Who Are We

neighborhoods whose poverty and legacies of hopelessness and violence put these youth at great risk.  Currently based in the Mission Hill area of Roxbury, MissionSAFE creates an emotionally, psychologically and physically safe space where youth are nurtured, listened to, engaged and cared for by adults who form healthy relationships with them.

Youth are then progressively challenged to learn new skills, accomplish new tasks and set positive goals for their lives.  This interactive work is successful and transformative-- relational at its core, labor-intensive, iterative and ongoing as youth are taught and helped to build on each successive layer of learning, experience, thought and accomplishment.

 Youth who stay with MissionSAFE for a number of years create positive value systems, improve their academic performance and develop leadership, social, communication, problem-solving, anti-violence and job readiness skills.  Youth develop knowledge and experience of community service and civic engagement.  They explore different career and college possibilities.  They meet new people and explore communities outside their own.  They develop confidence, hope, skills and goals.

MissionSAFE  Interns with Beth Israel Hospital Supervisor

MissionSAFE  Interns with State Representative Marie St. Fleur

MissionSAFE  youth performing at Mayor's Youth Festival

Does It Work?

MissionSAFE has worked with over 600 youth since we began, some of whom still participate regularly.  Since 1998, MissionSAFE has:  

·        Helped set the standard in Mission Hill for high quality afterschool programming.  

·        Worked with and trained over 100 teen peer leaders in youthworker, job readiness, leadership, problem-solving and teamwork skills.

·        Worked with youth most at-risk, often in trouble with school and courts.

·        Had 100% of our older youth make it beyond 8th grade into high school, with the majority of these articulating an interest in college and future careers.

·        Seen over 85% of our youth improve attendance in school, homework quality and/or grades.

·        Had over 80% of our older youth move toward graduating high school with 60% of them researching, applying to or having been accepted to college—many of them the first in their families to complete the 12th grade.

·        Have seen over 50 of our teens take leadership roles in advocacy and civic activities.

·        Have assisted over 200 youth with job readiness skills and career exploration.

·        Had 100% of our youth participate in community service through MissionSAFE.