Blog

“I became a better person and I learned to value the little things [...]”

“I became a better person and I learned to value the little things [...]”

IBA’s Youth Development Program (YDP) is a safe space for young adults located in the South End of Boston. This program allows participants to be around other youth experiencing the same difficulties. Together, they find solutions with the support of professionals in mental health, community leadership, arts, and finances. One participant in this program is Lilly, who received the sup...

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A Thank You Note from IBA’s Youth Development Program

A Thank You Note from IBA’s Youth Development Program

Throughout 2022, IBA’s Youth Development Program (YDP) successfully organized various workshops which empowered and equipped our youth with enriched skills to be their authentic self while being civically engaged in their community. This year, we offered a variety of workshops to connect with our youth. One of the workshops we offered were art workshops. Our art work...

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Turning feelings into art - part II

Turning feelings into art - part II

IBA’s Youth Development Program (YDP) serves local young people, ages 14-18, by fostering socio-emotional, intellectual, and artistic growth through academic support, job readiness, arts education, leadership training, civic engagement, and advocacy opportunities. YDP’s summer poetry workshops is one of IBA’s most impactful programs. Participants explore their ident...

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"For me, IBA was always a safe space"

"For me, IBA was always a safe space"

Isaiah joined IBA’s Youth Development Program during his first year of high school. Wanting to help his parents financially, he signed up for a part-time job near his home. Isaiah wanted to be a productive part of his community in a safe space outside school. Not only did he achieve all of this through YDP, but after three successful years as a youth participant, toda...

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Empowering the Future of Boston

Empowering the Future of Boston

In 2016, IBA’s Youth Development Program (YDP) won the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. Awarded by former First Lady Michelle Obama, this award was the nation’s highest honor for after-school and out-of-school-time arts and humanities programs that focused on the needs and talents of young people. But what does YDP do, exactly, that’s so impressive? ...

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The Financial Empowerment and Youth Development Programs' Lemonade Stand Project

The Financial Empowerment and Youth Development Programs' Lemonade Stand Project

As a non-profit organization, IBA has a variety of programs that address various challenges within the community. At times—more so now than in previous years—these programs will coordinate to assess challenges that may impact more than one of them. This allows them to combine efforts and come up with ideas or projects to address these challenges together. ...

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Family: an irrefutable influence.

Family: an irrefutable influence.

Our Youth Development Program fosters socio-emotional, intellectual, and artistic growth in young people as it provides academic support, job readiness, arts education, leadership training, civic engagement, and advocacy opportunities. The talent these young people have is unlimited and their commitment to embracing who they want to become unparalleled. Below, we sha...

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The Benefits of Empowering Our Youth Closer to Home

The Benefits of Empowering Our Youth Closer to Home

As Boston students settle into the new school year, IBA is gearing up for the next Youth Development Program (YDP) cycle, which starts in October and runs through May. IBA’s nationally acclaimed program encourages students between the ages of 14 and 19 to use the arts and civic engagement as tools to help them think critically a...

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