're doing a partner spotlight on Community Through Theater, which hosts free theater outings for LGBTQ+ 14-24 year olds in Boston! We tagged along with them to visit the WNDR Museum and then see Kinky Boots at Citizens Opera House last month. Learn more at communitythroughtheater.org.

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Apr 17

Apply to join the 2026-27 Mayor's Youth Council and make change in your city! Boston high schoolers can now submit their application to represent their peers in City government. Visit boston.gov/myc to learn more! ⭐

Text says the Mayor's Youth Council is a dedicated group of high school leaders who represent youth from across Boston in City government. Make change in your City! MYC, CIty of Boston, and OYEA logos are at the top. Young people being sworn in are at the bottom.

White text on purple background says eligibility, Boston resident, enrolled in high school by Fall 2026. Yellow text says Learn more and apply at boston.gov/myc, email myc@boston.gov, follow mycboston on Instagram.

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Apr 16

ICYMI: At Friday's Teen Celebration, we played games, decorated converse, took a scavenger hunt across the museum, and so much more with our BFD partners. Free entry to your local cultural institutions the first and second Sunday of every month -- visit boston.gov/familydays to learn more.

Group of five women posing together with one holding a sign that reads 'THE FUTURE IS FEMALE' in bold pink letters.

Group of people seated closely around a table engaged in a shared art activity near large windows with natural light.

four people posing indoors and wearing colorful sunglasses making small heart gestures with their fingers against a plain beige wall.

Three young men indoors, one holding a ping pong paddle raised in victory while the others hold hands nearby.

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Apr 15

Last week, our Director Pedro Cruz visited his alma mater, Snowden International HS, to speak with 11th and 12th grade IB students about his career path. They asked insightful questions and are undoubtedly headed towards great things!

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Apr 8

We are offering FIVE professional development trainings in the next two months, completely free for Boston-area youth-serving professionals. Learn more and RSVP today at boston.gov/professional-development. See you soon!

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Mar 31

We had so much fun welcoming everyone to Roxbury Community College for March's Partner Network meeting: Post-secondary Pathways edition! Spending time learning, networking, and eating together was the perfect way to kick off spring. Many thanks to RCC and all our partners. See you in May!

4 members of the partner network stand together and smile at the camera

Room full of partners facing forward and watching partner network presentation

Director Pedro Cruz presents Partner Network and Professional Development 2025 impact to a room of partners

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Mar 3

We're ringing in the spring with more free professional development trainings for the youth-serving community! RSVP for March and April sessions today at boston.gov/professional-development. See you soon 🌱

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Feb 27

MYS 2026 was a blast! Thanks to everyone who showed up last Saturday and made it a day to remember♥️ We enjoyed youth performances, airbrush tattoos, drawings, giveaways, and more! Thanks to our partners for your support. 📸: Kenneth Palacios

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Feb 19

🚨 MYS 2026 IS HERE 🚨 Swipe to see our full lineup of Boston-based speakers and performers who will be taking the stage this Saturday! If you haven't already, grab your free tickets at Boston.gov/youth-summit (tickets are required for entry). We can't wait to see you there!!

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Feb 13

send this to someone who should come to MYS 🥰 📲Boston.gov/youth-summit ❤️❤️❤️

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Feb 12

Thanks to Councilor Coletta Zapata, Councilor FitzGerald, and the offices of Councilors Santana and Weber for coming to speak with youth from councils around the Boston area at our second meeting of the Boston Coalition of Youth Councils!

Boston Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement@oyea· Feb 2

February and March free professional development workshops are here! Boston youth-serving professionals, RSVP today at boston.gov/professional-development. See you soon!