Summer Leadership Employment Program
Program Summary
During the City Spotlights Summer Leadership Program Teen Leaders develop skills to prepare them for success through:
Arts and Leadership Training
Teen Leaders explore their personal identities as leaders through acting, singing, and dance, with support from local professional teaching artists. Teens develop artistic pieces that both educate and inspire action about important social issues impacting their community.
Community Advocacy
Teen Leaders create interactive arts workshops to conduct with children and peers throughout Boston on social change and social justice topics. If you are interested in having Teen Leaders present a workshop to your organization this summer, please email us at education@bochcenter.org.
Teens prepare and deliver a formal presentation to government officials advocating for policy changes, including increased funding for youth arts programs.
Professional Development
Teen Leaders practice career skills through mock interviews, networking opportunities, financial literacy workshops, and resume development workshops, among other topics and opportunities.
Performance
Teen Leaders devise original performance pieces, in dance, music, and acting based on their selected social justice topic. The program culminates with a Final Showcase presenting all their original work.
The City Spotlights Leadership Program is recognized locally and nationally as an exemplary model for arts education and creative workforce development. In July 2016, City Spotlights was awarded the Ann Flagg Multicultural Award from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. This national award recognizes significant contributions to arts education for youth dealing with multicultural issues and/or reaching diverse audiences and constituencies.
City Spotlights puts the power to change the world in the hands of 60+ talented and conscientious Teen Leaders. As Teen Leader Marly remarked, “We’re happy that WE were able to make a change in our communities. That WE were able to engage the community in our discussion. That WE stepped out of our comfort zone and did things we thought were impossible.”