##VIDEO ID:LQ8uImUhxH0## e e e e e e e e e e e e e e awesome um for the record my name is Gabriela clor Zapata counselor for district one and I am the chair of the Boston city council committee on government operations today is December 2nd 2024 in accordance with chapter 2 of the acts of 2023 modifying certain requirements of the open meeting law and relieving public bodies of certain requirements including the requirement that public bodies conduct its meeting in a public place that is open and physically accessible to the public the city council will be conducting this hearing virtually via Zoom this hearing is also being recorded it is live streamed at boston.gov city-council --tv and broadcast on Xfinity channel 8 RCN channel 82 bios Channel 964 written comments may be sent to the committee email at cccgo boston.gov and will be made part of the record and available to all counselors public testimony will be taken at the end of this hearing individuals will be called on in the order in which they signed up we'll have 2 minutes to testify if you wish to sign up for public testimony and have not done so please email our Central staff liaison Megan coru jetto oh my gosh Megan I'm so sorry if I butcher that at M A.C r u e d o boston.gov for the zoom link and your name will be added to the list today's hearing is on docket 12000 an ordinance to establish rise reshaping inequities through systematic empowerment these matters were sponsored by counselors Brian Morel Tanya fernanders Anderson and Julia Mahia today I'm joined by my colleagues in order of arrival councelor Flynn council president luisan councelor Fitzgerald councelor Mahia councelor Murphy just checking sure I'm not missing anybody okay and with that I will uh go to the lead sponsors first for opening statement and then we'll pass it over to the administration for their uh presentation councelor warell you now have the zoom uh good afternoon everyone and thank you chair Keta Zapata for hosting this uh hearing uh the strides we are making toward creating a Level Playing Field are under attack Across the Nation the very idea of ensuring opportunity and safety for all is being politicized and Dil honest conversations about our nation's history are being shut down and banned this makes it more important than ever for us as a city to stand firm and reaffirm our commitment to equity as bostonians we have long fought in charish the diversity that defines our city confronting our history to build a better future is not just the tagline but the Hallmark of our success you can see it in our worldclass education systems and institutions our capital projects launching across our city in the way we have innovated long-standing processes to invite more people to the table from City contracts to our Public Safety Rings part of our story is not just that success but the devastating impact of the policies that created inequities where we as a city continue to fall short it Liv in the data from our Public Schools Home Ownership rates and health statistics where the consequences of these policies show themselves in the STK disparities that remain and we are confronted by the gravity of it when we see Neighbors struggling to stay and thrive in the city they love when we hear fellow bostonians lose faith in their government's ability to make their lives better this work must be at the heart of how we govern in lead not just because it's a moral imperative but because it's critical to Our Success moving forward the rise ordinance is not just an approach to go governing it's a blueprint for economic growth it's about embedding Equity into every decision we make every ordinance we pass and every dollar we spend it's about creating space for Community Voices to be heard and ensuring those voices guide our policies and it's about holding ourselves accountable for the outcomes of our decisions so we're not repeating the mistakes of the past we've already seen the power of equity when we measure and act intentionally in 2024 thanks to this Council and to our colleagues at the state house we passed a long overdue liquor license Equity policy that finally gave undeserved neighborhoods the opportunity to attract thriving businesses space GRS things that we love have brought new opportunities to entrepreneurs and communities that have been overlooked for years we applied Equity Focus reporting to City contracts we established the shelter Market program and increase opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses these successes show us what's possible when Equity is embedded in governance but we must go further the rise ordinance takes our equity commitments and turns them into measurable accountable policies at the council level we will establish a council committee on Equity as a permanent part of our C Central staff structure ensuring every ordinance budget and decision is reviewed through an equity lens the intention is to have this committee work closely with the mayor's office of equity inclusion to develop Citywide standards and ensure consistent reporting and accountability within within the administration the ordinance was strengthen the equity inclusion cabinet given it tools to track metrics create training programs for city leaders and Implement standardized Equity analysis across all departments it also establishes Equity toolkits so departments can measure the impact of this policies and programs on historically marginalized communities four years ago we declared racism a Public Health crisis in Boston the rise ordinance Builds on that Foundation taking the principles we committed to in 2020 and putting them into practice in ways that will shape our city for Generations I want to thank everyone who helped and contribute contributed to this ordinance and this critical work from the administration uh Mari Angie Sol s an Lee Santi G garus to our Advocates Kathy abisa from race forward Pace makoni Jr from peace Institute the legendary Professor TZ lore from nor Eastern University Brian mccl who worked on the initial policy implemented in DC and other partners not present with us as panelist today who have been instrumental in shaping his policy shout out to Alysa um Ben benew Ramos and Jimmy from beckma drth mcka McCary from NC NC mcf ncf uh ran Hall from the Urban League Dr Abram Kennedy keny from Boston University and Jeff from Kings among Kings the C collaboration had brought us to this moment thank you thank you Council Orel um Council Mia hi yes uh good good afternoon Ethan is in my office we got some technical issues so I'm not going to be on camera but can you hear me just can you confirm you can hear me we can hear you okay great um so first of all I want to thank the lead sponsor counil Rell for leading this effort I am super excited to discuss today the ordinance to establish rise reshaping INE equities through systemic empowerment if you know anything about me you know I'm always passionate about collecting data and ensuring that it reflects our stated priorities um and I'm always looking at what is our return on investments and each year I continue to call for a Boston jobs residency policy dashboard to provide real-time transparency and accountability for our Workforce Development um and contracts um similar similarly Rise um prioritizes the role of data to drive um Equity requiring departments to report on Equity activities progress and gaps while aligning policies and budgets with measurable outcomes that is the key into this whole conversation is those measurable outcomes and how do we hold ourselves accountable to the ideas of what we were especially during budget season this is the kind of intentional systemic work that we need if we're really ser serious about addressing um racism as a Public Health crisis at its core this ordinance represents a commitment to ensuring all bostonians regardless of their race zipco or um income have Equitable access to uh DET turns of equity such as of affordable housing culturally re relevant Food Systems accessible transportation and high quality education as we hear from today's panelists I look forward to envisioning how we can operationalize these principles and ways that deliverable deliver Equitable Services for our most impacted communities this is a collaborative effort while I understand that the work is already underway within the administration I'm excited to create a new institutionalized vision for the city one that will Outlast us all um in in the positions that we hold here in the Boston and as well as in on the national um Forefront from Council we all's team stressing the importance of why we need this work to be done at the council level based on expressed Community needs and for local governance to promote equity and the importance of creating more space for Community engagement note that um the idea of the creation of a council Equity task force to assist in defining parameters for Equity analysis hearings um and Community engagement um and we know that rise emphasizes uh addressing disparities and deter of uh equi such as health and education and safety and I'm going to be looking to the administration to talk about how their work can illustrate just that and I think that it's important as we continue to have these conversations you know when when most people think about Equity it's usually we default to Dei and we already know that those programs are under attack nationally and it's just a matter of time before we start to see that here locally I think it's really important as we continue to have these conversations that we're looking at both racial equity and class and economic equity because I think a lot of folks get lost in these conversations and and I just want to note for the record that I always air in the side of understanding that even if you are black or brown there are folks who are black and brown who have far more privilege than other folks um so I I think as we're continuing these conversations I'd like to double in on economic Justice and class issues that also uh need to be uplifted in this conversation thank you thank you councelor Mahia I just want to recognize we've been joined by councelor Weber uh councelor Flynn you have the floor thank you madam chair I'm not I'm not going to provide an opening statement I'm here to listen and to learn I just want to recognize um an outstanding leader in the city Ted lsmark for being here someone who I have great respect for thank you madam chair councelor lisian council president lisian thank you uh Madam chair and I just want to thank uh Council RL Council Mia Council frand Anderson for offering this um ordinance I think it's really important as counselor um uh waral stated we need to continue to make sure that we are making progress especially in the National landscape that we find ourselves in and so um that we need to make sure that we are uh meeting our benchmarks and collecting the data and so I look forward this to make sure to making sure that we are keeping at the root of what we do correcting for past harms and making sure that we are systematic systematically doing the work of equity right correcting for our past harms through intentional policy and I look at this as intentional policy and so I I really thank my colleagues for putting this um forward and look forward to hearing from the administration and all the Advocates uh from everyone from attorney lsmark to Pace shout out to the peace Institute that's currently in the house here at City Hall for all of the incredible work that they do here in this city to make sure that we as legislators are putting at root always the questions of equity thank you councilor Fitzgerald thank you madam chair uh nothing is more important than making sure each individual has uh equal access and opportunity to all things and so uh I commend uh the makers of this uh ordinance and and put in putting it Forward uh to address those uh of course with some new oversight new powers there are questions I will have about uh mostly about what it costs how it works what teeth it has and uh we'll figure that out through the questioning but happy to go through this today and thank you for having us and thank you again to the maker thank you uh councelor Murphy thank you chair um and thank you to the lead sponsors for Gathering us having this hearing about this important topic last week at the Boston jobs policy hearing which is you know the by annual check-in um shout out to councilor Mahia you know we have a dashboard now right we have data and the data doesn't look good right it's not it's not telling us what we would hope it could tell us but also what we know is we have policies a lot of them across the city and if we don't have any power to enforce them right we have to make sure that we actually can enforce the policies that we care about so looking forward to this conversation thank you for having a strong panel which I know I'll learn a lot from and be able to make some good decisions going forward about how do we make make sure that we get this right so thank you thank you uh Council Weber uh thank you chair um I just like to thank uh councilors warell fernandz Anderson and Mahia for for filing this um I 20 years ago uh before it was cool in law school I took a class on critical race Theory and and I think that you know that concept has been uh you know mischaracterized in the media what I remember from it is that it's important to look at our our laws policies uh and figure out what what impact they're having on different groups of people um you know and I I see this filing as a continuation of that you know we should definitely be able to recognize what impacts the city has had on the in the past through its policies and what impacts are future policies are going to have on on on every uh population within the city of Boston um and you know I just want to thank the filers and look forward to being part of the process thank you thank you to my colleagues for their opening remarks I'm just double checking just make sure I didn't miss anyone okay great uh very briefly I just want to thank the the makers and I appreciate the sponsors opening remarks that uh remind us just how important this work is in the context of what is happening at the national level and I just in this moment I just want to say thank you and I admire especially given that context I admire your bravery and in your courage in this moment so I just want to say thank you for that um I think that this is the clearest example our congresswoman poignantly and and frequently says that it is a up to us to undo policy harms and this is doing just that by baking in intentionality around advancing equity and providing those clear standards of what we must adhere to making sure that we are um advancing or or addressing the um or not not addressing but we are achieving uh healthy social determinants of of of Health I think that that's a really important thing to do and and codifying that in law will help us achieve um some of those goals and so I again I appreciate the the maker and the work of him and his staff and and the co-sponsors I do look forward to the conversation I want to say how excited I am that the council itself has the opportunity within this ordinance the way it's written as an institution to lean in and um of course partnership with the administration but that it we could also do this in Model Behavior and so I am focused in on um some of the opportunities here about how to operationalize that making sure that we as a body are set up for success and and um making sure that our Central staff is set up for Success so I certainly have some thoughts about that but I do look forward to the conversation um so without further Ado I will pass it over to the administr ation panel first to give uh their their presentation we have uh Mary Angeles Solis Sera a chief of equity and inclusion Santiago gares who's the Chief Information officer and trines pul I apologize if I said your name wrong director of bpc's office of viral equity and Community engagement uh the floor is yours thank you counselor um can you just do a quick sound check for me can can you all hear me okay yes perfect um and will I be advancing my own slides or will be P somebody from City the council aside I'm happy to share my my own presentation that's uh Ethan are you available to screen share and do slide advancement Ethan can you hear us yes uh Chief if you have the ability to SC to share your screen why don't you go ahead and do that I think yes perfect okay um so I'll be kicking off the Pres presentation and I do have my colleagues here trise poke and sany godesses who will also um be a part of of the presentation and and obviously it's some space for Q&A but uh nice to see everybody uh it's been a while since I've been in a virtual hearing U but I I I do like them in person better um but good afternoon uh my name is marangeli I us should hear pronouns and I'm the chief of equity and inclusion and thank you so much for giving me an opportunity to speak publicly about this ordinance that councelor world and I have been talking about for uh for some time and while some of the items will be touching today are things that us counselors have already heard about um I'm really happy to come back and share some updates and even some ways in which our work has sign significantly evolved especially in the last couple of months uh because as you all said um regardless of the national um environment we find ourselves in we are we remain committed to the work of building a home for everyone here in the city of Boston and that involves the work that we're doing at the equity inclusion cabinet as well uh but first just to ground us on a statement that we flushed out three years ago as when we first entered as an Administration and it's a a very um grounding opportunity for us to just understand what we mean when we are talking about the work of equity inclusion through our municipality um we first acknowledge that we've played a role in causing and perpetuating the inequities in our society and in order order for us to take down these barriers we must right not only reverse but embed new processes in the place in place we Define equity as uring that every Community resident has the resources they need that means that it's action oriented rather than a goal uh an inclusion is about engaging every resident to make sure that we are building in welcoming in supportive City for everyone um here's sort of just I'll be speaking first around the work that I am in charge of in my role as chief of equity and inclusion with all the different departments under our cabinet and then I'll also bring us a little bit at a larger scope of how we are involved in a lot of different policies programs services that the rest of the administration is is focused on my hope is that you see that through line that it's not just a siloed work but rather a a a collective approach to the work that we're doing so you all have seen the slide before but just to remind us that there are eight different departments plus an equity and inclusion office under the equity and inclusion cabinet so in the same way that you think of streets having Public Works and streets we have eight of those plus our own office um anywhere from the two newest established offices of blackmail advancement and lgbtq advancement to offices that have been established for decades um as well so disabilities commission for housing immigrant advancement language access uh women's advancement and human rights I want to bring up this this concept of our team values because we you often hear us talk about a home for everyone a city for everyone that is what we firmly believe at the core of our work and in our cabinet we are focused on being res driven so we are implementing Conor may have heard you we've talked about like our our shared alignment and wanting to make sure that we are res driven and we are evaluating work uh that we are accessible not only accessible to Residents but we are thinking of access during our own processes and services and that we are building an intentionality throughout different processes um because we understand that this work um is is is not new but is is experiencing a different level of of um tension if you will and a lot of the work that we have done in the last three years in our cabinet has been about internal to understand where we are as a city and to know where we can go so rather than recreate recreating whe we've you know spent a lot of time with other departments having focus groups interviews and understanding their work and their needs because we firmly believe that our colleagues want to do the right thing for every resident in the city of Boston and while there may be people who are not perfect at this um we work under the assumption and the belief that our colleagues all want to deliver the best services for our residents so what we do is we work with them to ensure that we can Implement a different intervention so that they can do the just that for anybody regardless of the language they speak the the race they belong to the group whatever group they belong to our mission again as a Cabinet first is to improve life outcomes for the different for with and for the different communities that you saw in the slide deck earlier and I want to bring your attention to our theory of changed which has not changed but it has we are ready to bring to you different ways in which we have been able to do some of this work of embedding Equity into um the day-to- DAT functions of our city first we do throw through a technical assistance program and that is getting at exactly what you all are are talking about today is what do we do to ensure that all agencies throughout the city are doing work differently to get to everyone so that's the piece of our own technical assistance the other way we do this is through our own targeted intentional programming right that's when you hear the work around minig grants that are some of our department Ms do that's when you hear the very important work around supporting indigenous communities so very targeted internal planning that we do to get two residents for all backgrounds and then last but not least we also focus on Coalition building and this is uh where I think it's you know I have seen a lot of our team uh and residents really Thrive it's an opportunity that we have for us not only to build trust with residents but residents to build trust with one another um no one Community is a monolith and so we take the time and we put in the intention the intentionality to build these opportunities of Coalition building among different Community groups um and that is something that we have seen has been incredibly helpful as well but I will today for the sake of the ordinance rise ordinance I will be focusing on the technical assistance piece and I'll talk about three spefic specific arms of that technical assistance bucket first is the equity inclusion uh Academy which is actually I am at the library today today um is the culmination of this year's yanai Academy and we're doing it through a summit um we had our chief of Human Services our chief of housing folks from our planning department folks from um people operations and others gathered today to celebrate a three-month long process where uh over 80 staff members received not only training because we do not believe that you can train any ISM away we believe that it's our responsibility to bring different groups of people together to encourage them to learn how to build across lines of difference so that they can do their job better which is to serve the residents of Boston right so it's not about just training people it's about bringing the resources that they have not had access to and then applying opportunities for practices so that we people we can engage in change um but the academy has just been something that we started last year we had a pilot of over 40 people we've now had Ser series of cohorts um doing incredible work and I'll make sure to share the report that we have um available for you all but the main thing that I want to um share here is that at the end of today we will have uh staff that will be certified as city of Boston eii ambassadors the intention here is it is not one person's job to do the work of equity and inclusion it is all of our responsibilities and so while I may be the chief of equity and inclusion and I get to set Division and I get to work alongside other parties Etc I need all of our departments to also do this work which is why we were very intentional about recruitment of different um uh staff members that work in the other department so that they can help us continue to do this work so we're not doing it alone um and I I bring this up because I know that this is part of the the tension of why we're having this conversation today it is not only the responsibility of the equity cabin and it's all of our responsibility um here is just some sessions uh that we did this particular year uh the one that's ending today on the right we have just basic Lan the foundation for the work of equity we bring in our colleagues from Boston Public Health commission to do a specific training on social determinance of Health through a racial Equity lens so this piece of not Reinventing the wheel we have the expertise in house already we brought in the experts to to to bring in their specific curriculum to this Academy um we work our lgbtq office comes in and does the work a training as well uh immigrant advancement disabilities and we also partner with our colleagues that AG strong to bring in a different lens that we also are not experts in but we need more of our residents to understand um and on the left are some of the goals of of the academy um I won't go too deep into this but this is sort of how this our our our framework right rounding experiences providing actual historical context we have learned a lot that our our staff members simply don't know what they don't know and we put in our capital and our resources to ensure that we are educating our our work fors as well and really creating a space for them to share resources and best practices okay on one that I have spoken to you all less about is the equity and inclusion um Network which is a an internal infrastructure that will be responsible is already responsible for embed embedding equity and inclusion standards throughout the city of Boston and this is councelor WL we've talked about like where a lot of you know there's a lot of alignment here of how do we ensure that these are the people who are working internally to develop plans develop standards and ensure that we are actually getting to a place of accountability this is the infrastructure that we have been working on for um for the last for sure last year we've been we've had to do a lot of back and forth because to us is really important this is a collective approach and not just one cabinet's responsibilities but right now we already have two um cabinets that have signed up and we've hired our first two Ena managers uh one in housing because we know that housing has always been number one issue um targeting our communities that we represent in the equity cabinet as well as human services um our residents use BCF centers our residents are using Hong services and so we wanted to start where our residents really feel the most need um and just really looking forward to some progress we've had we've had people on Bard for about three months now and so um looking forward to some potential ways to partner here and just presenting some models here of how we're thinking about it one are some full-time positions that are already exist have already been in the budget we're not requesting new funding this is just us thinking of ways that we already have the expertise in house and there are other ways that we're thinking about this so that perhaps one manager is targeting different um departments and cabinets and these are uh Frameworks and models that we have borrowed and improved from colleagues across the country uh St Paul like such as St Paul um and Denver and the last city is escaping me but we've been in touch with different cities as well to learn how to better serve our our our residents and this is a very complex map to show you sort of the vision of what the coordination Network would be there are people that already are embedded in our city infrastructure you'll hear from trinise poke in just a second but she's she has been doing the work she is now a part of this network and we are leaning into so much of expertise with the new people that we're also bringing in into the work we've also pulled in from the planning department we've also um pulled in from BPS and the ideas that they're all sharing breast practices to continue to elevate the work and start implementing some of these standards that we're thinking of and last but not least this is where I would say we spend a good amount of time um formally and informally which is simply providing Consulting support for our colleagues across the aisle both them coming to us for asking for support and us also identifying disparities and saying we need to partner with you to do X um and some examples here that I would like to highlight are are I participate and when I say I participate as a chief I bring this information back to our staff that it's a very it's a eight departments plus the office uh and get their input and they are in direct contact with residents as well and then I bring this information back but I partic ipate in the planning advisory Council the climate Council and safety network uh safety net working group that we have across the city uh as well as some situation specific um work that we've done um to just provide consultation and again it's it doesn't sit in any one's any one person's responsibility would tap into the capital that already exists in our um department and with that I will pause the presentation but I do want to close out by just sharing that the our work has been focused on internal systemic changes and ensuring that our residents are aware of these changes and are aware of these services that perhaps they weren't aw aware of and so for me I'm really looking forward to this conversation to see how we could right support one another throughout this process but just just wanted to share you know shout out all the incredible work that our our staff has already been doing um that I just get to talk about today counselor I'll give it back to you thank you so much Chief um did you say that you uh trinise was also going to give presentation jice can I pick it off to you now you got it I'm here thank you thank you so much you're welcome good afternoon everyone and chair zabata hopefully I did that named justice and my name is trinise pul and I am the director of the office of racial equity and Community engagement for the Boston Public Health commission I'm really really thankful and excited for the opportunity to speak here today on behalf of the Boston Public Health commission to help inform the council's important efforts and commitment to the rise ordinance a little bit about my role um as the Director of the office of racial equity and Community engagement my team and I are essentially responsible for helping to establish and sustain racial and Health Equity as core principles and bpc's policies our operations and decision making and of course we do not not attempt to do this work alone we do this in partnership with bphc leadership team our colleagues across all departments and of course most importantly with the residents and the communities that we serve this work aligns and supports the advancement of the bpc mission which is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents especially those impacted by racism and structural inequities and this mission statement was updated um last year um 2023 um through an all staff engagement process to more explicitly name racism and the fundamental importance of community engagement this area of work isn't new to us here at bphc um we began our racial equity and Justice work in the early 2000s where we early we identified early you know that racial and health inequities exist here in our city we set Equity goals and we trained our staff in the principles of racial equity and social justice and to help guide our efforts to address the the structural causes of Health inequities we established a Health Equity framework and this framework essentially asserts that everyone should have access to the resources they need such as healthy food affordable housing Public Safety and livable W wages regardless um of their race ethnicity gender age ability and and G geography so following um the racism as a Public Health crisis declaration in June of 2020 bpc engaged U residents and community- based organizations to learn from their perspective what a more inclusive Boston free from racism would look and feel like and a common theme that came up through that data that we just could not afford to ignore was and is the community's requ EST for city leaders and decision makers to examine racism as a structure and not as um a single event or a moment in time and so in the spirit of that we have tried our due diligence to make tangible and durable changes in our practices and delivery of service so since Boston's declaration we've established bpc's first community-driven anti-racism policy and this policy has 13 standards of action for all bphc offices and departments to take to help Advance Equity within the organization and essentially across the city of Boston we have also elevated equity and anti-racism as a key pillar in our strategic plan our 2024 2027 strategic plan which reinforces and builds upon our anti-racism policy and Equity goals and you know what Mar I want to build off of what Mari aneli um had been putting in you know putting in this space in her talking points we we definitely recognize that no one organization can do this work alone to effectively Advance Equity requires collaboration across City agencies and connected organ organizations that are serving our residents and so that's why you know for the second year in a row as again marangeli shared my team and I were really really excited to support the equity and inclusion cabinets um Learning Academy to train city leaders and yes we are proud to to share that we reached you know close to 90 staff representing I think close to 30 city departments and cabinets um that were in attendance and as she shared during the training we help folk get a better or clearer understanding of what public health is um we introduced them or reminded them of Boston's journey of racial equity and and justice and we practice using um the bpc equity lens to examine the impacts of decisions that um are made within their respective departments and so I'll share a little bit more about the equity lens that I'm referring to so it's essentially a decision-making tool to be used by leaders to ensure that racial Justice and Health Equity is centered in all decision making um the guide the tool guides and Analysis through a 5p process and the 5ps include Pro um people Place purpose power and process and so I'll just walk you through a little bit about what that means so for people it's important to determine those most impacted by the issue a decision aims to address for P for place it's important to um understand the geographic location where um that will be most impacted by the decision and for purpose um here it's important to identify the health disparity or social determinant of Health that the decision aims to proa actively address and for power um this is where um we want to identify where the decision-making power is held and how it will be shared equitably especially with those that that the decision um will impact most and the final P um is process and that's how will the impact of the planed decision be measured and evaluated so we can see where where where we're going in terms of success and also see where we might be coming up short and and might need to dig in a little bit um and do some more work and so for myself I am extremely proud of the work that we are doing in partnership with the eni cabinet and and other um departments and sectors and we of course recognize that there's much work to um to be to be done there's still a lot of work ahead of us and bpc is very eager to engage in ongoing dialogue about the best way to ensure that Equity is embedded in all policies and I thank you again for the opportunity to testify today and I look forward to answering any questions you may have thank you so much for your presentation uh Chief gares did you have um a statement that you wanted to provide our presentation uh sure I was uh just going to share some thoughts as we um about the experience that we have working with Chief mariangel and with all of our colleagues in City Hall can you guys hear me okay cool so um again one of the things that as an Administration and as a cabinet that we've been doing is um working to build you know like thinking about how is said the data can help us inform to make better decisions um but putting it a little bit in context so over the past couple of years we've been making investment thanks a great part to the council in um in building practices that have been missing um building user experience research that's inclusive building data and governance and partially is because we see the data is not just an end goal um it is part of a practice to continuously try to make things better and it is challenging because when we describe things with data we are trying to reflect and model what is actually a very complex uh reality like our residents are experiencing all of the different services and programs in a way that is very integrative in a way that is complex and we operate you know we have the a structure in government that does not always align with the way that you know someone's experience of a street of a public asset uh or or a Public Employee how how it fits together with with other asset of their life so we've been building competency not only in quantitative data but also in qualitative data and understanding that people are not just data points that there but there's other things that we need to understand behind what's what's going on and at the same time trying to find a balance um between our desire to understand and understand inequities based on someone's background race ethnicity gender income but also understanding that sometimes when we create um mechanisms to try to measure those disparities we actually create barriers to people for participating and getting access to the services that they that they need um so we um we've been engaging but and again as as mariangel mention we've been working very closely together this is not work that happens in isolation but um we've been working with the very communities that experience these gaps and and and have historically experienced discrimination to try to understand how is it that they would like to be uh represented in the data how said that they would like to be reflected and uh putting it in in a way that makes it easy and accessible for all of our employees to be able to know how to do the right thing and how to U make use of that information to make better decisions so I just wanted to share a couple of quick examples of uh ways in which we've been taking action for this um so over the past couple of years we've put together design um service design standards and data collection standards around areas of uh with a with an eye towards Equity uh foremost we started with our gender um design guidelines and and data standards um we issued in the past year one a a data standard for how we collect data about disabilities um and people with disabilities and we've been working on an updated standard on race and ethnicity and I'll just use the the disability data standard um as an example again this is a place where generally when we come into a space we want to listen and we want to understand and when we did and we work closely with commissioner MOS and and with the with the folks in the disability commissions and we realized that traditionally our our Instinct was to try to figure out you know like data as the means of classifying things you know like or or people we want to put buckets but when we were in conversation with the community we learned the the main thing that we needed to learn about people with disabilities was what were the accommodations what are the things that people need to be uh to interact more successfully with with with with the city and with each other so instead of focusing around what was the nature of this stability the way that we that we created this um these data standards was around what are the accommodations that people need and again it goes a little bit to what I just said is when we met pressure things sometimes we can also infringe on people's privacy when we collect information it also means that the city then has a responsibility to protect the data from people that might want to do harm to the people that we're trying to help and when we engage in dialogue and when we think about this in a way that's a little bit more flexible and in a way that that enables us to to engage directly with the community and as Community as the very community experiences changes in in their perspective around what what risk is acceptable and how they want to be um engaged with we get I think like a better a better experience um we've been also building similar to uh what equity and inclusion has been doing we are so this is we've been doing a lot of the groundwork and we'll start at the beginning of next year um convening again with with a number of people from different departments and agencies uh research community of practice where we're being bringing everybody that's doing research everybody who's trying to understand how is it that their their um department or agency performs work and and how to improve the work that they do and trying to bring us all togethers again knowing that um things that impact Public Health uh might be the infrastructure the streets the housing that all of the things that we work are tightly interrelated and we can only learn when we bring kind of of this more holistic perspective and bring different pieces of the puzzle together um and again over the past couple of years we've also been working on building capacity to to learn and and think about this as a research activity knowing it's not only about measuring but sometimes we need to be uh judicious and thoughtful about how to create learning opportunities so not only do we want to learn about disparities between people but we often want to learn what program are effective at delivering what benefit and it means uh that we need to help departments that we work together with departments to understand what are the outcomes that we're trying to get and to be able to understand even how can we design a program to maximize the learning opportunity so that we can have counterfactuals that we can have things um moments in which we're not only looking at the program but what happens if the program is not delivered to try to understand what are the differences in in AIS so um I just stop there but again it's it's a measuring and trying to deliver a better government is complex and complicated is very important and we've been taking a very deliberate um and a very communitybased approach I think that taking the mayor's uh instruction of working in community in some sense like in as we Tred to answer these very complicated questions um that we try to build relationships and a better understanding of one another so thank you so much Chief I do see um Mary angelie's hand hand up excuse me Chief uh if you'd like to add anything before we transition to our Advocates panel my is just fine um just I should have said this earlier but we are about to go um kick off a ceremony a graduation ceremony for ouri ambassadors so I'm going to be gone for about 30 minutes and then I'm going to be back to answer any questions circum I just want folks to know that that's why I'll be off for a little bit okay thank you so much for letting us know we look forward to to seeing you have fun at the graduation um okay we will transition to our Advocates panel we'll go in the order of uh Professor Ted lsmark thank you again for being here uh with us uh Kathy and then Pace oh thank you very much for the opportunity to uh share a few Thoughts with this group I'm a strong Advocate uh this ordinance I think it's uh uh extraordinarily timely particularly in relation to everything that's been going on uh in Washington which uh as among many of us uh has created a sense of pessimism uh about how we move forward with the matters of social justice um I would just say from um my uh perspective um as a person who's worked for several Administrations that um the uh sense of um larger pessimism uh that exists around many of the issues we're trying to deal with here um has uh been in place before um and uh the city and the administration in particular have risen to um overcome that sense of uh National pessimism uh through initiatives that have uh engaged our local populations and business um in ways that have made U strives towards Equity not only more likely but in fact tangible uh in a number of respects and I think of um several uh examples of that that have been successful in the past um I think initially of the um efforts that the city undertook through the safe neighborhoods and healthy Boston initiatives where we encountered a period of time time where the city had set a record for the number of murders that had taken place in the city and where we had sensus tracks that had infant mortality rates that were higher than those uh that were found in um Bangladesh um and by coming together and being intentional uh in terms of our planning we were able to uh engage communities uh in a number of smallscale initiatives uh that led over a period of two years to specific accomplishments which included uh the lowering of the infant mortality rate to the best in the country um and a period of two years that we went through where uh not a single teenager uh was uh killed in the city because of uh the work that the city uh agencies did um the second example that comes to mind um is the work that uh took place uh on the waterfront and in the development of the uh sea port um many of us uh have been critical of uh aspects of how the seport was developed but it has to be remembered um that at the point in time when uh that land became available uh the city was um in a very dire Financial Straits um and it took a very intentional look at the uh potential uh uh resources that were available uh to uh make the decision to decide to develop uh that land in ways that would generate um huge uh billions of dollars worth of new tax revenues for the city um and would also do that without displacing anyone um so while at one level uh the city uh could be chastised for not putting for example more affordable housing in that area uh the revenues that were generated from uh that effort at that point in time are the revenues that are now paying for school programs and health programs and community outreach programs so what I'm saying is that we're at a moment in the city's history where a number of external forces are at play uh that would lead some folks to be very pessimistic about how far we can go in terms of achieving uh social and racial and uh economic uh Equity within the city and I would say that um our past successes are are a harbinger of what it is we can accomplish now and in that regard I'd say that there's several things that we've learned from our past successes one is that we need to be absolutely inclusive of the residents and businesses in the city um who have a state in uh the outcomes of the initiatives that we pursue um a second is uh that we uh absolutely have to have coordinated action uh between our city agencies and then as between City agencies uh and our nonprofits and our businesses in the city um all of our success I would say in the past has come from that kind of uh coordination the third thing is that we need to hold ourselves accountable for what our promises have been um we've initiated a number of activities and um very often we look back in five years and realize that we haven't held ourselves specifically accountable for whether we actually achieve the promises that we set out for ourselves and this is an opportunity for us to um put in place those kinds of accountability measures the fourth thing is that we need to be absolutely transparent and open in terms of reporting the data and how we analyze that data um we um have access to more data in this city than I think any other small city has in the country we have more universities and more think tanks and more people doing very hard and uh good data analysis and we need to rely upon that and use that effectively and then finally I'd say that we always need to keep in mind quite intentionally that it's the long-term empowerment of our communities that we're driving towards um data analysis and shorter term successes are useful um but unless we're really empowering our neighborhoods and our communities uh to see their own strengths within themselves and to be able to build on their own capacity unless we're doing that I think we've fallen short in terms of the things that uh City administrators universities and our private sector uh can accomplish so um as a planner uh who is involved in the development a number of a number of the plans that have in fact been successful I Look to those as uh key tools that we can look to as we move forward with this initiative thank you so much uh Professor for your presentation and thank you for your tieless commitment in decades of unwavering advocacy in the fight for systemic racial Equity so thank you again for being here uh next up we will go to uh Kathy Alisa from um race forward uh government Alliance on race in equity no I it is challenging to think what I could possibly add after all that rich testimony but I will do my best to to share the reflections that I had prepared but I just I do want to start by saying Boston is impressive um and and just to remind myself and everyone here you know Boston is not just uh any city right it's a national and Global leader it's a national and Global leader in a number of sectors in higher education and sustainability in BIO I think I read bio engineering it's a long list where Boston actually leads and so what happens in Boston is important to to the rest of the country it might even be important to the rest of the world so I really want to thank you for the both the level of commitment the thoughtfulness the engagement not just on what but how you know the kind of being cognizant of the history how you got here it is it is a pleasure to be part of this conversation and I just want to um thank you all and appreciate so much being able to be here uh what I'm going to try to do is to share lessons from you know around the country while Boston is exceptional and stands out um you're also not alone there are over 400 jurisdictions there's really more but just in the government Alliance on race and Equity alone which is how is it race forward an organization committed to dismantling racial uh inequity dismantling systemic racism and advancing racial Equity through institutions um we house this network work uh and over 400 jurisdictions have committed to systemic change in their own cities their commitment is crosscutting like yours because as you have all recognized here it's not a policy challenge a program challenge or a budget challenge it's all of it right it's a systems Challenge and that's why your commitment to data becomes uh so important right you can't change what you can't name you can't change what you don't know and the rise ordinance represents a clear understanding of the systemic nature of the challenge and also reflects a clear understanding that systemic racism and advancing racial Equity is a multifaceted Challenge and data is one facet but data isn't just the numbers we collect I think we heard that from some of the staff it includes the feedback and qualitative information that we gather from our communities that helps us fill in the gaps and connect the numers to the Social and historical dynamics of our city which have been raised here for data to Be an Effective tool our teams must also be prepared right it's a support you give each other they need an environment where everyone can learn and grow their skills and when because when you're trying to innovate it's not an if it's a when when there are mistakes we must create a culture of learning from those mistakes so this this ordinance really gives the city an opportunity not just to kind to step up its game on data but to really think about how to use data in an Innovative way in a community centered way in a way where you actually build relationship and coordination across all your agencies and you can see that in the effort and I think that that is the beauty and awesome ambition that this ordinance uh presents now while there are racial Equity dashboards I think someone referenced dashboards earlier and other tools across the country they while they've enabled jurisdiction to track the progress it's really important the the former director of G would say it's really important not to just admire the data right it's not enough to collect it you don't want to sit there and admire how much good data you have and just let those gaps sit there you have to actually do the capacity building the organizing the community relationships that enable jurisdictions to act on the data and you have to be able to prioritize really strategically because this is a cycle right each intervention requires all those pieces all those legs of the table and then you do another round because you're changing the entire system so as you think about this next ambitious step forward think about the relationship to data to all these other pieces which I think some of your staff was trying to sort of highlight and and explain in their own way in their day-to-day work but through this through this effort you can create a really powerful integrated strategy um it doesn't seem like I need to ask this question Here In This Crowd but sometimes I say so is the long-term effort worth it well in addition to the fundamental value of justce which everyone has embraced here we have seen this work in jurisdiction after jurisdiction as jurisdiction what is it do what does racial Equity practice and systemic change do it surfaces hidden problems that otherwise never come to light it provides a clear method right it's important to have a consistent methodology when you look at the methods that jurisdictions use they it's consistent it's clear it's practical and it improves relationships between government and communities at a moment when we know how important it is to build trust in the public sector as it is being attacked from the highest branches of government in a very unique historical moment so I'm not and as as as um has been said here also not pessimistic about what Boston can do because Boston sees all these things clearly it's obvious from this conversation and Boston is already doing Community Driven work and already building trust in the public sector and as was noted early on it also increases Economic Opportunity you cannot detach addressing racial Equity or you cannot detach ignoring inequity from Economic Opportunity we see study after study that shows how much you leave on the table not only for communities of color but for the city as a whole when you allow inequities to sit and fester and as in my conversations with people in the city they've all noted okay this requires collaboration and accountability not just symbolic gestures so how do you go beyond the symbolic how do you not leave something in a document seems to me you already are going beyond the symbolic but we cannot forget the resources the capacity building the coordination and the time people need to build relationship to move this work forward we have to give those putting their hands on it all those things we have to set them up for Success we have to give them a strong strategy with clear goals that are achievable and we have to let them know know that we all know it's a long-term commitment it's not a today sort of job it is a generational effort and Boston is doing a it's definitely doing its part which is why this is an exciting conversation given the conversations I've been having the last three weeks about what's happening at National level so I thank you I thank you for what you're doing and I acknowledge that in such a short time it's difficult to give concrete examples but I'm happy to send a list to anyone's interested and like the various successes that are the various jurisdictions in our Network have found in using a racial Equity methodology the ways that it has strengthened uh systems for everyone and the ways that it has lifted up and address the needs of communities of color who are the most marginalized in our country so thank you for that and uh thank you for your efforts thank you so much Kathy I we appreciate you being here uh next up I'll go to Pace who is the policy and advocacy manager from the Louis D Brown peace Institute thank you chair CL zapat I'm thrilled to be here representing the ls D Brown peace Institute um which if if you do not know the peace Institute is a community- based organization that was found in 1994 after the tragic loss of Lewis Brown who was caught in a fatal Crossfire in Dorchester Massachusetts and the peace Institute was formed as an organization that was committed to serving families in communities after the loss of a loved one due to homicide um and ensuring that all families and all communities receive an equitable response in that moment of tragedy um at the time of Lewis's death in 1994 there was this harsh reality and we still see today but we've worked on it um that families don't receive an equitable responsive resources and support in those moments um and the peace Institute is committed to work with our Municipal Leaders with fellow Community organizations and Community Advocates to ensure that all families regardless of the circumstance receive an equitable response now at the baham side um so with that emphasizing Equitable response and the reason why the peace Institute has been engaged in this conversation um around the rise ordinance is to ensure that we can again reinforce our Equitable practices here in the city of Austin not just within our policymaking but specifically our our budgeting and the way that our city um budgets its resources across the community um I'm here representing the peace Institute but also other community Advocates that have been tirelessly engaged in the in the municipal um policy process here in Boston specifically our budget process um a lot of conversations happened in our this previous budget cycle for the fy2 city's operating budget budget showing up with many Community organizations and community members and Community Advocates saying we want more transparency we want more voice we want to be involved um and I see this rise initiative as a response from this Council saying we would like to create an environment where we can all be more involved in our policym here in the city of Boston um in 2021 there was an expansion of the city council's power to be involved in the budget process I see the rise ordinance as a response and next step to that saying we can do more when we have more data more transparency more communication more collaboration um that's how we can foster more Equitable um process within our city um when I think about the purpose of public policy it's to combat systemic barriers of access of City resources for communities citizens and organizations of color and in the city of Austin the peace Institute is a black and brown lead and primarily black and brown serving organization um so we are communed to working with this body to ensure that we're combating combating those systems of violence and systemic barriers of access to resources so that our organization and so many organizations that we work alongside can do our work better um those barriers show up in many different ways and I think about um this most recent budget process um where there were more transparent and more collaborative um working sessions where community members could be involved and could view the Council of delibery um and recognizing one of the huge wins of those working sessions um was that there was actually a lot of consensus and the peace institute's funding was one of those moments of consensus um but there are influences that interrupt that consensus on its way to being voted upon um so I also see this rise ordinance as a way of strengthening our Democratic process in the city of Austin um not just in deliberation and and conversation and hearing but all the way to when it comes down to Casting a vote on record um I'm excited to support this um this rise ordinance I know that my colleagues at the Lewis D Brown peace Institute are also excited to see that the city council is proposing this this way of increasing transparency increasing trust everything that we do at the peace Institute is rooted in trust when community members know that they can come to us in trust um for support um I know that there is there is um a hope that they can have that same trust in their governing bodies as well so I I I commend this group for working on this policy I I was excited to work alongside um councelor Morel and his staff and members on this Council in bringing it together and uring that Community voice is a part of the process and thrilled to be here today um to be a part of the ongoing conversation thank you uh thank you so much p and thank you so much for everything you do um at the Louis D Brown pieace Institute you've been a great partner um over the years so we appreciate you in your advocacy okay we will transition to questions from my colleagues first starting with the uh lead sponsor I do want to recognize you've been joined by Tanya um for Anders Anderson I apologize if you had been here for a while I just didn't want to interrupt um folks testimony but I will now uh give the floor over to counselor warell for your questions um I will allow for for six minutes for each counselor um for the questions and if you see me put my camera on that means that you have about 30 seconds left thanks everyone uh thank you chair and I I don't see chief soless s online is that correct before I dive into the questions all right um I guess this for The Advocates um thank you guys again for all your work um you know um sitting down having conversations uh with my team uh but also your work uh nationally locally um that have shaped um creating um Bost in a better place for all um so my my first question is what are some real world benefits right through throughout your work you've seen when cities embed you know racial social Equity into their operations and how can Boston ensure you know this has been brought up um by some of my colleagues uh because sometimes you know we put language on a pieces of paper but the enforcement side of it um is where we struggle with sometimes making sure that those policies are actually enforced but that you know this R racial equity and rise isn't just well-intentioned but deliver measurable results I mean I'm I'm happy to start I don't know who you're yeah it was anyone could take it yes yeah I mean maybe it's best to look at it in the concrete examples right so for example in Chicago they were they embedded uh they really committed to racial equity and so you see a million little examples of improved outcomes that add up and an example is tree trimming now tree trimming if you don't trim your trees you actually have all this property damage you have all these problems but in Chicago it turned out the communities of color were not getting the kind of uh Services they needed around public tree trimming and and that sort of thing why because complaints based processes don't work as well for communities of color right they had a 311 process they completely reorganized it when they saw the you know that there was more damage done less services offered in neighborhoods of color and they reorganized how they did it so that instead of waiting for complaints they just had a systematic approach going neighborhood by neighborhood they reduced property damage they actually found efficiencies and they were no longer relying on a complaints based system there are sort of millions of stories like that and the important thing about the process is that you look at the root cause another great example I love and you'll have to stop me because I have they get you know um excited but another great example is libraries and Librarians call they'll say okay what you know what do I do do I need to make my environment more welcoming do I need to um you know get more diverse staff and I said well you know actually a group of librarians already did a root cause analysis as to why kids of color weren't coming in and that led to the movement to ban F and fines and fees in libraries because it turned out that the biggest obstacle was actually the fines the fees and now you see that all over the country and you see a not only a rise in kids of color coming into those libraries now because they don't have that systemic barrier that the Librarians didn't actually see they were looking for posters as a solution right because they didn't have a me a method and a practice um but also low-income white kids started coming in in in in higher numbers so you see these sort of millions of small and and not so small right outcomes that lead to improvements in dayto day light but but but some of the examples are more you know also more significant um you look at what I think it was was Minneapolis or Portland instead of giving people tickets for small things right as they're driving they gave them sort of warning War warrants because it turned out that people would have to decide between fixing a tail light you know and paying the rent so then they wouldn't go to court and you can imagine the spiraling that 8,000 of those warrants um were turned in and the and the and the small issues were corrected and people's lives were not disrupted I can give you example after example after example about how you use a method that improves people's daily lives and adds up right to closing these gaps and also improving relationships and that's why I I said it's not just it's the data is crucial but how we use it and how we how we collected is just as important right there's qualitative data there's Community feedback you want to build a data strategy that actually deepens your relationship between you know community and government so I don't know if those are helpful but I can certainly send you other examples very helpful and please feel free to send me any um any other examples and I don't know uh Professor L Mark or Pace well I would just add to that that um we've learned over time uh how important it is to express uh humility uh in work working with uh Community um activists and and Community groups um very often uh we we bring a a level of training um in data analysis uh to our work in a way that can be uh intimidating and often um uh off footing uh to the people that we are proring to serve um and it's uh essential that we uh work with communities in ways where we really are open-minded to hearing what they have to say and how they articulate their needs uh when we were uh working on uh antiviolence uh uh initiatives uh in in a previous administration uh one of the first things we had to learn was to shut up um and and to just listen to what community people had to say about um what it was that they thought would solve some of the issues and by doing that it turned out that because they were a lot closer to resolving the issues than we were we were able to make progress that uh we had not been able to make uh otherwise so I think um recognizing that there are good examples around the country uh is important but it's also important to recognize that there are solutions embedded within our communities I just Wan I'll go ahead C no no you go ahead um I just I just wanted to um add a few things to consider um you know thinking about concrete pieces of how you know how would this address all the work that we do in the community day by day um thinking about at the peace Institute our sole commitment is is preventing homicides and when homicides happen we respond equity and equity and um with dignity and compassion um and you know we we respond to community violence from a public health perspective addressing those root causes um and although although homicide is not exclusively a black and brown issue it the data suggests that it is clearly disproportionately impacting black and brown communities especially in the city of Austin um and in by respond responding in racial equity and justice for in issues of transportation and housing and in environmental justice and in jobs and education and public health um and Public Safety all those ways that's how we prevent homicides in the city of Boston is is um making sure that our city is racially Equitable and just in all of those areas um I'm a social worker by trade and I do policy work now but I've seen time and time again in clients that I've worked with and communities I've worked with when they come to you know when I worked with them after a moment of tragedy and we figure out what do we do next it's always those areas um I want to make sure I feel secure in my housing I want to feel safe with my family and make sure that they're fed I want to have a job that I I feel secure in um and recognizing that there are um systems of violence and of systematic racism that inhibit specific people and specific communities from having better access to those things things um in our city is is a very real issue so just wanted to draw that parallel because a lot of there may be folks tuning into this hearing being like why are we talking about homicide when we're talking about racial Justice um that's how the issues intersect right um and we can't address Community violence in our city without addressing um the racialized violence and institutionalized violence that happens in the city of Austin I think that this this um that this policy um moves Us in having those conversations and being more equipped to respond thank you pace and Council Keta I see that you came off from you but I know Kathy had um something to add love to hear Kathy what you what you wanted to add oh I I yeah Kathy always has something to add so you'll have to forgive me um no I just I thought maybe it would be again you need both the examples but like what are the categorical benefits are you were going to have improved skills in your Workforce because this is actually a skill building process you're going to have improved outcomes towards your stated goals by changing the question from how many and what does it cost to how do you close gaps and who's better off like you're going to have improved material outcomes and you're going to have improved trust between government and the public because it is a process that is uh relationally grounded um and politically astute really because ultimately it benefits whole neighborhoods and whole cities and it's and it's important to remember that that's why the the social determinant approach is actually the perfect frame um what when when one person is less safe in a neighborhood when one neighborhood is less safe in a city we're all a little less safe doesn't matter where you are that's the same with with public health that's the same with when some when some people are homeless we're all a little less stable um and so that is the benefit is that it is a both an IT targets the greatest need to to strengthen systems for all thank you chair I mean if I have time for another question chair I have plenty of questions but I you have plenty of questions I know you do councelor Orel uh this is your ordinance have uh I've been very generous with the time I want to be respectful of all folks I know that we're gonna have a second round so especially if the administration is able to come back so I appreciate your patience with that and thank you everybody for your amazing and thorough answers to these um important questions next we'll go to counselor uh Flynn and then lisian if they are still on the zoom with us oh it's not by order oh sorry you oh wait no you know what councelor Mah you're right I apologize that was um that's an error so I'll go to the co-sponsors first so councelor uh Mahia and then councelor Fernand Anderson as original co-sponsors thank you for flagging that well thank you if we're going to go there then I think that counselor Anderson is a second co-sponsor so she could go before me if we want to be incredibly thorough otherwise I'm happy to go now uh please feel free to go uh forward Council Mia okay great and I don't like this office computer because my internet is shaky so I'm going to go off camera okay so I'm curiously and I just want to say thank you to all of the panelists that have been here um I really do appreciate your thought leadership and really helping us get this to where it needs to be so thank you Kathy Ted and um Cas you know that I'm here for all of it especially when it comes to racial Equity here in the city of Boston so really happy to have you here helping to inform these conversations because we need inside and outside strategies in order for us to really move this work forward so thank you um um so just really quick since we don't have the administration here I'm just going to ask some questions specifically to the community um how can organizations like the Louis D Brown piece Institute collaborate with the city council to ensure that um rise achieves its impacted um its intended impact I always talk about intent versus impact and sometimes what we hope to do sometimes we fall short so it would be helpful if um I know I I directed it to Pace but if anyone here in the panel can kind of talk about what that looks like in terms of achieving these goals um the ordinance identifies social determinants of equity such as transportation and housing as critical ER eras um areas for reform and based on your research what structural barriers in Boston should we prioritize addressing under eyes I'd be curious to hear what your thoughts are around that and then what are some of the forseeable challenges um in implementing the provisions of rise and how can the city address these challenges proactively and I guess this goes back to the climate we're in okay everybody's trying to dismantle anything that moves um people who have historically been left behind so how can we get ahead of what are some of the barriers that we might find ourselves having to navigate in the future and lastly as the ordinance requires consistent timelines for Equity reporting and implementation what lessons might inform how the city balances thoroughness with the need for timely action and I say this because recently um and I think it was I forget who it was here but we talked about uh ordinances that we have already that have been passed and we Pat ourselves in the back oh we did this well at least I'll speak for myself I've done this you know established the reparations task force worked on the black men's commission um did the fair chance act and what we had to do is take a moment to really re-evaluate whether or not the policies we set forth were really meeting the moment and so that takes humility um to uh actually audit your own work and and it also takes a lot of humility to say hey we could have done this differently and here's what we've learned so I'm curious as we continue to have these conversations what are some of the things that we need to start thinking about um now uh before we you know put pen to paper and pass this what are some of the pitfalls that we may want to consider uh being mindful of I guess that will get me to my six minutes y'all just so you know I'm happy to speak um just you know what to the question how can Community organizations like the PE Institute work with the city council to ensure that this policy has has life and is is effective um I would say that just by expanding General transparency and documentation um and reports throughout our Democratic process I think creates more space where our community can intercede and and can engage um um so one of the things outlined is um the reports that would be issued by by the mayor and how her recommendations for Budget would um would have to be documented and how they would um as to how they would address equity and racial equity and Justice in in the city of Boston those are reports that I would I'm excited to see and I know that a lot of community organizations and Community Advocates are excited to see um so that we can we can better understand how the administration better how how this council is operating around these policy m making decisions so that can inform our strategy in holding you accountable um and the more we know the better we can work collaboratively to hold each other accountable ensuring that we're more Equitable um so that's one way you know I one of my favorite parts of my role is I I see myself as a community organizer that can bring and help community members feel prepared and empowered to engage in our Democratic processes um and the more that we know as organizations we can share share that information and interpret that information throughout the community um so that folks can feel empowered to engage and I think again back to our fi25 um budget process and the peace Institute was able to show up with over 10 survivors um of violence to Ways and Means um committee um listening session you know we were able to come prepared and and be engaged in that Democratic process because we were given more information about what was happening at City Hall um so you know more transparency more trust um will equip us to work more collaborativ to be engaged um together in the process thank you I would say um that that's a very easy question for me to answer we have more uh universities and colleges um in the Greater Boston area per capita than I think any place else in the world um and we have really smart people Associated um with those uh universities and colleges who want to learn more about how they can make a difference in cities um and uh they don't cost anything uh when uh we undertake research uh with a a city counselor or uh an administrator a public administrator uh we send a team in and um they work with the policy makers uh at no cost and on tight deadlines uh to uh do the kind of research that looks at what uh other cities around the world uh might be doing to uh improve uh Health outcomes or uh to address issues of Public Safety um and and so I would look to the council really to uh continue to utilize the uh intellect and talent um that is in our presence and is um not paying taxes uh to um move forward with initiatives that uh folks locally might not necessarily think of and and see on their own the the only thing I would add very quickly is once again how the data is collected could also either fuel or undermine right that work with communities there's not just data about that about racial disparities there are racial Equity practices in how data is collected so it's really important to pay attention to the how and the community should be the community that is in question if it's the data is about them should be one of the major Partners in in in in the house they should not just be an object or you know of the data collection they should be a subject um in the process than that counia oh yep I'm I apologize it's past uh six minutes we will have a second round if you have any additional um questions uh councelor fernandz Anderson thank you um Madam chair and thank you so much to all the panelists um been a pleasure listening to you and um really appreciated uh how comprehensive or dynamic um your statements were about racial acurity as we know it today but also the work that you have been um committed in doing um I guess you know um in terms of my my my question is um Madam chair I think uh reserving my time for further questions but I I guess I'm trying to figure out how we are connecting you know the work that is in community already uh without Reinventing the wheel and figuring out how we can be best utilize um and and I guess this could be a question for anyone who wants to weigh in um how to maximize on service that already exist in the community I know that um uh councelor warell and I had talked u in depth about this in terms of um program that already exist like uh for example Somerville who uses a third party company with Dr morala um who did sort of a um postgrad um study on racial equity and then went on to opening up her own um organization um and then now contracted uh through Somerville and a few other cities to as a third party agency to actually do some of this um metrics or uh building out rubrics or benchmarks that the city has to meet by a certain time and I guess you know I'm interested in um any other panelist um uh sort of giving us their point of view and how they Envision the city um working with um uh third party agencies or Community nonprofits or services that are already in existence um to build out this sort of more holistic um way about approaching this I agree uh wholeheartedly with um Miss Al alvisa um who uh mentioned in terms of how multifaceted this issue is and like where do you even begin um so perhaps you know the accountability in terms of transparency and what's you know and how um councelor LEL has laid out here in this ordinance um has beautifully laid out in terms of accountability on policies and budget and other types of implementations but how do we take uh how do we build that partnership with um agencies out community and how do we um sort of get more in depth in terms of making recommendations for the city in the event that they're not properly or that we are not properly addressing those needs of racial Equity I would just um note that despite all of the um access to research that we have within the city um and the Consulting that goes on uh to support uh community activities there is not a single repository that I'm aware of anywhere in the city um that um could um be used so that those of us who might undertake new research have any idea of what fire research has been done um you know I'm I'm part of a very large University and I know that there's research that's gone on in neighborhoods where I'm doing uh policy work um where our law school and our nursing program and our criminal justice program have also done research um and that we would all benefit from knowing about that um and uh exchanging data that might be useful and that's only within one University I have no idea of what's going on at the hundreds of other universities um in in in the area and I don't want to make things more difficult for my colleagues but it might be useful for example if the counselors um knew or or were at least notified of the kind of research that was going on in their neighborhoods um so that uh we we could all Leverage What It Is we're doing and not continually reinvent the wheel uh because some other group of graduate students shows up uh to study the same or a similar set of of issues you know that might become a part of of what the council expects in terms of inl uh contributions uh to what what the uh City receives from uh the intellect that exists within our universities I agree with you Professor that there are there's there's a wealth of resources and I think councilor Morel alluded to this um in the uh ordinance as well in terms of like coordination or even inter departmental and cross- departmental um coordin and as well with universities using the um uh the Academia to to not necessarily spearhead but to be partners in this um in already existing and consolidating all of these Research into one place I think here um we see uh Mr gar say with his hands up so I'm interested in understanding um I guess you know if you could take us to next level like what would it take to be able to consolidate all this information we have Fel Foundation that we know has provided some research I think Embrace Boston had done a partnership with Boston Foundation as well uh James Jennings uh with the anti-displacement research and um there's there are several on different levels you know housing um we have the BOS the Boston Public Health commission with the health of Boston and we have different like research but you're absolutely correct Where Do We Begin to um quantify like where like where is the status on the of these things or um our social determins of Health as it pertains to um our uh uh black and brown but just marginalized communities in Boston um I hear you loud and clear I appreciate that U Mr garus uh yes thank you counselor yeah I wanted to highlight a couple of efforts again recognizing that there's more to be done but a couple of things that are going on the first one internally within the city again even we find that different departments or agencies might be interested in some of the same issues but we in the past of times might not have coordinated as well around like you know like and one thing that is clear to us is we want to be very respectful of people's time and when we go and interview them or put a survey you can get exhaused if you get a lot of surveys about from different departments so uh we've been building this uh research coordination Council an internal group of people that do research across different departments and agencies so that we can better understand what studies or what data we might have already um and be able to to learn better without having to go out and and study the same thing multiple times and be efficient in that way and the second piece is uh we work closely with the Boston area research initiative which is a Consortium of different academics from different institutions including the Boston foundation and the Boston indicators network uh which um has about these things again like there's to Professor lmar Point there's so many smart people studying Boston who live in Boston and even people that are outside that there's just a a wealth of information that we that we could do a better job of of coordinate coordinating and and understanding how to get the most potential but there are some things that we have been doing over the past uh several years to try to improve our ability of sharing and collaborating and getting perspective thank you than you Mr garus Madam Madam chair I know it's my time I guess uh just to you madam chair uh do you uh recall what time uh Chief um CA was going to return back I don't know if she said I have in my notes that she had a hard stop at 5:15 um I believe she left around 3: so I'm I'm hopeful that she could uh join us I'm going to direct uh maybe a member of my staff to reach out VI email to see she'll be joining us we do have trinise still on the line I think uh from the bphc if there's any questions that folks want to voice to her um at this moment but there will be around two for when jumps back on thank you madam chair thank you uh counselor Flynn I think councelor Flynn uh left is coun uh council president louisian thank you um uh Madam chair and thank you to the panelists and for everyone for the um information that they provided Pace I really of course think because I think about what's our bill work here and I think about what you provided you said about the budget process um I think was really sort of on point um as a way of sort of us being able to measure um measure our commitment to the work of equity but also bringing people in to do that measurement alongside us which I think is a really fascinating is a really fascinating question um I I actually had a question for mangel for chief so s I'm not sure if anyone else is able to address this but she start mentioning she started mentioning that the city is working on having ambassadors and I was curious if anybody has more context as to like what that looks like and what that means okay I take that as a no okay um well I I my my next question is is for trinise if she's still available if um thank you for the work that you're doing at the Public Health commission I wonder if you could just go into a little bit more detail about how you see the work of the commission as already implementing some of the goals of Rise you're hi let me get my camera back on thank you for the question and hi again everyone um so I believe I mentioned or I shared that we implemented our first of its kind uh community-driven anti-racism policy and in that policy there are 13 key standards of action um and I'll try to I'll be going off memory right now um one that definitely aligns with rise is we have right similarly to um the city we do have a procurement policy expectation also in um our anti-racism policy there is an expectation for all departments to do to practice Equitable Community engagement so that's been a reoccurring theme on this call right and then you also heard that we just updated our mission statement to reflect that commitment and so really what that means is to do exactly what's been placed in this space to make sure sure that we are not making decisions without the community's input and I want to throw a n a little nugget in this space we have a tool that we use to hold us accountable to the practice of community engagement because what I think I'm hearing in the space yes the the doing community engagement is important but what does the accountability look and feel like and so what we often hear is that you know we go into communities and we seek their feedback and we collect the data but we are not so great at always going back and Reporting out right and so we have a tool or what we refer to is uh an accountability structure as part of our community engagement practice that's um referred to as the we asked you said we did and this is what changed so every Department within the organization is required to write a summary of what the engagement looked and felt like and report back out to those that were engaged in the process so I'm more than happy to to share that tool with you guys as well so I think I mentioned procurement is one of the standards the practice of community engagement obviously training making sure that we're building capacity of our staff because it's one thing to put things in writing but it's a whole another thing to give our colleagues the tools and the resources they need to support implementation um we also have um a reimagining of what we're referring to as Health Equity and all policies and I shared a little bit about what that looks and feels like in terms of the lens right the five PS so all decision making should go through this process or this mindset um before you're making final decisions um so again I'm going off memory I gave you four tangible ones budgeting of course we have um a budgeting Equity tool to make sure that we are when we're developing our budgets that we're making sure that we are Distributing or redistributing um our resources where they need to go so those are some some key examples of the alignment between what we're doing at the commission and um again the alignment to the rise ordinance so hopefully I answered your question if I didn't no you did no it's it's good because I mean uh Chief salus isn't here but I think about like I was think as you were talking I was comparing it to what it would look like to have people who are like the eni ambassadors or is there a possibility and and I hear that from what you're talking about of embedding it more into sort of like the the whole framework of uh the department so just just an interesting comparison to what's said Kathy you talked about how you know Boston is really has been on the front lines and and and the head of the game um on a lot of these issues on racial equity and racial justice but if I am correct is is does DC have a version of this or are the other cities that are doing something similar to what we're trying to accomplish here here I also said Boston was not alone and sorry Miss that part again no yeah no I mean Boston yeah Boston has I mean that the fact that this is a step in a long process says a lot about where Boston has been but yes there are DC has a similar um a a similar Bill a similar setup and there are other and there are other jurisdictions to learn from in terms of the data work um that that's another thing I'm happy to sort of pull from our members and ask our researcher like where are you seeing some like interesting data implementation because really that's where the magic and the trick is and how you implement your commitment to rigorous data right and and doing it in a way that's community-driven and Community centered because researchers can do a great deal of good and they've done a great deal of harm if you ask the wrong questions you get the wrong answers uh so yeah happy to pull others for you I the chair the chair has come back on means my time is up and F the conversations I look forward to looking at what implementation do look like in other cities and to really delve into that to make sure that we learn from challenges thank you sorry thank you if I could just add a word to uh what trenice was saying um in my half do years um on the bpda board um one of my observations is that um some City councilors are really good at getting back to their constituents about um how constituent power has affected policy in their neighborhoods um and and the counselors who do that um based on my observation uh develop a level of uh longstanding trust um with with their constituents um in a way that uh seems to exceed that of uh other counselors um and I think that the council serves a really important role in uh communicating with uh constituents about uh progress that has been made in all of these areas of social justice um and some are really good at um and and others uh perhaps a little less so thank you thank you for that reminder thank you madam chair thank you uh councilor Fitzgerald if he's still [Music] on hey chair how are you thank you very much um so a couple questions thank you all uh for all of the uh present presentations testimony uh and statements today um I guess I the questions I have is I want to focus on the piece that's sort of for our Central staff for the city council which I believe a lot of this was sort of discussed around or at least in the actual in the written hearing itself um do we know and for the other departments that have implemented uh these things do we know what the cost is around to try and do something like this if we were to have our Central staff become that um I would just like to start there if anyone has an idea about sort of rough cost to to implement this I will since it's a a city council question I will defer to maybe Council warell if you have if your staff's done any um investment uh projections or or anything of that nature for the budget yeah no we don't have um any um analysis U yet but it would be um we've been having conversations on if you know someone one of the Liaisons can take on um some of this work or you know third party it out or hire a new position yeah I guess there right like how many people all that like is it is it a you know who's a group uh who do we hire how many people staff again just adding to the council just wondering what what if we had numbers around that um secondly who do we decide is on this group or how are the decisions made about who gets put on uh that that sort of looks at it through the equity inclusion lens um and is there a process for adding those people I don't know folks uh that are on the call now in other departments is that all just an internal thing or is there a separate sort of third-party external uh you know equity and inclusion uh board that overlooks all policies before this stuff is implemented to make sure it's up to Snuff um and if so how are those people chosen oh the way we have it laid out inside of um the the hearing it made up of council colleagues um as of now but we are exploring using a third party which would engage community members to create the framework which then would be that framework would then be used for ordinances Investments Etc gotta I I think my only fear around something like this and it has nothing to do with with the result or what we're trying to achieve right ultimate Equity inclusion we want to we want to make sure every person has that opportunity and and and no one should be left behind in that but what I've seen over my years and Professor lsmark maybe you can help me or speak to this but sometimes we see something like this put together and then if it doesn't have the proper teeth or it doesn't have the proper people or lens or uh uh or or oversight if it's just another layer of oversight what sometimes can typically happen in government is it becomes more of a deterrent than a uh than a a helping hand in getting this stuff um I sort of like think of when you might put something forward and if it doesn't pass muster uh amongst the group then then would a counselor not be able to put forth a hear a hearing notice if something they wanted to put forward or would it just say hey this doesn't reach our our levels of equity and inclusion and therefore you cannot submit it um and no so sorry yeah so what what do we do we just provide an analysis on what was um being voted on so it wouldn't necessarily um stop you from introducing a hear in order however when something is going to be put up to a vote there will be an analysis done on you know the legislation the investment to speak on the impact right that it has on um marginalized communities uh here in the city of Boston um so it wouldn't stop anyone it would just provide another layer of detail and information so that councilors and the public have that um information to you know base their vote on um and the public also has that information as well gotcha and do this if we were to do it at the council level is this something we expect to permeate throughout all departments in the city and that we want right ultimately are you think of this as an overarching all City Department sort of initiative yes yeah um the idea is to embed um the same type of framework that trenise was speaking to over at the Boston Public Health commission um where they're looking at things through a certain L lens um how they have Incorporated um what is it the four Ps um in those 13 standards here in the city of Boston as well but we will be creating that for um we will hope that the equity inclusion cabinet will be creating that for the city departments gotta hand P's just for clarity Brian it's five PS I got you sorry five y yeah Kathy yes very quick just um I think the questions about implementation are always the most important ones and there are cities you'd be surprised at Dallas in of all the states Texas is actually just been a 40 agency process where they each have a racial Equity action plan and their their data game is very strong so it might be um as you know as you move forward to talk to cities who have been doing this really cross-cutting work that you all are also doing just to look for where those lessons have been learned in those landmines and I'm happy to make those introductions but it's certainly possible to do it in this crosscutting way and it has spectacular results and Dallas is one example oh great thank you very much Mr lb I know I don't you're unmuted I don't know if uh you were waiting to say something as well uh no actually you answered the question I answered I answered your question what was your question how did I answer it it was a question that was uh raised about um process and uh you answered it understood all right I'm glad I could be helpful even when I don't know it um yeah so again I guess ultimately with these things you just don't want it to have it be another layer of bureaucracy even though it's got great intentions uh that's my only concern overall uh adding this especially throughout um an entire city and what the cost might be um and uh what what actual teeth that this this policy would have um creating the report I feel like a lot of people could make Equity you could I mean anything we put forward we could just say well here's how it's Equitable right and um I feel like it's a very gray area in terms of um how you could spin it and does it just become something like I I don't know I I I don't want to get too deep down it but it it just seems like I I worry that you could just say yeah it's just a box we have to check now and we're not actually concentrating on what is the the actual intent of uh implementing equity and inclusion um um and and hopefully it doesn't just become uh you know another another step in a process for us is is my concern and at what cost that's all thank you Council I don't have any further questions thank you very much chair thank you uh trise I see you have your hand up do you want to um answer or address anything that mentioned yeah thank you I I'd like to to add in the space that you know at bphc yes we've been on this journey for quite some time because it does take time so we' we we have that experience under our belt and I and I want to say that you know where we are right at bphc and ac across the city you know in partnership with with our brother and sister department at City Hall it's a very telling time to really hon in on accountability as we've said it in the space and so I want to just mention two things one um that has worked to my advantage for getting this work done and that is following the community's lead and at bphc we Define community both as internal and external so those those individuals that we are serving and those individuals that we work with right those are my colleagues but they they're they're community and so I don't have any success with any of this work without engaging them so I go on I refer to it as like a a tour right so whenever you know there you know data tells us we need to go in a direction that we just need to go in because the data is telling us so perhaps my department is the one that's doing the visioning but it is my responsibility to bring that Vision across departments within the organization and engage them in the conversation of what it would look and feel like to implement some of the things of which that right I have my team and I have designed in terms or or thought of in terms of visioning and that works in our favor because we get to hear from them what might some of the barriers or the challenges to implementation be so rather than sit in a bubble and create this at the senior leadership level and then roll it out and say hey this is what we're doing no that's that's not going to work right so we go to our people internally with initial idea what do you think about this and again tell us why it will work let's start with what's great about it tell me what's good first and then tell me what might not work because of X Y and Z and then that way we can try our best to get ahead of some potential roadblocks um because sometimes people it's not because people don't want to do it it's just because life gets in the way right and so we want to be mind mindful of of the things that might get in the way of doing the work and then also we are in the process I hope I'm not getting ahead of my my bphc team here but we are going to be rolling out you know a Performance Management um system where we are again honing in on accountability and we've embedded some e Equity expectations and and and in one's performance so how are you contributing to to the success of our goals around equity and and does that look and feel like as it relates to your your specific role and the work that you're doing and again the accountability to equity so I just wanted to throw that in the space and and I'm more than happy to be a thought partner um in terms of process and implementation if if you need some support and some guidance there you got me thank you all so much thank you chair thank you trise you're welcome you councelor Fitzgerald do we have a counselor Murphy still with us think I see here uh counc Weber hello uh uh hello everybody thank you for all your testimony um I guess I start with Professor lsmark uh if he's uh trying to get away I let you go but um I in terms of the studies and like you know your long history here in Boston in terms of like you know G making Equity more of a reality what areas do you think we should be focusing on if if any I mean you know or is it just everything or is there if you had to pick three or four specific areas you know what what what are your what's your advice to this body I I think the um the challenge is to figure out what time frame you're talking about in terms of seeing results um clearly we want to focus on education uh but you don't get to see the results for that for years uh generally long after an elected official has has uh served their term um but I I would continue to focus on uh education and uh particularly on Workforce Development um in the short term in part because uh you can see some of the results of that um more immediately um than you can see change in the housing market for example and it's also the case that you want to work on those areas um where there are tangible results uh that can be seen you know the the issue of gentrification gets raised a lot for example uh around Equity um but you know our students uh uh research shows that a lot of the gentrification is being driven by Venture capitalists and uh you know commercial real estate owners who aren't anywhere close to Boston um and so you enact certain kinds of things that are intended to uh have a positive effect on reducing gentrification um but in fact uh in some respects that horse has already left the barn um and and so I I think you want to uh think in terms of those areas where um you have some real control um and those areas where people can start to see uh tangible results in uh in the shorter immediate term when when we put together for example uh the safe neighborhoods program we we did get to a point within a year year and a half where um we went through two years without a single teenager in the city being killed that was a very tangible result that you could point to but with some of the other things like changes to the structure of the school committee um you know that's still being debated um and and so uh you have to look at those things where um there are tangible outcomes that can be pointed to and I think some of them aren't always the most obvious uh some of them may relate to things like access to Parks or um the presence of um uh community centers that are open longer hours those kinds of things are very important and improve health outcomes but don't necessarily show up uh in the short term okay yeah I I have a followup for you Professor lmar but just Kathy or uh Miss poke or or Pace have anything they want to add no it's fine not it's not nobody's getting graded uh I mean I'll I'll always you know make a a reference to you know violence prevention and VI violence response in areas of equity where we can um really expand and do more um I always appreciate councelor Fitzgerald's reference to you know we we want to keep families in Boston we we want Boston to be a place where families can feel safe and can Thrive um and thinking at for our work at the peace Institute when when someone experiences a violent incident um even to the extreme of losing a loved one um that they can feel like not only that they can keep Boston their home but Boston is where they can heal and they can have access to community healing and access to all of the resources that would sustain their their their life here in Boston um and agreeing with um um Ted that many of those intersectional issues our housing our education our Parks our environment jobs and so on thank you I I mean what I will add I'm not going to add a theme or a specific intervent because I think what actually seems to work most powerfully is when you ask different communities where they're you know where their priorities are bubbling up because there are things that you don't see if you're not you know in a community in a day-to-day way so I think what's really most important is the process uh to determine the answer to the question that you're asking and really trying to figure out who are the people who should be helping us helping you all identify what those initial priorities are and that should be a very community-driven process because you will then be addressing something that's high on people's Radars important to them you may not even know why it's so important to them it might have been less important to you and you'll have a lot of buyin which leads to the next success and the next success and the next success yeah I guess I think I one last question uh and I guess for for professor lanmark in terms of the community how do we make sure that we're getting everyone in the community do you have do you have any suggestions there because sometimes you you meet with one Community organization and it doesn't you know and it looks like representative of the community and others are not necessarily that you know representative of the community um you how how do you how do we proceed as counselors uh what is what does the academics uh the research say how to make sure we we are doing a decent job of connecting with it you know everyone in the community yeah what what the research shows is that you just have to show up um and let people know that that you've shown up um and and often that means uh you know being in the supermarket or a laundromat when people are there um it means going into the barber shop or the hair salon when people are there um the we I think we learned a lot um from Co about Outreach um because there are a lot of people who were uh contacted and served well um through uh public Outreach that hadn't been utilized to that extent before and uh it's really really it really comes down to showing up um and not just at the formal Community meetings but uh elsewhere you know I I have a we talk about this a lot um at school uh a lot of people took a lot of risks to make voting possible for uh people of color and yet um in recent elections uh voter participation has been down in a lot of communities of color including our own uh around the country and so then you start to ask yourself why did people take those risks um if if we're not going to participate and um being at those places that incentivize and encourage people even to vote uh becomes I think a significant measure of um how we're reaching people around other issues okay thank you thank you very much professor and and everyone else chair back back to you thank you uh co-chair Weber um we do have Chief uh Sol Setta back with us she's in the waiting room we want to elevate her as panelist I think she has uh joined us I um appreciate you uh coming back Chief I hope the graduation went well um we're gonna dive right back into second round of of questioning I will Circle back to the lead sponsor counselor warell for uh for his questions we'll do um I guess is it's three four minutes fine four minutes for this round I'm I'm going to I'm going to save four minutes cool all right thank you uh thank you shair and Miss poke and uh just kind of dub tailing off of what council Weber was talking about in terms of like goals and measurement can you talk to us you said you had Equity goals um and Professor lsmark you know talked about you know it taken you know longer period of time to reach some of our goals that we're striving for in equity can you talk to me about how do you set your goals um is it yearly um is it quarterly and then just can you share some some um some of those goals with us then also to Chief Sol sea U does the equity cabinet have any similar goals that they have that they could share with us as well once you turn it off and on you gotta be quick um great question I I will share that our strategic plan our most recent and upto-date strategic plan has anti-racism as one of the priority areas and so what we've done is and this was intentional we lifted up the standards um some of which I mentioned in this space um the 13 standards of the anti-racism policy we lifted up those standards of practice in our strategic plan and I I believe Mara anelie said it earlier was it's been mentioned in the space to make sure that though bpc has an office of racial equity and has had this office for quite some time it's important to communicate that the responsibility does not solely fall on this department because that's a lot of pressure right and there's no way we could be successful in in making that happen and so um again our goals reflect what's the the standards that are in our anti-racism policy that are in our strategic plan and then also to you know just to put in this base our overarching goal is to increase life expectancy here in the city right we are the data keeps telling us the same story that black and brown people are dying at a much higher rate than our White counterparts and so that's a huge overwatching goal for us um that we are embarking on that journey and again hopefully in partnership with with you guys and and the rest of the the city that's serving the residents um so hopefully I answered your question thank you yes and I um I know that the Health commission went out to neighborhoods this year to talk about um that report and you know prioritize you know just that making sure that there's healthy healthier communities and healthier people living longer here in the city of Boston Chief Sol sea don't know if you want to add uh yeah to the question of do do we have goals or how we set goals the earlier part of yeah what are the equity goals right and then how we are because those are very unique per cabinet those are those are the ones that we are setting together with the equity and um the eni managers that we have we will be launching very soon we've started with human services and with they're going to be doing internal assessments and those goals will be implemented in partnership with those specific uh departments all right Chief garus um I don't know if you um so there there's data collection and creating equity toolkits and reports um inside of the ordinance is do you feel comfortable that you have the resources in order to carry um the data collection track and Reporting the go kits that process out uh did I think we lost them all right so gu RX do we do we lose them I think we did all right my other question for chief Sol s is I know that there we we've codified a lot of the Departments within Equity within the equity cabinet I don't believe we've codified the equity cabinet itself yet um and from what I can remember is a lot of um the language and codifying those departments um comes with reporting right data collection um reporting uh Equity studies um how does that you know can you talk to me about how do you gather all that information right from whether it's wom's advancement immigrant advancement black male advancement um to to then inform these cabinets on you know you know the data that you have in order to make the lives of each of those different departments that they're serving you know better and you you're asking a really important question that is more focused on sort of the organizational development aspect of the work uh We've developed multiple moments throughout the day where our departments connect with one another so they sharing information with each other whether that is our policy uh staff ingrained in each of the Departments or that is uh program managers engrained in each of the Departments so that they're sharing not only best practices but as as we understand intersectionality is also a part of the work they're speaking with one another so that's more of sort of like the informal ways that we're doing that um there are reporting structures you know from our department heads of which there are eight plus cultural Affairs and the work of reparations uh which those two pieces of work that I just named and the literacy task force are all essentially cify is not the right word but they are they are birthed out of um ordinances as well uh there are ways that when as we come and report and we can definitely be more proactive around reporting out that you know within that infrastructure but when it comes to the codification of um the eni cabinet as a whole I I don't partic we don't particularly see a need because we have there's there's it's vertical it's horizontal it's the heal when it comes to um the reporting of information and and it's just a matter of us having tighter structures of coming to you all to report if if that is a need thank you Chief and and I think one thing um just from this hearing you know that that I've heard is that you know the reporting out especially to you know not only to the public um but also to you know policy makers such as the city council U to be able to um identify right you know whether it's the F fines on books that would encourage you know more people to to come in um to the library right so I think like sharing out not only to legislators and policy makers it's something that you know I would definitely encourage you know the eni cabinet to do but um just because of the impact that it that it can have in the long run on just changing changing Behavior here in the city of Austin but thank you thank you chair um and no further questions at this time thank you councelor warell um I'll go to counselor Mia thank you chair um and I'm happy to see Chief solist IDE marang you know my name I have to say I have to say your full name so it can come out right thank Mar Angel if if I try to say without that I love it I love it thank you so I'm happy that you are here because you mentioned the literacy task force and you know I think most of the things that fall under your cabinet has been under my demise I'm so sorry for that but from the office of cultural Affairs you know the blackmail advancement the literacy task force so I'm really happy to know that you know you are here in this in this conversation as we now work towards working on this particular initiative because I think it's really important for us as a city to really be more thoughtful about how we do policymaking and I think that this is where the devil is in the details right like how do we how do we set you up for success and in terms of what data collection looks like who are your thought Partners in terms of defining what types of questions we are asking right who who are the folks that you are going to be um collaborating with inside and outside to really develop your metrics right your your your benchmarks how to here's where we are here's where we want to be here's how we're going to get there um and for every single piece of legislation and every budget ask that we put out there us utilizing some sort of framework so I'm curious um what what have you been thinking about and kind of like what do you think would be helpful to you in your in your work without the rise act like just just like just like without it right now like what what would you say how have you been managing telling a story about the impact that you've been making before this conversation thank you counselor uh I would say to where we are right now uh with different departments we are sitting with cabinets that represent needs that are unique to their specific constituency so take for example you mentioned blackmail advancement uh mola lbq advancement women's advancement we're spending time we're selecting the top three needs right we otherwise we'll never we'll never get we're trying to do things differently is what I'm trying to say rather than focusing on all the problems we're having the Departments identify the top two to three needs and then we are spending time with those departments so that as they're introducing their budgets they are right thinking specifically about these which as you can imagine there's going to be a lot of similarities in need uh so that is part of the exercise as well so that when we enter the budget process we can confidently say this specific line item request from housing or this reallocation or this uh maintenance budget is going to also have we're seeking for this to have the specific impact well we all need to do a better job and counselor you and I have talked about this is evaluating some of this work and so is this having the impact that we want it to have we we want to continue to commit we we are committed to that promise and I would also say that we're not we're not there yet um and so that is what I'm F I'm focusing our team's efforts on right now so we can Target other departments who are doing the incredible work out in the residence that um that we serve so that that I know you're asking for like what are specific line item and and I will come to you with those but we're spending time with that now yeah no I appreciate that and I guess now from on the outside because this work so much of it is really also the impact that we're making in community and I'm curious about kind of what your what your journey has been or how you envision it moving forward in terms of community input data collection like how are you going to measure that utilizing some of the community engagement tools and Bot leaders in the city so because of all the different programs and the different portfolios in our departments we are also spending time selecting one or two programs or specific services that our departments offer uh take for example immigrant Le Boston right that is a that is a unique program in Moya and we've developed our an evaluation toolkit that will require direct input from participants uh from focus group surveys Etc to inform how to how to improve those processes and also get us some data to to the question of is this serving the need that we want to see so that's more like an inhouse equity cabinet really taking seriously the concept of evaluation um because a we want to model for our colleagues what we want them and need them to do as well but be because it's it's there aren't all sort while this while we are not Reinventing the wheel we are making sure that we are following um Boston's context and at no point are we expecting our staff to do things without Community input we have Advisory board meetings we have commission meetings Etc yeah I know I saw C Keta um saata coming back on and I just will end with my you know this is not ask I'm not going to ask another question I just want to just note this in terms of just the overall work I think especially in this moment when so many of the issues that we're trying to move forward all of these communities are under attack right we're going to be under the microscope and so the more that we can be super intentional about setting up your cabinet for success in terms of how we hold ourselves accountable because everyone's looking for more accountability and transparency I think that the data collection and then sharing that information is going to be helpful so when we get into the working sessions and kind of like solidifying this a little bit further we can get deeper into the weeds of kind of like the language so but for now I do appreciate you being here and thank you to the panelists as well thank you counselor Rell for your leadership in the space thank you councelor Mia um councelor fernandz Anderson um thank you madam chair um welcome back uh Chiefs so SAA I did have questions um specifically around how the department and I'm just prior to me saying this I wanted to um I appreciate Council Mahia saying you know talking about the work in session process because I felt like you know um our other colleague prior was C fer was getting a little bit into like the technicalities of all of the you know having this thing having teeth um so I would say you know have faith uh in the working session process and hopefully we get into the weeds of that um so thank you C Mia for pointing that out um as far as the department goes um or your cabinet goes um Chief I feel that there's a lot uh under your belt in terms of like the different departments and the things that um you know the day-to-day operations and then implementation of programming or events or different efforts that you have have going on um and as you know I've been like following closely in terms of equity being the chair of uh civil rights and um trying to you know pay attention closely to how we're how we're doing that or as C mentioned how we're holding ourselves accountable um and developing metrics for ourselves in terms of like how are our own policies meeting the needs in our district or Citywide um and with with that in mind I know that we had conversations where you've mentioned that you know you've hired a policy person and you were thinking about along the lines of metrics but haven't really gotten there yet in a lot of the frustration I think for yourself and for us is that you know how are we how do we know that we're infective if we don't have this and back to my original point and then I think councelor LEL uh reemphasized the consolidation of information and how we are collecting data it sounds to me like there is conversations happening on some level but it didn't really answer the question about actually collecting information um to be able to say you know this is we know that we know that we've collected information you know studies on for example Health outcomes um or economic Mobility or educational attainment and we know that we are and these are the numbers and we've been able to um aggregate or disaggregate Aggregate and disaggregate information to a point where we understand how far are like where like you know how far we have to go or where or what the approaches are it's one thing um to be able to say this is the problem in numbers but the approach obviously multifaceted so you know just overall if you were to say like I've thought about this issue in terms of you know measuring or implementing metrics so that we can understand whether or not we are meeting needs in terms of um equity in our city um and I've also thought about in terms of implementation from policy to budget to uh looking at programmatic uh Solutions and figuring out then you know at least what are your studies what are your collaborations with universities if any what are your um in terms of next steps and I know that there's the reparations task force and you know there's some issues there um and then there's also um in terms of like uh office of imig an advancement and um their robust uh list of like services and programmatic stuff that they that they provide um so I I think it's a lot for you particularly so I'm wondering like have you thought about this how far have you gotten so far and then have what are you thinking in terms of like third- party com agencies coming in to be able to provide all of this you know collecting of data consolidating and looking at numbers and figuring out policy Solutions or budget recommendations for to address the needs thank you counselor I um and couldn't do this job without the incredible staff and residents and you all so I I appreciate you always being so um graceful with your with your words here um I think an an immediate next step for me is I'm going to ask that our team create a list for you of all the different ways in which we are formally gathering information um and I will also say what was stated earlier we are particularly careful around how we what data and for what purposes at the moment so I I I just want to name it for the record like this is something that we're hyper aware of right now um while we want and need Community input we and we want to evaluate our work we also need to be um more responsible um then and you heard Santi Chief garus talk about our experience with the gender awareness guidelines and disabilities Etc so just want to name that um I think yes and we have discussed the the opportunity of bringing in a third party um to to help us with this I I will also say that um our teams are that is not our preference uh because our teams are connecting uh with residents and giving the information that they need to they are they were hired as experts and as people that can connect with a different experts on the ground out in the community to give us the information that we need in order for us to make best decisions and which is part of the Coalition building when we misstep these are groups of people that also come and tell us when we miss step and that is when right we have sort of the cycle of information that is never linear where then my job as a chief is to come and like speak when I need to speak in the different policy rooms in the different programmatic rooms and the different Service Groups and so there's a lot of negotiating on a day-to-day basis but we I am more than happy to send you all a list of the different ways in which we do evaluate and we do collect information um but we're just it's it's a bit of an interesting time um thank you when you say when we misstep these are the people do you mean the community people that are you're working with or the community people oh yeah yeah and so um we talked about dashboards before right like had if we've thought about this in a holistic sense I would I would look at some sort of action plan for your entire cabinet I would say there is there is a comprehensive way that we're looking at this and and we are looking at each you know section of this cabinet in terms of and then we're also looking at pieces that are missing because Equity is not just the Departments you have not to add another department or anything like that but I know there's pieces missing right um and then where where are we meeting the moment and is each is each department creating a metric or uh and then will this all live in a dashboard someplace and if you're not a fan of third party um in terms of your com about you know people being experts um I I think I think they they are I think that you have an amazing amazing um head of department and um I wonder though if we are adding like administrative burden like in terms of like work um to departments that we don't need to be um and I wonder that if it's this holistic consolidation of community uh City departments um and and Academia and maybe more then would it take a third party to be able to coordinate all of that and that's not to question the ability of your department heads but rather saying this is an added task and a huge one um so I do find that if we go into the working session I'd be probably looking forward to you know sort of you know find find a way to embed that in here where we are Contracting out because it is a lot to do even for our own uh Central staff yeah um I think and this may sound a bit I hope it's not controversial we've had this conversation individually and and even in hearings but the work of the reparations task force is also meant to help us build some of those benchmarks what what did the city do what did the city allow to happen what are things that we can and should commit to repairing and what are things that we commit to never doing again to me that should inform also the agenda of the equity and inclusion cabinet in the near future I would want to sort of remain loyal to that process and I know that has not been the greatest most perfect process but it's a it's a process that is back on track and will give us some very essential information and I and we believe that if we target this specific issue we can get to everyone um but I'll I'll leave it with that thank you um May I close my Madam chair thank you um so in thinking about reparations you know in in in in reference to like how this is a multifaceted how racial equity in in itself is a multifaceted issue um you know you think about you know reparations that it's recommendations that it's going to come and possibly uh in in the end how Community re uh uh decided on in terms of like priority or level phase one phase two phase three but the the the the the population that it's going to impact then you think about the immigrants that are also impacted by uh systemic racism then you think about you know other marginalized communities that are also impacted by these different systemic oppression um in us being very careful and making sure that we're not broading it so much with a brush that we dilute the conversation about specifically those that are most impacted right black and brown or native like black people African-Americans and all that stuff so I think that it's so multifaceted that we have to be very careful about you know saying reparations is the solution or that it will cover like the broad you know spectrum of people and also like there's the this other level of research that I think needs to happen about you know bureaucratic processes red tapes technicalities and the different level of like systemic oppressive um issues that we have in the city of Boston um specifically with like you know Fair wages and all the other stuff right like so I think reparations lives in a c its own category and then there's this other stuff you know in terms of bureaucratic red tapes and then there's this other stuff about access and teaching people people how to properly navigate resources so that they can actually be able to Advocate and utilize those resources so there's all of this different types all these different levels that I think I I don't think we can say you know yes they'll stay true to process but reparation is just one part of it a very small part of it maybe I don't know I don't want to I don't want to equate it to anything but it's a it's it's just one part of it so I want to keep us you know with a broad um like keep this conversation open to saying look there are different levels of this one hearing is not going to do it I'm looking forward to council Orel uh refiling this um very soon um if the working session is not happening before the end of the year and we don't get through it because today we only touch the tip of the iceberg um and it is super important and to councelor V jer's point so crucial that we must have rushed this process I thank you um Madam chair and chief s thank you um not seeing councelor Flynn on or Council lisen okay I think also Fitzgerald Murphy and Weber have uh shair sorry sorry Council Weber it's okay uh um I I speak softly I guess but um I guess for uh Mary Angelie or anyone else as we're thinking about this I mean how how do we have reports that are going to be helpful on on things that are not on their face you know um going to affect sort of uh impact like Equity like that we would even um like to have an an intent like for example if we have um uh something on safe school zones you know like would we would would an equity report be issued on that uh and I guess you could make an argument on almost anything but or even like an elected school committee where maybe there's a debate on who decides the debate uh and uh how How would how do how do you imagine that process working on if we're filling potholes I I I have no idea you know there's a pothole ordinance you know would there be a report on that does it have to some trigger some threshold to Tri you know have a report I I don't know how to think about it I guess that's for the for chief yeah I'm understanding your question I I I think this is part of the the sponsors and and the working groups to to answer a bit we the way on the city side that we are engaging some of this no we don't produce reports per program or per policy um and we can talk more about why in you know in in sessions uh however we do we have started creating interventions even in like the budget process so that not only folks are thinking about it they are going Beyond a check in the box and they're also coming to us for a direct Consulting Service as it right like we're we're setting interventions to make the work pause so that the right questions at are ask but we're not developing reports if if I'm hearing you correctly but I do think to your question that's of the sponsors would have to to talk this through a little bit because we that is not currently what we do oh okay uh I guess yeah that that that was all I mean if we're considering this we're refiling next year I think I'll have a lot more questions but uh uh I just I think we've been at this uh a while I want to just yield my time to the to the filers if they have anything else thank you Council Weber um I will Circle back to council waral I believe he had additional questions and then anybody else that has additional questions at this point feel free to raise your hand um but I will start with uh Council warell uh thank you chair thank you to my Council colleagues for all their great questions and remarks also Chief solist like U thank you for all your work that you've been uh doing in this space um especially with all the new initiatives that you have rolled out um one one of the new initiatives um is is the equity um ambassadors uh can you describe to me because my understanding is can you just go more in depth on what the equity Ambassador does and then what are some of the differences from the equity Ambassador um for of the director because I because some because if the director's also working with a different cabinet having the conversation like how do they kind of stay on the same page and Not Duplicate work or step on each other's toes um the short answer to your question is through the academy which we've now provided this like learning experience we're trying to away stay away from the concept of training but learning experience exp for 120 members of the staff of all levels from managers directors to program managers to Etc from more than a dozen more than two dozen departments that was very intentional purpose because we wanted to hear exactly we can say what we want about equity and we can make the requests that we want about Equity but at the end of the day on the day-to-day operations how are things happening it it's really the data that I need to make decisions and one thing that we heard loud and clear is this group group of people have so much data in their hands from their day-to-day interactions with staff sorry with residents and other staff and so this this concept of an eni ambassador is not a it's not a new position it's not a paid position it is simply people that graduated from the the curriculum that will now be meeting on a consistently on a consistent basis share best practices troubleshoot problems of the bureaucracy as somebody named earlier that we need to address when they get in the way of our progress that is very separate from the manager Network which is a paid position that lives in the specific cabinets already housing and Human Services those people are specifically there to build trust and relationships in those cabinets and do the assessments assessments needed build out the plans that are needed and the implementation um plans needed they are a one person team but they have the entire eni cabinet made up of 75 staff members right of different areas of expertise Etc and so that's we're man we're managing by the way they all talk to each other the ambassadors will be talking to the eni network managers Etc so it is confusing and we'll we'll do a better job of explaining it this is a little bit newer since I was a direct ask of participants in the academy got it then how does the Ed of each department work with the eni Ambassador and the eni man manager because then there's the Ed of BMA then there's the Ed of immigrant advancement then how did they all work together because then they are also having my understanding is conversations with different Chiefs and cabinets to do initiatives within each of those departments yep the ambassadors the unpaid positions the ones that just graduated those are already in direct contact with our departments because those departments have either presented themselves in the academy or have participated in the academy so the relationships have already been established what we launched in January with these ambassadors sort of the consistent meetings they will be a part of that process got and then I guess sorry pause so no no no are the U eni ambassadors are they also decision makers and policy makers within no okay no the eni managers okay we need we need a better graphic y'all I'm talking to my staff you better graphic um managers are pay positions ambassadors are our staff our day-to-day staff that are going to give us they're going to share information with us so that we are we we're working from Grassroots and grass top too that's that's the vision here got it got it um yeah no I think yeah I'm a visual person as well yeah we'll get you better I think the other other thing that I wanted to just mention is you know we we do Citywide right training whether it's on cyber security mcad um I know um the training um now on on racial Equity is um based on the acem academy first come first serve um necessarily don't have to participate but it is something that I do believe right like like anything else right that that where're we find important you know we should all be trained on uh just because of the impact um that these policies have on the lives of bostonians um especially those have been historically marginalized so I think that you know I would love to see something that's across all departments and offer to everyone and provide it to everyone uh similar to you know whether like I said MCAT or cyber security because I think you know the the what's at stake um is you know we're talking about life expentancy right we're talking about uh education right th those are the things that we're talking about and if you know we we could do it for you know my my computer breaking down I think we could definitely do it for um lives making sure that we we do the most and do everything that we can to to ensure that the training to make sure that people thrive here in Boston and increase their life expectancy increase um their ability to to get the resources to have Equitable you know literacy our schools I think it's important so thank you chair thank you all The Advocates um and looking forward to diving into the working session which will happen next year um so we're hoping to have more conversations which I hope that all you guys will be a part of thank you Council Morell yes confirming there will be a working session I definitely look forward to it um before I I get into what I hope to discuss at that point I'll go to counselor fernander Anderson who has her hand up uh thank you madam chair let just lower this um so Chief I I guess um just for my own information um can you tell me the process from your now have a policy person um in your cabinet um to you know meeting with you or you know coordinating with you to recommendations to the mayor like what is that what does that process look like um there's sort of the day-to-day conversations as you can imagine with like your own staff then there's a combination of the policy advisers in each of the Departments under us that report to our um deputy director of research and policy this person and I are in constant communication and I am in constant communication with the U mayor's mayor's office that's chief of policy chief of comms Chief of Staff Etc and um that that is a daytoday you know dynamic and so I I if I'm understanding a question I think that's that's yeah I think I get you I think you're saying that you are in constant communication with your inner folks and the mayor's office policy team um thanks and so can you tell I guess I should have started with your head of departments so your head of departments are implementing work and for example if I'm in the Immigrant advancement and I'm the director I'm thinking about the different levels of service and in how it impacts the Immigrant population in different work that I do um within the scope of whatever like obviously is budgeted for um but then I I see the need and then I say well we need to study specifically and I know that I've been in contact with um your you know uh immigrant advancement and I I know that there's some appetite there to do a study specifically about how um systemic oppression or racism impacts the Immigrant population and so when they gather their information I think I think that they may move toward collaborating with the University or third or maybe it's a contract um when they gather the information then they bring it to you and is that by way of report or just a verbal communication or has there ever been has there ever been a report like in writing recommendations or is is it always uh so far meetings and verbal Communications meetings verbal Communications we we I do my best to allow for the Department to sort of do the work that residents and other agencies need need them to do and then I V either there's a large need of a crisis and we need a specific expert to come into the conversation I we pull who we need to from the different departments such as MOA such as lgbtq advancement disabilities vice versa if there are major red flags that our departments need more muscle on if you will I hate using that terminology but um I'm sort of the liaison between the liazon not the right word but that's sort of the the way that we manage it right now again we we have to be very careful because we deal with a lot of residents um sensitive information and so we we do our best to to communicate to get the work done um I I hear that you have these um Communications or sometimes meetings or sometimes focus groups or efforts that you're putting together with community and I guess I'm interested in looking at like you know hardcore like black and white what what what what are the results what has been the response what has been the recommendations from the community um and if you're not there yet it's totally fine would love to see it in the future um would love to see you know I know that you have there's a chief advisor um Lori Nelson and what does what does her recommendations look like and if that's in writing would love to see that um if there are recommendations from your your head of departments would love to see those recommendations and writing as well I think starting there to council world's point you know it's one thing we you for us to come to you and say Look chief we want to do this thing respectfully and how do we work with you and working with you looks like um hopefully this that we are asking you can you can you um send can you send us information where you you are thus far and and and I think it there are reports um there are visual um to be able to understand what each department has recommended recommended in terms of racial Equity um and and and and then moving forward then we can say okay where are we and how can the council support you in this ordinance by way like through our working session figuring out how we Implement those things just codifying a thing or laws like it's it's kind of arduous for them for you to say well we're already doing that or that's duplicate or whatever um but to be able to see where you are it doesn't matter where you are because you have a lot of work to do we just we need to see where you are though specifically concretely on paper so that we can understand exactly what you know what more or what less or whatever we need to do to create the Synergy between your office Council Administration Community um and again Academia and if there are studies needed we'll be have we'll have a better understanding of what exists and how far we need to go and I um I want you I want you to know that I'm not doing this I I did I stopped myself from asking questions about Equity along for a while because I said what are you doing Tanya C Anderson to do what you're asking of her asking of equity Department not just you um so I do have a couple of studies with one with bu and one with Northeastern um to be able to look at metrics to address our District's uh action plan um in terms of the you know addressing each domain right housing education Economic Development public health and Public Safety and so forth there are seven of them um and then building out the metrics and implementing rubrics that I I will know where the benchmarks are and how far I need to go and what policies to focus on and what are the budget needs of my district or what are the project needs of my district and so I want you to know that I'm looking at this and I don't want to be hypocritically asking you for something that I'm not already doing um but I don't think it matters how far you've gotten because you are super super busy we I want to understand exactly what the information is so that when we go into this working session we're not duplicating efforts and that we are working with you and not just giving you something to implement um thoughts on that yeah list of recommendations to improve live outcomes for residents is something that we are we do we think about we write about we talk about all the time that is that if that is what we're be I'm being ask stuff ask for that would be incredibly helpful to share with you all absolutely we we we have that we use that and that has been informed by Resident I has been informed my research I has been informed and we use that to communicate with other departments that that is a very a clear ask that I could definitely make happen well that's that's um fantastic um I do think again that this is multifaceted come Madam chair I'm going to close here um and thank you for indulging me I do I do think it's multifaceted right so like you know we we're talking about like duties and responsibilities and figuring out there and we can't necessarily tell you how to execute your job but rather we can Implement laws that says that by a certain protocol it has to be done and then there's you know in terms of the specific protocols for advancing Equity it has to touch a c certain domains right like your health outcomes or economic Mobility educational tment um housing and so forth and all the other like social determins of health and then there's the investment part of it that in terms of like collaborations or Partnerships with Community agencies that are already doing that but then there's this monitoring and evaluation piece that we we've talked about so it's the dashboard it's the consolidation of studies it's the Partnerships and looking at how to bring all of this together and this is why I keep saying like the implementation or enforcement has to uh begin with the third- party agency that makes those recommendations that is able to do all of that administrative tasks because it's a huge undertaking on top of your job running a cabinet and I do believe that um in the working session I'm going to be interested in like making sure that we are realistic in looking at one yes it will have teeth two um to make sure that it's fair and um that that we are not asking you to take another load or another job on top of a thing but rather that you become a partner and not the you know the person solely responsible for implementation thank you very much um for this conversation looking forward to the next um work session thank you lead sponsor and Madam um chair thank you thank you sorry thank you for the panelists who are still here with us and your contributions I I I really appreciate it listening to your um expertise likewise this has been um an incredibly informative discussion and and I appreciate all the robust questions and and answers from U my colleagues and the panelists respectively um I think at this point I will just flag maybe a few things for the working session that I uh want to put on record just uh to have folks to start thinking about it and things that I I want to focus in on so I've definitely heard about enforcement um how this will have teeth on the city council side procedurally it when somebody files an ordinance a home rule or zoning Amendment whatever it is and it goes through the government operations committee um in the event even before that when it is filed and say for example it doesn't include it does is the clerk then required to refuse it does it go on the agenda and if it does go on the agenda is it up to the city council president then um I I know that there are a lot of things that occur in the city of Boston that require uh urgent action so for example the the thing that comes to mind is the the need to bring in the Boston elections Department to discuss what happened uh in November during the presidential election and so in that instance it there I think there were three different colleagues that produced a docket to have a hearing on it um you know in the event that it's an ordinance a hormon petition I don't want to limit counselor's abilities to produce something if they are able to if if they are if they are very um adaptable and their staffs are able to move quickly they should be able to produce an ordinance without uh a an equity analysis in the Preamble and so maybe allowing for a grace period of up to x amount of weeks or or or I wouldn't even say a month but or months but maybe it is four weeks and you know we can talk about that and the creation of the the council Equity task force I think is incredibly important um before I get to that I do just want to call out that you know the enforcement mechanism separate from the legislative part is the the budget amendment so this requires equity in budgeting so it mandates in equity focused evaluation I think is what is what you say um or have in here Council orl in annual budgets and then also in some of our budget amendments and so at at what point does one counselors and we've already seen it at what point does one counselor's budget amendment in terms of um allocations and polls is that in conflict with another counselors and what does that mean when we have varying definitions of equity and and how and how we achieve it um especially as we're talking about the capital budget um I know that we only have a yes or no vote on that but you know if we are trying to push something forward through the operating budget what does that look like and and how are we um rectifying that so that's something I want to discuss further I think the general definition of equity coming up with that Council Rell and and his team and in partnership with many others have developed a task task force that provides representation from Individual offices and we uh hire a director of the the SEO which is the the central excuse me Council Council Central staff committee on equity and so this individual has um a lot of power can help set the agenda or set the definition rather of of what Equity is I think again it comes down to various counselors and the fact that we are a body of 13 with with our own own districts and we may have varying um definitions of what Equity is and so I'm I'm happy that we might have the opportunity to have this representative body within our body I think that there is uh an opportunity thinking about councelor fernanders Sanders's point of having a third um a third party organization come in and help with some of the work the equity assessments I think we could also look to potentially having a thirdparty contractor to come in um I'm specifically thinking will call out the YWCA to be the the neutral third party that helps us with this work or at least provides us multiple definitions that we then agree to um so there there's a bunch of different things that we we have to talk about I think the last thing that I will say is ensuring that Central staff is for the council side ensuring that Central staff Remains the neutral third party it's it's supposed to be in in their role in assisting counselors under this ordinance they are there to um help us with our Equity assessments so Gathering data research even developing the assessment similar to the way that they do for committee reports or briefs or or whatever I want to make sure that that person's capacity is is um is expanded that they have everything that they need if if it's not Contra contracted out to a third party um but then also that they are not going to be put in a difficult position where they have to be the final decision makers about who in the event that there is conflict um whose definition of equity is um right or wrong so i' I've already spoken to councelor warell about these things and I'm very grateful that he's open U minded to it uh he's um also very uh he feels very strongly about this ordinance as as he should it is very strong I think that there are so many um aspects of this ordinance that that I it doesn't need any work I do think that there are some points that I just mentioned in addition to some other smaller things like do we need to publicly notice the committee uh um what is it the the SEO all of that so those are just my initial thoughts I do look forward to the working session um Kathy I do see your hand up I welcome any feedback thoughts the thorny the thorny topic of definitions which can be endless but um if if there is any interest in in like what is the sort of what's been adopted nationally in most places I'm happy to share that as well which is very much focused on outcomes right and not just inputs thank you I I welcome that I would love to um if you have anything that you'd like to submit please feel free to send uh to the sponsor or my office and we'll be sure to share it widely with with the counselors um everybody who was here today but then also folks who could make it great we do have folks I think still on for public testimony so I will transition to that I will look to Central staff to elevate the following individuals if they are still on the call we have uh shaa Weaver oh excuse me sorry I'm getting the note she had to leave but there is a written statement in the folder that's available to to uh all my colleagues if we have Lori radwin or kadrian Turner on the line um we'll start with Lori who I believe has just been promoted to panelist Lori if you want to say your name and your affiliation you have two minutes public testimony thank you so much for your patience yeah thank you very much my name is Lori radwin I live in rosale um some on the call know that I spent a good deal of my career studying and working to improve Healthcare in in equities and in my field nurses and doctors would be genuinely astounded when presented with the data that suggested they were not delivering equal care to everyone in contrast I found less astonishment when citiz departments are asked to examine the data suggests inequities in city services what seems so clear from the data pattern seems not to be taken seriously and I know counselors have listened to me as I described how parking restrictions in Rosendale Square seem to disfavor owners who are immigrants Latino Latina black and Asian and how the planning department is engaged in squares and streets a group that is 82% white and yet this skewed group's input will rone blocks that are less than 20% white and how the planning department is fielded and collected their high stake survey that do not even collect demographic data let alone stratify it to examine Equity one of the issues and I've brought this up repeatedly at budget hearings is there seems to be no Baseline data to be found in these cases for example it floors me that our main streets and small business departments do not have Baseline data that could be used to examine disproportion in a rigorous way and so I am truly grateful to see this rise ordinance and I want to tell you how much I've enjoyed this uh hearing by the way because I hope this ordinance will give us the tools to truly amarate the inequities in our systems thank you for accepting my testimony thank you Lori we'll now go to um C kadrian I apologize if I said your name wrong uh Turner please say your name and in your affiliation uh you have two minutes thank you um good evening thank you for the hearing today it was um I'm excited to uh be able to um listen for the past almost 3 hours um just to see what the city is doing to improve inequities in the city uh I'd like to talk about two things one workplace bullying um I was a um I was subject I was subjected to workplace mobbing at nor Eastern University I worked there for 10 and a half years I spoke up about a $20,000 salary disparity and I spoke up for about five years and nothing was done so I filed a grievance and that's when the retaliation and the hostile work environment and everything took place ultimately it became necessary for me to um out um 16 grievances uh with the with the city with the state with the uh federal government also my case went to the First Circuit Court of Appeals I almost committed suicide because it was so bad I worked in the sponsor research division at nor Eastern University and um I filed a grievance against approximately 36 individuals most of those individuals were not Boston residents many of them committ muted from other cities other states and immigrated from other countries and so these are issues that we definitely need to address uh this issue spiraled through my family uh my husband who is now deceased our marriage was suffered uh my husband was also um discriminated at at work uh before he passed away he passed away um as a result of an opioid and alcohol um overdose um this issue spiral through my children who were also at nor Eastern University pursuing their their college um education and it reached a point where we had to figure out how to pay $40 $50,000 for them to continue their education and so this is definitely an issue that I I haven't heard much talk about I've been Seeking Justice for the past 23 years and uh we as Workforce members we definitely need Equitable legal representation and one of the suggestions that I make is um that we establish a One-Stop uh legal legal aid center maybe with the career center that's already established um to provide uh workers with the same legal representation that a Northeastern University or a Harvard University has otherwise we're no no competition for those um those entities also I would like to speak about um um I live on Vester Road and for the we've had nine um nine uh what was it nine block parties um to improve the street when I first moved here I've been living here for 30 years there were gunshots there were constantly fights the the building across the street 80 80 20 through 80 8 I'm sorry 820 through 828 Blue Hill a has been a problem property I have been calling neighbors have been calling uh regarding the dumpsters regarding the rats regarding the um bug infested and molded um mattresses that have been out there for at least a year and uh this is something that's really frustrating um we all have our own issues to deal with personally and we shouldn't find ourselves constantly calling the city of Boston regarding this property across the street and one of the things that I'm also disturbed about is uh this year we had our ninth block party not one city councelor showed up not one and I find that to be a problem considering all the work that we put into this and we're you know we're Vestor Road used to be a a Hotpot as I mentioned the police were constantly here I mean it it was just drugs you name it I don't know you know we still have work to do but we've come a long way and we definitely need the support of the city we shouldn't have to constantly call our city counselors we shouldn't have to call the police um to that degree we need Buy in from the city to support us as we um as we do the work to improve a Vestor Road um also so I have um a list of names since I worked at the sponsored research division at nor Eastern University during the course of this hearing I um some names came to my mind but I will submit those names uh with my written testimony if someone could inform me um how much time I have to prepare the written testimony that would be helpful uh so you can send into the the city council email at any time it's ccc.gov okay so I don't have a week is it two days or how how it's as long as as you need it's it's an open email okay so um we definitely need support um from our city councils and the mayor and everyone you know just to be on board and if we could also collaborate with the state with the uh federal government because you know I'll government has an obligation to take care of the constituents and um I just thank you for hearing me and um have a good night thank you so much cardian for for joining us uh I apologize uh that you're going through this everyone deserves to work in an environment where you're treated with dignity and respect so um we appreciate you letting us know about this and and if you can follow up in the email that you send the the address that you mention and um various other points of information that you'd like to make sure gets to your respective counselor in your at larges um do we have any other uh public testimony signups I'm asking Central staff no no more okay I think um I will pass it uh to the panelist actually I neglect to do this if they have any closing remarks that they'd like to say and then I'll pass to my colleagues uh please feel free to unmute yourself at this time if you want to provide any um closing thoughts I'm not seeing anybody thank you so much for being here and providing your invaluable expertise uh we so appreciate it um okay let's go to counselor warell uh thank you um again to The Advocates to everyone who played a part and will continue to play a part not only in um establishing or you know making uh Equity uh or embed Equity uh more ingrained in our local politics our decisionmaking processes not only here in Boston but you know throughout the country Just Want to Thank You U for joining us on this journey and I'm looking forward to what more you know what more can we do what more data can we collect um because um as we know um I think what is going to be the foundation that we stand on or you know be our legal defense is going to be the data it's going to be that data and I think we need to make sure that we have it uh when and when and if they do come um so I'm looking forward to strengthening uh this ordinance and in upcoming working sessions um but also just encourage that so many people are here um speaking in support of the ordinance um also just want to um uh let cardina know that I I was at the bester road block party um I must have missed you but um I was definitely there and I I did take a picture of a of a I just went through my note took a picture of a dumpster that was overflowing on 828 blue her lab that we have to make sure that they we stay on top of it but just wanted to say thank you again and I'm encouraged and look forward to um on this work thank thank you great uh councelor fernandz Anderson uh thank you madam chair um I think I'll just piggy back off of council Ro uh cardine I W I wasn't there but it's not my district I did send my staff to attend uh because it's not my district um but I would have loved to go if I had the time um I want to uh thank you Madame um chair for um prefacing our next uh working session and in terms of you know your recommendations I would like to see um them as well um as a co-sponsor if if that's okay with you um just so that I can sort of like check off um some of my uh recommendations and not be repetitive um and if that's okay with you I think you're Frozen um Madam chair but um I and councelor LEL thank you so much for um adding me on to this and I look forward to the conversation I think when Miss cardine was talking um we um I I kept thinking about C Weber and don't want to like sort of volunteer you into the this conversation but a lot of what um Miss Turner was you know expressing here um does um you know uh spark I I I think an interest in in a possible conversation in the future um in terms of the your uh budget amendment Council Weber um for um Legal Services or Aid um in housing but also like now looking into like Workforce and workers rights um considering and I'll let you speak to your experience but um really do appreciate you being here and um and the work that you've done in your career um to support um uh folks in terms of civil rights in the workplace um but I thank you and I look forward to more conversation um and Madam chair if you could if you're back with us I would love to hear um your recommendations again so that I can consult with mine thank you Central staff okay I saw that they promoted Ione which I believe is Council Keta that's me I I literally just jumped on I'm so sorry I um I got as far as let's compare notes um and would love to um hear anything else that you had mentioned counselor for any reason oh the rest was just uh bringing in councelor Weber's uh experience with uh Workforce um workers rights and um stuff like that and I didn't know how to specifically like talk on it so I was inviting him to talk about that if he was interested um and just saying that I was looking forward to the conversation thank you great thank you so much I I would love to um have this be a collaborative process uh and really look forward to these conversations with my colleagues uh I don't have anything um just gratitude and um just say thanks again to the panelists I appreciate your work and thank you to the to the makers um for this very thorough ordinance and I do look forward to these uh conversations it is our goal in the new year to have a working session expeditiously and so we'll work with the um lead sponsors to do that and then in the inter term having conversations to make this the strongest ordinance that we can that can um Advance racial equity in our city so with that I will uh go ahead and say that this I don't know you can see me my camera's oh I'm so sorry Mia I apologize thank you so much no go ahead I don't know my computer just got discombobulated here but um I wanted to just offer a few just I I really do appreciate the um the public testimony I I think that the more that we can lean into those who we're representing as we continue to have these conversations I think the better that this piece of legislation will be so um I welcome the feedback and I and I appreciate it and I just want to say thank you to councelor Morel um for being the data man here always making sure that we're holding all of ourselves accountable um to that return on investment so thank you and I look forward to the collaborative work great thank you so much um In fairness Council wber still on Council wber do you have any final thoughts sorry no no I'm happy to just take a compliment and uh appreciate the filers and I look forward to to working on it and I thank the panelists for for helping give us you know some added Direction and um you know I'm going to take their words to heart and look forward to working on this uh in the New Year very well great thank you everybody uh this hearing on uh docket 12000 is adjourned appreciate you all thank you Central staff --------- ##VIDEO ID:vqc5rD08pF4##  FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JOHN FITZGERALD DISTRICT THREE CITY COUNCILOR AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS AND RECOVERY . TODAY IS DECEMBER 2ND, 2020 FOR THIS HEARING IS BEING RECORDED. IT IS ALSO BEING LIVE STREAMED AT BOSTON DOT GOV BACKSLASH CITY DASH COUNCIL DASH TV AND BROADCAST ON XFINITY CHANNEL EIGHT RCN CHANNEL 82 FIREHOUSE CHANNEL 964. WRITTEN COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO THE COMMITTEE EMAIL AT C C C DOT HEALTH AT BOSTON DOT GOV AND WILL BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD AND AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNCILORS. PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE TAKEN AT THE END OF THIS HEARING. INDIVIDUALS WILL BE CALLED ON IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY SIGNED UP AND WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES TO TESTIFY. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TESTIFYING IN PERSON PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO THE SIGN UP SHEET NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF THE CHAMBER.  IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO TESTIFY VIRTUALLY PLEASE EMAIL OUR CENTRAL STAFF LIAISON KARISHMA CHOHAN AT KARISHMA KUAR.  I ASK H M A DOT CH0UH AND AT BOSTON DOT GOV FOR THE LINK AND YOUR NAME WILL BE ADDED TO THE LIST. TODAY'S HEARING IS ON DOCKET NUMBER 0998 ORDER FOR A HEARING REGARDING BOSTON LGBTIQ PLUS YOUTH COMMUNITY SPACES AND THEIR PUBLIC BENEFITS. THIS MATTERED WAS SPONSORED BY COUNCILORS HENRY SANTANA, TANYA FERNANDEZ ANDERSON AND BENJAMIN WEBER AND WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON JUNE 12TH, 2024.  TODAY I'M JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL COUNCILOR FLYNN AND COUNCILOR SANTANA, COUNCILOR WEBER THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE. I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR A QUICK ONE MINUTE OPENING REMARK FROM THE SPONSORS AND OUR OTHER COUNCILORS.  SO BE IT. HENRY WE COULD START WITH YOU, SIR. GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU, MR CHAIR AND GOOD MORNING TO MY COLLEAGUES, PANELISTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY FOR THIS IMPORTANT HEARING ON BOSTON LGBTQ LGBTQ YOUTH COMMUNITY SPACES FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND BENEFITS LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH IN BOSTON FACE THIS OPPORTUNITY CHALLENGES INCLUDING HIGHLY HEIGHTENED RISK FOR INSANITY, DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE. THESE CHALLENGES ARE NOT JUST STATISTICS THEY ARE REAL LIFE BARRIERS THAT IMPACT YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES EVERY DAY. WHILE SCHOOL BASED RESOURCES LIKE GSA'S PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE, TODAY'S HEARING FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY SPACES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL WHILE LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH CAN FIND SUPPORT,  AFFIRMATION AND CONNECTION. THIS IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT BOSTON IS A CITY WHERE EVERY YOUNG PERSON FEELS VALUED, SAFE AND SUPPORTED REGARDLESS OF THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY. OUR GOAL TODAY IS TO EXPLORE HOW COMMUNITY SPACES WHETHER PHYSICAL, VIRTUAL OR PROGRAM PROGRAMMATIC CAN FOSTER MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING FOR OUR LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH AND IDENTIFY HOW THE CITY CAN BETTER SUPPORT THESE INITIATIVES. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM OUR PANELISTS WHOSE LIVED EXPERIENCE, RESEARCH AND EXPERTISE WILL GUIDE US IN CREATING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND SUPPORTIVE BOSTON LET US USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN, LEARN AND COMMIT TO MEANINGFUL ACTION. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR SANTANA. MEMBER THANK YOU.  THANKS FOR FOR BEING HERE. YOU KNOW, AS A AS A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF BOSTON, AS A PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN AND DPS, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE SAFE SPACES FOR FOR ALL OF OUR OUR KIDS AND YOU KNOW, THAT INCLUDES SAFE SPACES FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.  YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S ESPECIALLY TROUBLING NOW THAT WE I THINK 19 STATES IN THE LAST YEAR PASSED LAWS RESTRICTING ACCESS TO GENDER AFFIRMING MEDICAL CARE FOR MINORS.  AND YOU KNOW, I THINK IF YOU READ THE NEWSPAPER OR WATCH THE NEWS YOU FEEL LIKE UH, THIS COMMUNITY IS UNDER ATTACK NATIONWIDE AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS A CITY TO STAND UP AND BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME AND PEOPLE FEEL THEY CAN BE THEIR THEIR TRUE SELVES.  AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING PART OF THAT PROCESS.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL FLYNN.  THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS.  THANK YOU TO THE PANEL FOR BEING HERE FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE PANEL THIS MORNING OUTSTANDING LEADERS NOT JUST IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY ON SO MANY OTHER ISSUES. WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE STRONG LEADERS SUCH AS THIS DEDICATED GROUP HERE. THIS IS A CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU COUNCILOR . I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE FIRST OF TODAY'S THREE PANELS THAT WE HAVE. THIS IS OUR YOUTH PANEL. WE HAVE ELLEN OLIVER AND LEVI.  FOLKS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. IT'S GREAT. I ASSUME THAT YOU ALL HAVE SIGNED OFF HALL PASSES TO BE OUT OF SCHOOL TO BE HERE TODAY. WE'RE OKAY. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE FOR THAT. OKAY.  JUST CHECKING. I DON'T WANT TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.  I UNDERSTAND YOU GUYS HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION TO MAKE.  YEAH, I JUST GOES ALONG WITH WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. YEAH. NO, ABSOLUTELY. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU GUYS. YOU GUYS JUST PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND THEN WE'LL BE HAPPY TO LISTEN AND WE'LL DO QUESTIONS AFTER YOUR PRESENTATION AS WE INTRODUCE ONE AT A TIME AS YOU GUYS GO. SURE. OKAY. HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ELLEN. MY PRONOUNS ARE HE HIM AND THEY. I AM A STUDENT AT MILTON HIGH SCHOOL AND I AM HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT YOUTH COMMUNITY SPACES. SO I USE COMMUNITY SPACE IS JUST A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN COME TO SOCIALIZE TO TO LEARN TO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND IN NOT ONLY MASSACHUSETTS BUT THE ENTIRE UNITED.  YOUTH HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING TO FIND PLACES LIKE THIS TO FIT IN THEIR.  THE MENTAL HEALTH HAS BEEN TROUBLING.  YOU CAN SEE THERE THE RATES OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. THIS IS IN MASSACHUSETTS PARTICULAR IS 71% FOR ANXIETY AND 51% FOR DEPRESSION FOR YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH OF  YOUTH WHICH IS FAR HIGHER THAN THAT OF THEIR NON COUNTERPARTS.  THERE'S ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION AND ANTI LEGISLATION RISING RAPIDLY AROUND THE COUNTRY. YOU CAN SEE THIS IS FROM THIS IS FROM 2021 TO 2024. AND SO THIS HAS GONE UP BUT IN CORRELATION TO THAT YOU CAN SEE THAT IN MASSACHUSETTS ALONE 90% OF LGBTQ BOYS YOUTH HAVE SEEN A NEGATIVE EFFECT IN THEIR WELL-BEING FROM THIS ANTI-TRANS RHETORIC. THIS IS IN MASSACHUSETTS THE PLACE WITH WHICH IS HAS VERY LITTLE OF THIS LEGISLATION AND SO YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW THIS COMPARES AROUND THE COUNTRY.  YOU CAN SEE THIS AFFECTS NOT ONLY MENTAL HEALTH BUT PHYSICAL HEALTH. THERE HAS BEEN UP TO OVER A 72% INCREASE IN SUICIDE BY TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NONCONFORMING YOUTH.  OFTEN IN CORRELATION TO THE HOPELESSNESS CAUSED BY THE EVERYONE THE FEELING OF THAT EVERYONE DOES NOT VALUE THEIR PRESENCE AND THEIR LIFE.  AND IN SCHOOLS IT HAS ALSO BEEN SEEN THAT HATE CRIMES HAVE BEEN RAPIDLY RISING.  THIS IS A GRAPH FROM 2018 TO 2022. YOU CAN SEE JUST THE LEAP BETWEEN 2019 AND 2020 AND WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW. IT SHOWS NO SIGN OF STOPPING AT THE MOMENT.  SO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OLIVER AND I HAVE CREATED A ONE VERY WELL WORKING SPACE AT THE MILTON PUBLIC LIBRARY WHERE THE STUDENTS AT MILTON HIGH SCHOOL AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR IS PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER FROM MULTIPLE SCHOOLS, MULTIPLE AGE GROUPS, MANY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS TO COLLECTIVELY FORM THIS SPACE FOR OF COMMUNITY OF LEARNING AND OF JUST A FEELING OF BEING SAFE. WE HAVE SEEN HONESTLY I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE GROW.  THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW. I'VE SEEN PEOPLE GROW FROM BEING VERY SHY AND NOT NOT SO OUTGOING TO BECOMING THESE LARGER MORE OUTGOING PERSONALITIES WHO WILL SPEAK UP FOR THEMSELVES, WHO WILL ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES. AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN HAVING THIS SPACE TO OPENLY BE THEMSELVES AND TO DEVELOP THEMSELVES IN A PLACE THAT FEELS THAT THEY FEEL THAT THEY CAN TAKE UP SPACE. HAVING THESE SPACES ALLOWS PEOPLE ALLOWS THE SPACE FOR THEM TO REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG AND THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BE THERE AND THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO JUST EXIST AS PEOPLE IN A SOCIETY THAT SO OFTEN TELLS THEM THAT THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO EXIST, THAT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO EXIST, THAT THEY MUST SHRINK THEMSELVES SOMETHING SMALLER FOR THE COMFORT OF AROUND THEM. IT'S A PLACE OF PEER SUPPORT. IF SOMEBODY IS HAVING A HARD DAY THEY CAN TALK TO ANOTHER PERSON. WE HAVE A PROGRAM WITH A THAT IS REALLY THE THE YOUTH TELL WHAT IS NEEDED AND WHAT IS WANTED AND THEN WE HAVE A A AN ADULT SUPERVISOR A LIBRARIAN. IN OUR CASE THOUGH, THIS COULD VARY IF THIS TOOK PLACE IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF ALL THAT YOU NEED FOR A SPACE IS FOR YOUTH A SPACE A PHYSICAL SPACE, AN ADULT SPONSOR OR SUPPORTER AND SUPPORTER AND MAYBE SOME SNACKS AND REALLY THAT'S THAT'S ALL THAT IT TAKES IN SOMETHING THAT CAN SO HAVE SUCH AN IMPACT A POSITIVE IMPACT ON SOMEONE'S MENTAL HEALTH AND CAN JUST HELP SOMEONE GROW AS A PERSON AND COULD EVEN BE LIFE SAVING IN SOME SCENARIOS.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  HI, I'M OLIVER AND MY PRONOUNS ARE HIM. I ALSO GO TO MY SCHOOL WHICH I DON'T THINK IT WAS MENTIONED BUT IT'S A SUBURB OF BOSTON JUST SOUTH OF HERE AND I AM ALSO A FOUNDER OF OUR SPACE.  WHEN WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM IT WAS BECAUSE NONE OF US REALLY FELT COMFORTABLE EXPRESSING WHO WE TRULY WERE AT SCHOOL.  I HAVE FRIENDS WHO WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM THEY WEREN'T. I HAVE FRIENDS WHO WERE NEVER OUT AT SCHOOL AND THEY DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE SHARING THEIR TRUE IDENTITY WITH THEIR TEACHERS OR THEIR PEERS IN FEAR OF BEING FOUND OUT OR MADE FUN OF . ORIGINALLY I DID GO TO OUR SCHOOL JESUS BUT OFTENTIMES IT WOULD DEVOLVE INTO JUST RANTING ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF THE WORLD OR BEING STRESSED ABOUT THE PEERS THAT WERE MAKING FUN OF THEM AND IT OFTEN DIDN'T LEAD TO ANYTHING PRODUCTIVE OR EVEN COMFORTABLE.  SO WHEN WE STARTED THIS SPACE IT WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAD A SPACE WHERE THEY CAN BE SAFE AND FEEL LIKE THEY CAN MAKE A CHANGE.  WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM WITH STUDENTS WHO DON'T GO TO OUR SCHOOLS WHICH WAS A HUGE CHANGE FROM THE SCHOOL GSA IS. WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO WERE HOMESCHOOLED OR WHO JUST HAD DROPPED OUT BECAUSE OF PERSONAL REASONS AND IT WAS JUST IT'S MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE AS EVERYONE SAID, IT'S SUCH A GOOD WAY TO INTERACT WITH OUR PEERS ,INTERACT WITH PEOPLE WHO WE WOULD INTERACT WITH NORMALLY AND IT'S IS A GREAT SPACE TO BE OURSELVES. WE IT'S A LOT OF SOCIALIZATION BUT ALSO A LOT OF IT IS WHEN WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WE BREAK OFF INTO GROUPS AND TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT EVENTS.  SO WHAT I'M SORT OF PROPOSING WITH THIS IS EITHER GSA IS BECOME A SAFER, MORE ACCEPTING MORE OPEN SPACE FOR STUDENTS OR WE PROMOTE THIS INITIATIVE IN SPACES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LEVI CRUZ AND I USE PRONOUNS LIKE HE AND THEY.  I AM 22 YEARS OLD SO ALTHOUGH I'M NOT A HIGH SCHOOLER UNFORTUNATELY SOMETIMES I AM A TODDLER TEACHER JUST OUTSIDE OF BOSTON AND ALTHOUGH I AM OVER 21 AND I AM AN ADULT I AM STILL A PART OF A PERCENTAGE THAT MAKES UP BAGLEY WHICH IS OUR COMMUNITY CENTER THAT IS YOUTH LED AND ADULT SUPPORTED.  I JUST ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE WHO'S 29 AND UNDER 25 AND UNDER FOR CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE CENTER I UTILIZE A LOT OF OUR SERVICES THAT ARE OFFERED AT BAGLEY WHICH WE CAN ONLY OFFER WITH THE SUPPORT OF A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY.  COMMUNITY CENTERS HAVE GIVEN ME THE CHANCE TO IMPROVE MY PERSON AND IN ITS ENTIRETY.  MY MENTAL HEALTH IS SUPPORTED BY BAGLEY, MY PHYSICAL HEALTH IS SUPPORTED BY BAGLEY AND MY RELATIONSHIPS ARE SUPPORTED BY BAGLEY WHICH MAKES IT THAT MUCH EASIER TO LIVE IN A SOCIETY ESPECIALLY WITH ONE THAT CAN BE SO AGAINST WHO I AM.  AND BAGLEY HAS PROVIDED ME WITH RESOURCES THAT I DON'T HAVE IN MY EVERYDAY LIFE LIKE CERTAIN EDUCATIONAL THINGS THAT I WOULD HAVE NEVER LEARNED IN SCHOOL AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN ANYWHERE ELSE WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATED.  OUR SPACE OFFERS VITAL THINGS THAT I KNOW HAVE HELPED ME AS A PERSON AND THAT I'VE SEEN HELP SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE. IT OFFERS THINGS LIKE GENDER AFFIRMING SUPPLIES, FOOD THERE'S A WASHING MACHINE AND DRYER WHICH CAN BE EXPENSIVE IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT IN YOUR HOUSE AND IT JUST HAS I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND JUST BEING THERE IN OUR COMMUNITY SPACE THAT IT OFFERS SUCH LIFE CHANGING THINGS THAT PEOPLE FROM THE OUTSIDE MAY NOT SEE.  AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO OFFER THAT AND BE A PART OF THAT AND ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO WANT THAT FOR THE COMMUNITY WITH THEIR USE.  BAGLEY IS PRETTY ACCESSIBLE FOR MOST BUT NOT FOR ALL WHICH CAN BE KIND OF , YOU KNOW, HEARTBREAKING WHEN THERE'S SOMEONE OUT WAY IN WESTERN MASS WHO CAN'T GET TO SOMEWHERE. THERE SHOULD BE MORE COMMUNITY CENTERS. PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO WHERE THEY ARE WELCOMED AND SAFE AND I'M HOPING THAT MORE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT AND THAT IT CAN BE JUST SO MUCH MORE THAN SOMETHING YOU JUST DROP INTO IF THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE. BUT ALSO THERE IS JUST SO MUCH MORE.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND ELLEN, OLIVER AND LEVI, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING UP HERE ON OUR FIRST PANEL TODAY. WE'RE NOW GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO QUESTIONS FROM OUR FELLOW COUNCILORS.  THEY'LL EACH HAVE 4 MINUTES TO ASK YOU GUYS SOME QUESTIONS THEY DON'T HAVE TO USE ALL OF THEIR TIME BUT THEY WILL IF THEY WANT TO AND WE WILL START WITH OUR SPONSOR, COUNCILOR SANTANA. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR, AND THANK YOU FOR OUR PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE. REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENCE BUT ALSO YOUR TESTIMONIES.  ELLEN, I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT ,YOU KNOW, WHAT GOES INTO ACTUALLY CREATING SOME OF THESE BUT YOU KNOW ONE OF THESE PIECES IN AN IDEAL WORLD I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU TALKED ABOUT PHYSICAL SPACE BEING BRINGING YOUTH. YOU MENTIONED IN A DOLL SPONSOR AS THEY MIGRATE.  WHAT WHAT'S THE ROLE OF THAT DOLL SPONSOR? HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT FINDING THAT ADULT SPONSOR AND YEAH,  WELL AT OUR LIBRARY YOU'LL ACTUALLY SEE TYLER UP THERE AND TYLER IS A YOUTH LIBRARIAN, A TEEN LIBRARIAN AT OUR LIBRARY AND IS IN CHARGE OF THE TEEN PROGRAMS. TYLER WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE IN IN CREATING THIS SPACE FOR US AND HELPING US CREATE THE SPACE IT REALLY TAKES JUST ONE PERSON, JUST ONE SUPPORTIVE ADULT IN THE COMMUNITY TO BRING TOGETHER THIS GROUP. WE DO TO ORGANIZE, FIND A DAY RESERVE A ROOM AND OBTAIN WHATEVER RESOURCES COLLECT PERHAPS COLLECT SOME NEWS STORIES TO KEEP EVERYONE UP TO DATE ON WHAT THE GOINGS ON IN THE WORLD BUT JUST ONE SUPPORT OF ADULT IN ANY WAY THIS COULD BE A VOLUNTEER OR SOMEONE WHO IS PART OF A PROGRAM LIKE A LIBRARIAN OR AT A COMMUNITY SPACE THAT DOES NOT HONESTLY NEED TO BE A ADULT JUST IN SOMEONE WHO SUPPORTS YOUTH. YEAH WELL THANK YOU.  AND THEN YOU KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS THIS PHYSICAL SPACE TO YOU KNOW I MEAN IMPACTS YOUR YOU KNOW THE MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL BEING CAN USE GO MORE INTO DETAIL ABOUT YOU KNOW AND MAYBE SHARE EXAMPLES OF OF INDIVIDUALS YOU KNOW WHO FELT YOU KNOW THEY CAME INTO YOUR SPACE YOU KNOW THAT THEY DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES OR ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH OR STRUGGLE STRUGGLING WITH FINDING COMMUNITY AND CAN JUST TALK ABOUT LIKE THE STRUCTURES THAT YOU PUT IN PLACE IS IT'S A VERY IT'S A KIND OF IT'S VERY MUCH LIKE THE WHO STRUCTURES THE SPACE, YOU KNOW I KNOW YOU MENTIONED SOCIALIZING. I MEAN I JUST WANT TO KNOW MORE OF AN IDEA OF KNOW WHAT THIS SPACE LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT RESOURCES, YOU KNOW, COULD POTENTIALLY BE AVAILABLE.  OLIVER, FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN ON THIS ONE. ONE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS IS SOMEONE WHO WAS STRUGGLING WHEN WHEN I BELIEVE IT WAS IN THEIR JUNIOR YEAR SO THEY WERE SEVEN TEEN I WANT TO SAY OR 18 AND WAS STRUGGLING PRETTY BADLY WITH MENTAL HEALTH WHICH CAUSED THEM TO HAVE TO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL.  THEY ENDED UP FINDING THEY CAME TO THE LIBRARY QUITE FREQUENTLY. THEY'RE ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THIS PROGRAM AND ENDED UP FINDING THIS PROGRAM AND MEETING A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE MET OUTSIDE BECAUSE THEY WERE HOMESCHOOLED AND DIDN'T OR HADN'T WERE NOT NO LONGER IN SCHOOL AND THEREFORE DID NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THE SCHOOL PROVIDED THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND THIS PROGRAM AND MEET A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE WHICH REALLY BECAME LIKE A CATALYST TO FOR THEM TO JUST KIND OF FEEL THIS SENSE OF BELONGING AND DETERMINED DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE TO PERSEVERE IN LIFE AND WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THE WORLD AROUND THEM THEY ENDED UP MOVING A COUPLE OF SEATS AWAY BUT STILL COME BACK PRETTY OFTEN MOVE TO ENDED UP MOVING BACK AND I BELIEVE IS NOW WORKING ON GETTING THEIR GED THAT COMES WITH THE SUPPORT OF HAVING AN ADULT WITH RESOURCES AS WELL AS A COMMUNITY OF YOUTH.  THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE I CAN GIVE THEM. THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. REALLY APPRECIATE OUR PANELISTS HERE. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.  THANK YOU, COUNSELOR SANTANA COUNSELOR WEBER THANK YOU AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. SO I GUESS IF I WERE TALKING I KNOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE TIME OUTSIDE OF SCHOOLS BUT FIRST START INSIDE OF SCHOOL IF SOMEBODY IS LOOKING TO START A SPACE LIKE THIS LIKE WHAT IS THE PROCESS THAT YOU RECOMMEND ? WE'RE JUST START WITH KIDS TO START WITH TEACHERS.  YOU KNOW HOW DO YOU GET SOMETHING LIKE THIS UP AND RUNNING?  I WOULD SAY IT HAS TO START WITH THE STUDENTS. IF A TEACHER TRIES TO START THIS CLUB AND THERE'S NO INTEREST I KNOW AT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AFTER WE LEFT THE GSA KIND OF CRUMBLED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO INTEREST ANYMORE. SO HAVING STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED AND THEN THEM FINDING AN ADULT THEY TRUST AND WHO IS WILLING TO YOU KNOW,  GIVE THEM A ROOM TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND THEN AFTER THAT IT'S UP TO THE STAFF MEMBER. IT'S IT'S SORT OF JUST LIKE A NORMAL CLUB.  THE STAFF MEMBER HAS TO, YOU KNOW, FILE FOR HOWEVER MAKING A CLUB WORKS I DON'T KNOW I'VE NEVER BEEN ON THE END OF THAT BUT YEAH OKAY AND THEN OUTSIDE OF SCHOOLS I GUESS WE HEARD ABOUT LIBRARIES MUSIC WHAT KINDS OF SPACES WORK? WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR IN A SPACE? YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ON YOUR TOP OF YOUR LIST OF THINGS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE IN PLACE TO MAKE A SPACE SUCCESSFUL?  WELL WE USE THE CONFERENCE ROOMS IN OUR LIBRARY BECAUSE OFTENTIMES THIS IS A MORE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE I WOULD SAY THAN A REGULAR CLUB. SO HAVING THAT SPACE SEPARATED FROM LIKE IT'S STILL PUBLIC SPACE BUT IT'S MORE PRIVATE IN A WAY IF THAT MAKES SENSE. SO SOMEWHERE THAT'S ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE BUT STILL A LITTLE BIT SEPARATED IS THE IDEAL SPACE AT LEAST FOR ME . I LIKE YOU KNOW I WAS GOING TO SAY SOME OF THE PLACES THAT WE WERE CONSIDERING FOR USE FOR THESE PROGRAMS WOULD BE PLACES SUCH AS BRANCHES OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY OR BCU BY F LOCATIONS. IT JUST NEEDS TO BE A PLACE THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE AROUND IT OFTEN CLOSE TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS A GOOD IDEA AND THEN AS OLIVER SAID SOMEWHERE FAIRLY PRIVATE JUST A ROOM, A PRIVATE ROOM WHICH ALL OF THESE PLACES HAVE JUST A CONFERENCE ROOM WORK SOMEWHERE WITH CHAIRS AND A TABLE YEAH I GUESS IN A IN A CITY THE SIZE OF BOSTON WOULD WOULD YOU ADVISE LIKE WE HAVE SOMETHING IN EACH NEIGHBORHOOD OR WAS IT BETTER AT LIKE IN THE CENTRAL LIBRARY PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER THERE.  SO I THINK WHAT WOULD BE MOST BENEFICIAL IS FINDING OUT LIKE WHAT COMMUNITIES NEED WHAT SO LIKE I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SAY THAT ONE YOU KNOW LIKE EVERY TWO BLOCKS WOULD MAKE SENSE BUT I DEFINITELY THINK THAT A GENERAL LOCATION IN THAT CONTINUES TO BE ACCESSIBLE WOULD BE VERY NICE. I THINK EVEN UTILIZING ARE REALLY, REALLY AWESOME SCHOOLS LIKE OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES OR SOME OF OUR BIGGER COLLEGES THAT HAVE THESE ROOMS.  I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY BENEFICIAL BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM ARE OFF OF LIKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND I WOULD SAY JUST YEAH MORE FREQUENT. I MEAN WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH HERE IN BOSTON TO HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOLS AROUND AND A LOT OF SPACES. SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE A THE BETTER THAT I GUESS THE MORE LIKE BETTER BANG FOR YOUR BUCK I GUESS I COULD PUT IT SO YOU WOULD RATHER HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD IT WOULD BE NEAR WHERE YOU LIVED AS OPPOSED TO LIKE YOU KNOW I'D LIKE YEAH I LIVE IN I COULD USE THE LIBRARY BUT I THINK OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT JUST I WANT TO GET OUT OF THEIR HOME NEIGHBORHOOD AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND MEET PEOPLE FROM YOU KNOW YOU KNOW, INTERACT WITH PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE CITY. BUT SEE, I THINK WHAT I'M GETTING FROM YOU IS LOCAL WOULD BE PREFERABLE.  YEAH, JUST SOMEWHERE I MEAN, ESPECIALLY SINCE THESE ARE STUDENTS TRANSPORTATION CAN BE AN ISSUE AND SO HAVING SOMETHING THAT'S FAIRLY CLOSE TO THEM IS IMPORTANT. OF COURSE THERE IS POTENTIAL WITH THESE PROGRAMS TO KIND OF CREATE SOME SORT OF OVERARCHING BOARD WITH LIKE REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH AREA THAT COULD COME TOGETHER TO CREATE EVENTS THAT ARE LIKE INTER THAT THAT BRING TOGETHER DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, DIFFERENT GROUPS TO MEET EACH OTHER AND WHICH CAN BE REALLY COOL TO MEET PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF WHERE YOU LIVE, GAIN PERSPECTIVE AND JUST MEET NEW FRIENDS BECAUSE ABOVE ALL IT IS A SOCIAL SPACE. IT IS A PLACE TO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND ANY WAY TO DO THAT.  OKAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU JIM. THANK YOU COUNCILOR CARDS OFFLINE.  THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.  AND AGAIN THANK YOU TO THE PANEL FOR BEING HERE.  I'D LIKE TO START OFF IN ASKING HAVE WE SEEN WHETHER IT'S IN MELTON OR BOSTON OR ANY OF YOUR FRIENDS HAVE WE SEEN ANY HATE CRIMES AGAINST THE LGBTQ? Q COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY? HAVE WE SEEN A RISE IN THAT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS?  ABSOLUTELY. IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AT LEAST THERE WAS SEVERAL INCIDENTS PEOPLE LOOKING UP EACH OTHER'S SKIRTS, PEOPLE MAKING JOKES WHEN WE WORE PRIDE FLAGS TO SCHOOL SO MUCH SO THAT WE HAD TO MANY LONE AND A COUPLE OF FRIENDS IMPLEMENT A CURRICULUM ABOUT HATE SPEECH AND TEACHING THE STUDENTS WHAT HATE SPEECH IS AND WHY IT'S SO BAD. SO YOU KNOW IT'S IT'S DEFINITELY RISING AND HAVING THESE SPACES JUST MAKES IT EASIER TO COPE WITH THAT. YEAH, MY AGGRESSIONS AND MICROAGGRESSIONS ARE PREVALENT AND HAVE REALLY ONLY GROWN IN THE PAST FEW YEARS IN OUR EXPERIENCE AND I KNOW THIS IS A COMMON EXPERIENCE FOR MANY YOUTH ADMINISTRATION OFTEN WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THE INCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED EVEN WITH EVIDENCE LIKE VIDEO EVIDENCE OF SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS FIND A WAY TO JUST WALK AROUND IT OR WE WHEN REPORTING INCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED OF MICROAGGRESSIONS OR MICROAGGRESSIONS OFTEN WE HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE IF IT'S OVER EMAIL OR EVEN IN PERSON IT'S ALWAYS WE'LL DO SOMETHING NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS AND THEN WHEN THE NEXT TIME DOES HAPPEN NOTHING ENDS UP HAPPENING.  SO HAVING THESE SPACES AND HAVING THESE RESOURCES IN A TRUSTED ADULT IS JUST CRUCIAL TO THE WELL-BEING OF YOUTH.  I THINK I HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE. I MEAN I'VE BEEN OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL FOR A LITTLE BIT NOW BUT I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT IT WAS EASY TO FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO DISH OUT DISRESPECTED MICROAGGRESSIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND HATEFUL RHETORIC AND BE OVERSEEN AND OVERLOOKED AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, MY OWN PROBLEM TO DEAL WITH IF SOMEONE DID IT TO ME WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT AND I MEAN EVEN NOW IN THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN, I THINK IT WOULD BE KIND OF HARD FOR ANYONE TO DENY THAT THERE IS A LOT MORE HATEFUL RHETORIC GOING AROUND WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION I'D SAY YEAH, I HAVE SEEN A LOT AND I MEAN EVEN PERSONALLY I'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT AS WELL.  THANK YOU. MY FINAL QUESTION IS HAVE YOU DONE ANY WORK OF YOU REACHED OUT TO BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS? I KNOW THEY DO SOME EXCELLENT WORK AND HELPING THE THE YOUTH ON SOME OF THESE SOME OF THESE ISSUES BUT I KNOW THEY HAVE A TREMENDOUS RECORD IN THE CITY AND THROUGHOUT GREATER BOSTON AS WELL. BUT IS THAT A PARTNERSHIP THAT YOU HAVE WORKED WITH OF LEARNED FROM?  I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEIR ORGANIZATION.  I DON'T THINK I'VE GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO YET CONNECT WITH THEM BUT FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN THEY SEEM AMAZING AND ALSO FROM A LOT OF OUR OTHER ALLIES AND SPONSORS AND COMPANIES THAT REALLY HELP US LIKE COMMUNITY SPACES LIKE BAGLEY OR A.P.C AND YOU KNOW THE IDENTITY PROJECT THEY ALL DO A LOT OF AMAZING WORK AS WELL.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE PANEL. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.  THANK YOU, COUNCILOR . WE'VE ALSO BEEN JOINED BY COUNCILOR PIPPIN COUNCILOR OF QUESTIONS HE WAS POSED THE FIRST SINCE HE WAS OUTSIDE COUNCILOR BRAIN HOW WERE YOU JOINED BY COUNCILOR IS AN IDEA IN THE CORNER ALL RIGHT.  WHY DON'T YOU LADIES FIRST THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE REACTION.  I KNOW WE'RE IN A VERY DIFFICULT TIME RIGHT NOW.  THE REACTION HAS THERE BEEN ANY REACTION FROM PARENTS, OTHER PARENTS WHO ARE SORT OF ANTI LGBT HAVING AN ANTI LGBT?  HAVE YOU HAD OBJECTIONS TO HOLDING HAVING A SAFE SPACE IN THE SCHOOL FOR FOR LGBT YOUTH? HAVE YOU HAD ANY REACTION FROM OTHER PARENTS WHO MAY NOT BE ON THE SAME PAGE AS WE ARE?  WE HAVE NOT PERSONALLY HAD ENCOUNTERED THAT.  THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED FOR SURE AROUND THE COUNTRY IN A LOT OF CASES THAT IS WHY IS THAT IS EVEN FURTHER MORE SO WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THESE SPACES BECAUSE AT HOME OFTEN IT IS IT IS NOT SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR IDENTITY OR THEY DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR IDENTITY OR THERE IS NO WHEN THEY ARE ROLE MODELS OF THE SAME IN THE SAME SITUATION AS THEM TO LOOK UP TO THE IN IN I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN QUESTIONING ABOUT WHY IT IS NECESSARY OR IF IT IS NECESSARY WHICH I WOULD OF COURSE SAY IT IS. YEAH BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN EXPLICIT PUSHBACK.  I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION ON WHAT SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T BE IN SCHOOLS, PARENTS INCLUDED AND PEOPLE WHO AREN'T PARENTS, EDUCATORS EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION ON WHAT SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T BE IN THIS SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT AND I THINK THAT THAT CAN SOMETIMES GO AGAINST WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE BELIEVE. SO THERE HAS BEEN PUSHBACK FORTUNATELY I HAVEN'T NECESSARILY SEEN IT IN MY OWN LIFE WHICH IS REALLY NICE. BUT I BELIEVE THAT STUDENTS SHOULD GO TO SCHOOL WHOLE THEIR WHOLE BEING SHOULD BE THERE SO THEY CAN GET THE PROPER EDUCATION AND LGBT Q PLUS YOUTH THAT'S PART OF THEIR IDENTITY. THAT'S PART OF THEIR WHOLE PERSON. SO THERE SHOULD BE A SPACE IN SCHOOL FOR THAT WHETHER PARENTS HAVE PUSHBACK BACK OR NOT I THINK BEING ABLE TO TURN UP FULLY AS YOUR WHOLE SELF IN SCHOOL IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO YOUR GROWTH AND AND YOU NEED TO BE SUPPORTED IN WHO YOU ARE IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENT LIKE I LIKE THE IDEA OF YOU KNOW LOOKING AT SAFE SPACES A, B C WHERE YOU HAVE CENTERS I KNOW WE HAVE A WE HAVE AN INFORMAL GROUP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S THE AN ADULT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS SORT OF CREATED A SAFE SPACE AT OUR HOUSE FOR FOR FOLKS AND WE REALLY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A SPACE AND A COMMUNITY CENTER WHATEVER TO DO THAT BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET JUST IN TERMS OF SPREADING THE WORD, HOW DO YOU JUST YOU KNOW, THE GAY-STRAIGHT ALLIANCE I KNOW WHEN I CAME HERE FIRST MY EXPERIENCE IN HIGH SCHOOL WAS NOT A POSITIVE ONE AND WHEN I CAME HERE AND I WENT TO MY FIRST GAY GAY PRIDE PARADE AND I SAW THE GAY STRAIGHT ALLIANCE AND ALL OF A I SAW THE SCHOOLS SUPPORTING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, I WAS REALLY MOVED BY THAT AND I THINK I HOPE THAT CAN CONTINUE GIVEN GIVEN THE PLEASANT CIRCUMSTANCES BUT IN TERMS OF JUST FINDING ADULTS TO CREATE THAT SPACE OR NOT EVEN EVEN JUST BE THERE, HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT ASKING PEOPLE GETTING PEOPLE TO SUPPORT YOU? GENERALLY FOR US WE USE WORD OF MOUTH HAVING THIS SORT OF THING ONLINE PUBLICLY CAN BE REALLY SCARY AND CAN SOMETIMES BE HARMFUL TO THE PEOPLE. SO USING WORD OF MOUTH IS OUR SAFEST BET AND SORT OF GOING BACK TO YOUR OTHER QUESTION EARLIER, I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO ANSWER UM HAVING OUR SPACE IN A LIBRARY.  IT ALLOWS FOR US TO AVOID THAT PUSHBACK FROM PARENTS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WHEN PARENTS AREN'T ACCEPTING THAT THE STUDENTS CAN JUST SAY I'M GOING TO THE LIBRARY YEAH INSTEAD OF SAYING OH I'M GOING TO GSA AFTER SCHOOL.  YEAH YEAH, YEAH IT MAKES SENSE . WELL THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH YOUR LEADERSHIP, THE SPACE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR BRAYDEN COUNCILOR THEN THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO OUR PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR THE ADVOCACY WORK THAT YOU DO. I REMEMBER I WAS PART OF A IT'S CALLED THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL . I WAS IN ONE OF THEIR MEETINGS AND WE WERE DOING A BUDGET CONVERSATION AND ONE OF THE ASK WAS TO ALLOCATE SOME MONEY FOR THIS TYPE OF SPACE SOMEWHERE IN THE CITY. SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE STILL HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AND THAT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF ADVOCACY WORK BEHIND IT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I REMEMBER THAT PART OF THAT CONVERSATION WAS ONE OF THOUGH I FORGET WHO IT WAS BUT ONE OF THE PEOPLE SPEAKING SAID THAT IT WAS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF A SPACE AT A LIBRARY LIKE YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR SPEECH IT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO HERE IN BOSTON. MY QUESTION IS EVEN BIGGER THAN THAT IS IF WE WERE TO HAVE A SPACE, WHAT IS YOUR OUTREACH LIKE TO THE YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY? HOW DO YOU GUYS HOW DO YOU GUYS FOLLOW UP WITH PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THIS TYPE OF SERVICE?  UM IS IT IS IT A REGIONAL EFFORT? IS IT A CITYWIDE EFFORT? WHAT IS IT LIKE SO I CAN SPEAK MAINLY FOR BAGLEY BECAUSE THAT'S A LOT OF WHERE MY ADVOCACY AND ALL OF THE OUTREACH I DO IS STEMMED FROM BAGLEY IS A PART OF THE UGLY NETWORK THAT'S ALL ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS SO WE DO A LOT OF OUTREACH TOWARDS THEM HERE AT BAGLEY IN PARTICULAR I KNOW FOR ME I'M ONE OF THE HEART LEADERS, ONE OF THE PEER LEADERS SO I DO A LOT OF THE HEALTH EDUCATION RISK REDUCTION SERVICES AND SOMETHING WE DO IS WE OFFER A LOT OF OUR SUPPLIES OUTWARD SO ANOTHER NETWORK WILL CALL US ANOTHER COMMUNITY CENTER, SOMEONE WHO DOES IT IN THE LIBRARY AT IT THEIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE. THEY'LL SEND US A REQUEST FOR SUPPLIES LIKE SAFE SEX SUPPLIES AND STUFF LIKE THAT AND WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER IT.  SO A LOT OF OUR OUTREACH IS DONE LIKE THAT. A LOT OF OUR OUTREACH IS DONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY POWERFUL. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BAGLEY HAS RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED WAS A STEERING COMMITTEE WHERE IT IS A GROUP OF PEER LEADERS AND WE ARE GOING JUST A STEP BEYOND FOCUSING ON WHAT LIKE IT'S JUST LIKE WHAT'S STRICTLY HAPPENING AT OUR COMMUNITIES CENTER AND LOOKING MORE AT NUMBERS THINGS AS LIKE WHAT COMMUNITIES THAT ARE UNDERSERVED AREN'T COMING TO THIS SPACE HOW CAN WE GET THEM HERE?  HOW CAN WE KEEP THEM HERE? WHAT CAN WE OFFER THEM?  THAT TYPE OF STUFF IS ALL SUPER IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY TO A NONPROFIT LIKE BAGLEY TO CONTINUE OUTREACH TO KEEP IT GOING AND I THINK A LOT OF THESE SMALLER AND I'VE BEEN COMING COMMUNITY CENTERS AND SAFE SPACES FOR LGBT YOUTH CAN LEARN A LOT FROM IT AND YOU KNOW EVEN GOING BACK TO THE REALLY BASIC OUTREACHES OF JUST NETWORKING IS SUPER DUPER IMPORTANT AND REALLY, REALLY BENEFICIAL FOR THINGS LIKE THIS ESPECIALLY EVEN IF IT'S IN A SCHOOL IN A HIGH SCHOOL TALKING ABOUT IT SUPER IMPORTANT. OKAY.  I APPRECIATE THAT. AND WHEN YOU THINK WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE KIND OF SERVICES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT THESE KIND OF LOCATIONS, WHAT I WOULD SAY THE TOP THREE THAT YOU WOULD THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES FOR YOU?  WELL, THE FOUR WE HAVE FOUR PARTICULAR PILLARS THAT WE LIKE TO FOCUS ON WHICH ARE SOCIALIZATION IS ABOVE ALL IS A SOCIAL SPACE ADVOCACY LEARNING HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF FOR OTHERS SPEAK OUT, SPEAK UP AND JUST IN GENERAL TAKE UP SPACE AND THEN WE HAVE FULFILLMENT HAVING A SENSE OF PRIDE IN YOURSELF IN WHO YOU ARE KNOWING THAT YOU DESERVE TO EXIST TO TAKE UP SPACE TO BE AN IMPORTANT MEMBER OF SOCIETY AND THEN EDUCATION EDUCATING NOT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE ATTENDING THIS SPACE BUT ALSO THOSE AROUND THEM WHO ARE MAYBE NOT NEARLY AS ACCEPTING OF THESE IDENTITIES BEING ABLE TO TEACH THESE YOUTH HOW TO CREATE THEIR OWN SPACES ELSEWHERE WHERE THERE MAY NOT BE A PHYSICAL SPACE, HOW TO HOW TO CREATE IN A SOCIAL SPACE LIKE AN EMOTIONAL SPACE. OKAY, I THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. I KNOW MY TIME IS UP BUT I DO JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I'M SO SUPPORTIVE OF THINGS LIKE THIS OF CREATING A SPACE WHERE EVERYONE JUST FEELS COMFORTABLE AND SAFE AND BE ABLE TO BE THEMSELVES. I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN CREATING THIRD SPACES IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE WE COULD JUST CONGREGATE AND CREATE COMMUNITY AMONGST EACH OTHER. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU DO. I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING PART OF THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU. COUNCILOR PIPPEN I ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.  WE'LL TAKE UP THE 4 MINUTES BUT THINKING ABOUT HOW TO SET UP OUR SECOND AND THIRD PANEL AND THE FOLKS AND EXPERTS THAT WE HAVE COMING ON YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU DID OUTREACH FOR FOR THE FOR THE SPACE.  YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT WHAT THE PHYSICAL SPACE ACTUALLY LOOKED LIKE. RIGHT. PRETTY SIMPLE BASIC JUST CHAIRS AND THE TABLES REALLY ALL YOU NEED MAYBE A COUPLE SNACKS YOU TALKED ABOUT LOT. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE TYPE OF PROGRAMING YOU DO AND THEN YOU TALKED ABOUT CURRENT EVENTS, OTHER EDUCATIONAL THINGS. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS DO NOW SO THE FOLKS THAT COME ON TO THESE NEXT PANELS CAN BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT HOW THAT MAYBE INCORPORATES INTO THEIR SPACE AND HOW THEY CAN HELP THAT.  YEAH, I CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT LIKE WHAT BAGLEY OFFERS SO BAGLEY OFFERS FIRST BAGLEY IS A YOUTH LED ADULT SUPPORTED PROGRAM. IT'S THE COMMUNITY SPACE THE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR THAT IN PARTICULAR BAGLEY OFFERS THINGS SUCH AS STABILIZATION AND SUCCESS WHICH IS YOU KNOW ON WEDNESDAYS THERE'S IF YOU SIGN UP THERE'S FREE 30 MINUTE COUNSELING WHICH IS SUPER IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT CAN'T BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL YOUTH WHO NEED IT. WE ALSO OFFER THINGS LIKE OUR SEXUAL WELLNESS CLINIC WHICH IS A LOW TO NO BARRIER CLINIC THAT OFFERS STI TESTING AND HEALTH EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY NEED IT, WHO CAN'T DO IT ON THEIR OWN.  WE HAVE THINGS SUCH AS LIKE SUPPLY CLOSETS THAT OFFER, YOU KNOW, YES. GENDER AFFIRMING THINGS SUCH AS LIKE BINDERS AND CERTAIN TYPES OF UNDERGARMENTS BUT ALSO OUR SUPPLY CLOSETS THAT OFFER THINGS LIKE TOWELS, BEDDING,  SOCKS, CLOTHING. WE HAVE A BOUTIQUE THAT ANYONE CAN GO AND SHOP IN THAT ALWAYS HAS, YOU KNOW, MAKEUP AND SHOES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND BAGLEY ALSO OFFERS OTHER SUPPORTS THAT MAY NOT SEEM NECESSARY BUT IS SUCH AS LIKE OUR WHILE AND OUR WILD SEE WHICH IS OUR YOUTH LEADER ADVOCACY AND THAT CAN BE SO SO IMPORTANT FOR THINGS TO SET UP OUR FUTURE TO SET UP YOU KNOW FOR THINGS THAT WE MAY WANT TO DO LATER TO CONTINUE ADVOCACY FOR THESE THINGS.  SO THE FACT THAT BAGLEY OFFERS THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. IT'S NOT JUST A SPACE, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE SIT DOWN AND CHAT AND THEY'RE VERY, VERY LOVELY SNACKS WHICH ALSO HAPPENS BUT IT IS A SPACE WHERE WE CONTINUE THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WHICH YES SORRY IS WHAT BAGLEY ESSENTIALLY IN SHORT WHAT BAGLEY DOES IT'S VERY HELPFUL AND SO THANK YOU. DO YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING IN WHEN WE DON'T HAVE BAGLEY IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL NOT BUT FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT ACCESS THE PHYSICAL SPACE THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN THESE SMALLER SPACES THE IT'S MORE OF A I WOULD SAY IT'S MORE OF A SCHEDULED ORDEAL IN TERMS OF EVERYONE KIND OF ARRIVES AS THEY COME IN. EVERYONE IS JUST SOCIALIZING, TALKING AND EVENTUALLY USUALLY WE HAVE INTRODUCTIONS WHERE EVERYONE GOES AROUND, HAS THEIR NAME AND MAYBE ANSWERS A QUESTION JUST AN ICEBREAKER ROUND AND THEN WE USUALLY SOCIALIZE FOR A BIT AND THEN GO INTO BREAKOUT ROOMS WHERE IF PEOPLE WISH TO JUST STAY AND TALK OR PEOPLE WANT TO WORK ON HOMEWORK OR, PEOPLE WANT TO PLAY A GAME AND THEN ANOTHER WHICH IS WHERE THE ADULT SUPERVISOR OFTEN COMES IN AND WE GO OVER THE NEWS PROCESS THE STORIES WHAT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR WORLD? WHAT IS THIS MEAN FOR US AS INDIVIDUALS AND HAVING THAT SPACE IS SO IMPORTANT TO PASS US THAT SINCE THAT IS SO OFTEN NOT TALKED ABOUT IN IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM OR AT HOME FOR MANY AND OUTSIDE OF THIS KIND OF SPACE. SO HAVING IT'S MOST IT'S SOCIALLY SOCIALIZING AND THEN IT'S ALSO A TIME TO PROCESS AND JUST FUN AND IS IT JUST A LAST QUICK QUESTION IS THERE A BETTER TIME WHAT ARE THE TIMES OF THIS IF THEY WENT WHEN THEY OCCUR, WHEN IS THIS SPACE OPEN? WHEN IS IT AVAILABLE? WEEKDAYS WEEKENDS ETC. GENERALLY IT DOE IT IS AFTER SCHOOL HOURS IN PARTICULAR RUNS FROM ABOUT 3 TO 5 THOUGH IT CAN BE SHORTER OR LONGER AS NEEDED. AGAIN THIS DOES VARY BY COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF WHAT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE SINCE EACH GROUP OF YOUTH IS DIFFERENT. BUT I WOULD SAY GENERALLY WITH CONFLICTING ACTIVITIES ON WEEKENDS FOR MANY STUDENTS AFTERSCHOOL TENDS TO BE THE BEST TIME AND THE DAY CAN VARY OF COURSE. GOTCHA. WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  WE'VE ALSO ENJOYED BY COUNCILOR MEJIA COUNCILOR MEJIA I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I KNOW YOU'RE JUST COMING IN AT THE END OF THIS PANEL. WE HAVE TWO MORE PANELS AFTER THIS. BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OF OUR YOUTH PANEL,  NOW IS THE TIME. THANK YOU.  Y'ALL ARE LUCKY THAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR A LONG TIME SO I CAN JUST JUMP RIGHT IN.  SO GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. SORRY THAT I WAS LATE. I WAS AT ANOTHER EVENT.  I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE.  BACK IN THE DAY I USED TO WORK WITH BAGLEY.  IT WAS ONE OF THE TEAM CENTERS THAT WE USED TO FUND AS WELL AS BOSTON GLASS. SO I AM NO STRANGER TO THIS CONVERSATION AND I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE WORK AND I'M CURIOUS IF YOU COULD UTILIZE YOUR PLATFORM TODAY TO JUST FILL IN SOME GAPS, RIGHT? IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT WHEN WHEN WE'RE SEEING THE ADS. HI LGBTQ PLUS RHETORIC ON THE NATIONAL AND HOW IT'S TRICKLING DOWN TO DIFFERENT SPACES AND PLACES, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE EMERGING THEMES THAT WE SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO AT LEAST START THINKING OF AS RELATES TO PROGRAMING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHETHER IT'S IN OUR BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS OR EVEN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, RIGHT? LIKE ALL SPACES AND PLACES WHICH PEOPLE ARE EVEN DOING BUSINESS IN BOSTON WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN YOU SHARE WITH US IN TERMS OF THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF AND THINKING ABOUT? YEAH, I THINK A REALLY COMMON THEME THAT SEEMS TO BE COMING OUT A LOT MORE IN THESE LAST FEW YEARS WITH A LOT OF THIS ANTI LGBT RHETORIC IS THAT KIDS ARE CONFUSED OR THEY DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER OR YOU KNOW THEY'RE JUST NOT EDUCATED ENOUGH AND I THINK THAT CAN BE A REALLY DETRIMENTAL, REALLY HARMFUL WAY OF THINKING THAT YOU KNOW, THESE KIDS DON'T KNOW ANYTHING BECAUSE THEN YOU KNOW, IF YOU CONSTANTLY ARE TELLING A KID YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OR IT'S JUST A PHASE, YOU'LL GET OVER IT THAT LEADS TO A LOT OF YOU KNOW,  HARMFUL INTERNALIZED THINGS THAT ISN'T BENEFICIAL AND IT TENDS TO STOP PEOPLE FROM GETTING THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED WHEN SOMETHING STARTS TO BECOME TABOO IT CAN, YOU KNOW, BE REALLY, REALLY HARMFUL TO A PERSON'S MINDSET AND I THINK WITH THIS LIKE IDEA THAT KIDS DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO THIS I MEAN NOW MORE THAN EVER PEOPLE KNOW MORE ABOUT LGBT BECAUSE IT'S THAT MUCH EASIER TO LOOK UP THINGS. YOU CAN GRAB YOUR PHONE AND GOOGLE ANYTHING.  YOU CAN GO ON ANY PLATFORM AND FIND OUT PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING FOR THE BETTER OR FOR THE WORSE. SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT KIDS KNOW A LOT MORE THAN WHAT YOU THINK THEY MIGHT AND TO LISTEN TO THEM REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS YOU KNOW THAT ARE ON THE UP FOR CHANGE ARE TYPICALLY YOUTH LED BECAUSE THEY'RE SO STRONG AND THEY ARE OUR NEXT LEADERS SO THEY KNOW MORE THAN WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK YEAH BUT SO LIKE AS AN ADULT WHO CARES ABOUT THESE PEOPLE LIKE OFTENTIMES AS YOU SAID THERE'S A LOT OF NEGATIVE VIEWS FROM THE ADULTS BUT AS AN ADULT WITH A POSITIVE VIEW OF THIS SORT OF TOPIC YOU CAN SORT OF PROVIDE THAT MAKING SURE LIKE THEY FEEL SAFE AND THAT THEY KNOW THAT YOU ARE THERE FOR THEM AT ALL TIMES NO MATTER WHAT EVEN IF THEY MAKE MISTAKES, EVEN IF THEY CAUSE PROBLEMS. BUT ADDRESSING THAT IN A WAY THAT THEY KNOW THAT YOU ALWAYS WILL CARE ABOUT THEM IS VERY IMPORTANT. I THINK JUST HAVING PROVIDING SPACE AS OLIVER SAID FOR YOUTH TO EXPLORE EVEN IN TIMES OF THEIR LIVES THAT THEY THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY PERMANENT TO EXPIRE IT TO PROVIDE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN EXPERIMENT WITH WHO THEY ARE AS A PERSON TO TRY DIFFERENT PARTS OF THEMSELVES AND TO JUST OVERALL MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE, LOVED, ACCEPTED,  WANTED AND NEEDED AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY.  AND I HEARD MY TIME WAS UP. IS THAT WELL HOW MANY WHEN WE FIND OUT WE GOT GET HERE ONTO THAT'S OKAY I WILL YIELD 4 MINUTES OKAY I'LL GET YOU THE NEXT ROUND THIS PANEL GUYS YOU ARE EXCELLENT ADVOCATES. YOU WERE EDUCATED AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT EDUCATION AND MAKING THIS BODY WISER ON THIS TOPIC AS WELL AND YOU ARE ALL NOW EXCUSED AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY OR IF YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL PLEASE GO BACK TO SCHOOL. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN. THANK YOU COUNSELORS WE'D NOW LIKE TO INVITE THE SECOND PANEL DOWN TO THE FLOOR. WE HAVE DR. FERNANDO SALINAS QUIROZ FROM TRANSFORMATIVE SCHOOLS HARVARD.  SO HE AND TUFTS UNIVERSITY AS WELL AS CURTIS SANTOS FROM BOSTON LESBIAN GAY URBAN FOUNDATION TYLER OF FROM PUBLIC LIBRARY, MICHELLE WIENER FROM BAGLEY AND JULIAN SORREL NILSEN OF BOSTON GLASS .  THANK YOU ALL AND WELCOME NOW I'M NOT SURE I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S NO PRESENTATION FROM THIS PANEL AS WELL. RIGHT. WE'LL JUST IS THERE ANY BUT ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE JUST AN OPENING REMARKS TO WHAT WE CAN GET RIGHT INTO STATEMENTS? I JUST DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS FEEL THE NEED TO SAY SOMETHING UPFRONT OR WE CAN GO RIGHT INTO OUR QUESTIONS.  I DO HAVE A FIVE MINUTE SPEECH. I THOUGHT THAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO IS THAT OKAY? NO, THIS IS NOT A PRESENTATION BUT I MEAN I HAVE SOMETHING NO ,IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING PREPARED THIS IS AND THEN WE WILL WE WILL REACT TO THAT. I APPRECIATE BUT YEAH BUT AS YOU GUYS CAN COULD ALSO TRY AND KEEP IT AS QUICK AS YOU CAN. YEAH YOU GUYS CAN I'LL SAY AN OPENING STATEMENT AND THEN WE'LL GO OH I PRACTICED THIS FOR 10 MINUTES AND A HALF THOUGH PLEASE COULD IT PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF? ALL OF YOU CAN EXPRESS YOURSELF AND THEN DO YOUR OPENING STATEMENT. THEN WE'LL GO INTO QUESTIONS I THINK YEAH I WORKED ON WEEKEND SO I SHOULD READ IT. GOOD MORNING COUNSELORS.  GOOD MORNING PRESIDENT MY NAME IS FERNANDO SALINAS KIDDOS ARE THEY THEM PRONOUNS HEY ASUU I AM PROFESSOR AT TUFTS UNIVERSITY AND DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH OF TRANSFORMATIVE SCHOOLS TFS I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY NOT ONLY AS A TRANS SCHOLAR BUT AS SOMEONE WHO ENVISIONS A BOSTON WHERE EVERY LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH CAN THRIVE AND NOT JUST SURVIVE. LET'S BE CLEAR THE URGENCY OF THIS ISSUE CANNOT BE OVERSTATED ACROSS THE U.S., ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION HAS REACHED UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS WITH OVER 600 BILLS INTRODUCED THIS YEAR ALONE. THESE ATTACKS ARE DEVASTATING 86% OF TRANS AND NON-BINARY YOUTH SAY SUCH BILLS HARM THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND NEARLY HALF THEM HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE FOR RACIAL I STUDENTS THESE STRUGGLES ARE COMPOUNDED BY SYSTEMIC RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION SCHOOLS FOUNDED ON CRITICAL NORMS AND FORCING THE GENDER BINARY WHITENESS AND CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM WERE NOT BUILT WITH THIS IN MIND. IN FACT THEY WERE DESIGNED TO ERASE OUR EXISTENCE. BUT WE KNOW THERE IS ANOTHER WAY FORWARD. MY RESEARCH HAS ESTABLISHED A FOUNDATION CRITERIA FOR UNDERSTANDING NON-BINARY GENDER IDENTITY CREATION INCLUDING THE FIRST GLOBAL STUDY EXAMINING HOW YOUNG 3 TO 8 YEAR OLD NON-BINARY CHILDREN UNDERSTAND THEIR GENDER IDENTITY. OUR FINDINGS DEMONSTRATE HOW PARENTS ADVOCATE FOR THEIR NON-BINARY CHILDREN ACROSS EDUCATIONAL HEALTH CARE AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS AT TFSA WE'VE BUILT UPON THIS RESEARCH TO REIMAGINE EDUCATION BY CENTERING TRANS AND BIPOC JOY AND LIBERATION. WE OPERATE A FIRST OF ITS KIND TRANSCENDENT HEARD AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM IN NEW YORK CITY WHERE TRANS STUDENTS FIND A SPACE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THEM HERE TRANS TEACHERS TEACH TRANS KIDS SERVING AS VITAL ROLE MODELS AND MENTORS WHO AFFIRM AND INSPIRE THEM. THIS SPACE FOSTERS IDENTITY EXPLORATION, ACADEMIC RIGOR AND COMMUNITY BUILDING. STUDENTS JUST DON'T FEEL SAFE HERE. THEY ARE FREE TO DREAM TO CONNECT AND TO GROW. ONE STUDENT HERE AND I AM QUOTING IF I HAD GONE TO A SCHOOL LIKE THIS SOONER I WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE GENTLE AND ACCEPTING OF MYSELF. END OF THE QUOTE THIS IS THE POWER OF AFFIRMING SPACES WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL SEEN.  WE EMPOWER YOUTH THROUGH YOUTH PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH WHITE BART POSITIONING TRANS STUDENTS AS DECISION MAKERS IN THEIR OWN EDUCATION BY PLACING STUDENTS IN LEADERSHIP ROLES. WE SHIFT THE POWER DYNAMIC.  ACTUALLY I WASN'T COMFORTABLE ABOUT BEING HERE. THEY SHOULD BE HERE INSTEAD AND KEEP TEACHING US SO MUCH WE DON'T JUST LEARN. TEACH THEM HOW TO NAVIGATE OPPRESSIVE SYSTEMS.  WE EQUIP THEM TO CHALLENGE AND TRANSFORM THOSE SYSTEMS. EDUCATION BECOMES A COLLABORATIVE LIBERATORY PROCESS. BOSTON HAS THE CHANCE TO LEAD THE NATION IN CREATING AFFIRMING FORMATIVE SPACES FOR LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH. HERE'S HOW.  ONE FUND COMMUNITY LED INITIATIVES ALLOCATE RESOURCES SPECIFICALLY TO TRANSLATE CENTER ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE PROGRAMS PROVIDE IDENTITY AFFIRMING SPACES AND MENTORSHIP THAT CAN CHANGE LIVES TO EMPOWER TRANS VOICES. ADULT PARTICIPATORY MODELS LIKE WAIPA THAT PLACE YOUTH AT THE CENTER OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESSES. THREE TRANSFORM PUBLIC SPACES. REIMAGINE AS WE'VE JUST HEARD WITH AMAZING RECOMMENDATIONS. LIBRARIES, COMMUNITY CENTERS AND PARKS AS HUBS FOR LGBTQ PLUS CONNECTION, CREATIVITY AND JOY.  THESE STEPS ARE NOT OPTIONAL. THEY ARE LIFESAVING INTERVENTIONS. WHEN TRANS YOUTH HAVE ACCESS TO AFFIRMING ENVIRONMENTS, WE SEE MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS.  BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY I'M DONE WITH SUICIDALITY AND HORRIBLE BULLYING. WE NEED TO SWITCH THE SCRIPT AND TO START TALKING ABOUT JOY. LET US MOVE BEYOND INCLUSION AND ACCEPTANCE TOWARD LIBERATION AND REVOLUTION. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE BOSTON A NATIONAL LEADER IN DISMANTLING OPPRESSIVE SYSTEMS AND CREATING TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'LL JUST GO RIGHT DOWN THE LINE. OKAY. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS TYLER FOR SHAWN. I'M THE TEEN LIBRARIAN OVER AT MILTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. I WON'T REPEAT WHAT TWO OF MY WONDERFUL STUDENTS HAVE ALREADY SHARED ABOUT OUR SPACE PROGRAM HERE, BUT OLIVER AND ELLEN HELPED US GET THIS OFF THE GROUND. THE MAIN THING I WANTED TO KIND OF SHARE AND REITERATE HERE WITH FOLKS IS JUST THE RELATIVELY LIGHT LEFT MATERIAL THAT A PROGRAM LIKE THIS CAN BE . THEY'RE LIGHTWEIGHT, VERY ADAPTABLE PROGRAMS THAT CAN WORK IN VARIETY OF YOUTH SERVING CONTEXTS REALISTICALLY ANYWHERE THAT YOU HAVE YOUTH GATHERING YOU HAVE YOUTH GATHERING AND IT'S EASY TO DEVELOP SERVICES THAT CAN, YOU KNOW, MEET THEIR NEEDS.  WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF , YOU KNOW, KIND OF HARROWING STATISTICS ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISES THAT OUR YOUTH ARE FACING. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS TRY TO POINT OUT WHEN WE'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS IS THE BROAD CONSENSUS FROM ANYWHERE FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGNS 2023 LGBTQ YOUTH PLUS YOUTH REPORT TO THE JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH THAT BROAD SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS CHANGES NUMBERS AROUND ANXIETY ,DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL IDEATION DRASTICALLY.  RESPECT FOR THEIR IDENTITIES IN EVEN ONE CONTEXT OUTSIDE OF THEIR OWN PEER GROUP HAS REPORTEDLY YIELDED A 29% DECREASE IN SUICIDAL IDEATION AND A 56% DECREASE IN SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AMONG YOUTH. THERE ARE JUST SOME VERY HUGE MATERIAL IMPACTS YOU CAN MAKE IN THE LIVES OF STUDENTS BY CREATING SPACES FOR THEM TO SPEND RECREATIONAL TIME AUTHENTICALLY.  THE TRICKIER COMPONENT THAN THE KIND OF MATERIAL LIFT REQUIRED TO GET THESE PROGRAMS OFF THE GROUND I THINK ENDS UP BEING AROUND POLICY SOFT SKILLS AT THE HOSTING INSTITUTIONS.  YOU NEED TO. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PUBLIC STAFF AND MANAGEMENT TO BE READY FOR THE KINDS OF QUESTIONS AND ISSUES ARE MAY ARISE WHEN CREATING THESE SPACES FOR YOUTH. YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY INVITING YOUTH INTO OUR ORGANIZATIONS COME WITH THE OBLIGATION TO PROTECT THESE STUDENTS SAFETY AND DIGNITY. AND SO HAVING EARLY CONVERSATIONS AROUND, YOU KNOW, OUR OUR STAFF FLUENT IN COMMON SOCIAL PERILS FACING YOUTH CAN THEY RECOGNIZE MIS GENDERING AND DESIGNATING DO ACCEPTABLE USE AND CONDUCT POLICIES OF YOUR ORGANIZATION SUPPORT PROTECTING STUDENTS AGAINST THESE THINGS? CAN YOU CREATE OR ORGANIZE THE SPACE IN SUCH A WAY THAT ATTENDANCE AND ARE PLACING THEMSELVES IN A FISHBOWL WHERE IT BECOMES VERY EASILY PUBLICLY AVAILABLE TO LIKE FIND OUT WHERE ALL THE KIDS ARE SO YOU CAN GO BOLDLY THEM OR HARASS THEM AND OUR STAFF READY TO NAVIGATE ATTENDANCE, YOU KNOW, AND YOUTH WHO MAY BE BECOMING INCREASINGLY INVOLVED IN YOUR ORGANIZATION AND ARE READY TO NAVIGATE CONVERSATIONS AROUND AS THEY BECOME MORE COMFORTABLE WITH YOU. YOU MAY LEARN THAT THEY GO BY A DIFFERENT NAME OR USE DIFFERENT PRONOUNS AND BEING ABLE TO ADAPT TO THESE THINGS WITHOUT PUTTING A LOT OF ADDITIONAL WORK ON THEM TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WALK YOU THROUGH ALL OF THIS.  I ULTIMATELY I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM. A LOT OF MY MAIN TALKING POINTS VERY TO COVER BY MY STUDENTS. SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING CURTIS AND TELLS HIM HIS PRONOUNS. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BOSTON LESBIAN GAY URBAN FOUNDATION. OUR MISSION IS TO INCREASE THE POSSIBILITIES OF OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE BIPOC COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY SPECIFICALLY LGBTQ INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE ROXBURY DORCHESTER, MATTAPAN AREAS. I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TO STAND ON THE FOUNDATION OF OTHER YOUNG FOLKS WHO I WORK WITH IN THE WORK WHO DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE INCLUSIVITY AROUND SPACE AND COMMUNITY AND SAFE SPACES.  AND SO MY GOAL IS TO HOPEFULLY ADVOCATE FOR THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HERE TODAY FOR YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD BUT MOSTLY THAT WE'RE CREATING SAFE SPACES WITHIN THE URBAN COMMUNITIES FOR OUR BIPOC COMMUNITY INDIVIDUALS.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  GOOD MORNING EVERYONE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL . MY NAME IS MICHELLE WIENER. I USE PRONOUNS LIKE SHE AND HER AND I AM BAGLEY'S DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND IMPACT. SO I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF BAGLEY BUT I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT THE WORK OF MANY OF OUR PARTNER . I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE FROM BOSTON CLASS IS HERE AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE BOSTON GLASS LIKE THE THEATER PROJECT, LIKE THE MARS COMMISSION ON LGBTQ YOUTH SAFE SCHOOLS PROGRAM, ALL ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK HERE IN BOSTON TO CREATE SAFE SPACES FOR LGBTQ YOUTH BOTH IN AND OUTSIDE OF SCHOOLS FOR YEARS AND IN MANY CASES FOR DECADES. SO I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TO HIGHLIGHT ALL OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE ROBUST WORK THAT LAYS THE FOUNDATIONS FOR US TO GROW INTO THE FUTURE. BAGLEY WAS FOUNDED IN 1980. WE ARE APPROACHING OUR 45 YEAR ANNIVERSARY BY AND FOR LGBTQ PLUS YOUNG PEOPLE. THEY WERE LOOKING FOR MANY OF THE SAME THINGS OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR TODAY SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SPACES, OPPORTUNITIES TO BE WITH PEERS ,TO SHARE ABOUT THEIR IDENTITY AND TO LEARN FROM AND COLLABORATE WITH SUPPORTIVE ADULTS. TODAY WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A 10,000 SQUARE FOOT COMMUNITY CENTER RIGHT HERE IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON. IT IS A THREE MINUTE WALK FROM WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. WE WOULD LOVE TO INVITE COUNCIL MEMBERS, OUR COLLEAGUES TO COME SEE OUR CENTER, COME SEE THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING AND COME VISIT THE SITES OF OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATION AS WELL. WE DO ALL OF THIS WORK IN COLLABORATION.  BAGLEY SUPPORTS LGBTQ YOUTH PRIMARILY AGES 25 AND UNDER. ALTHOUGH OUR CLINIC SERVICES GO UP TO AGES 29 AND WE ARE A COMPLEMENT TO THE WORK THAT IS DONE BY JESUS IN SCHOOLS WE ARE A THIRD SPACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SPEND TIME IN TO ACCESS COMMUNITY AND TO ACCESS SERVICES AND RESOURCES. WE OFFER THREE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS WHICH OFFER A COLLECTION A SUITE OF DIFFERENT RESOURCES THAT INCLUDES OUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH INCLUDING ACCESSING OUR FREE CLINIC.  WE PROVIDE OUR STABILIZATION AND SUCCESS PROGRAM WHICH OFFERS FREE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SO THAT IS DROP IN THERAPY, SHORT TERM THERAPY AND OTHER THERAPEUTIC SERVICES AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES FOR YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. THE MAJORITY OF LGBTQ EXCUSE ME THE MAJORITY OF UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS YOUTH IN THIS STATE ARE LGBTQ AND WE SEE MANY OF THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE AT BAGLEY LOOKING FOR A SPACE THAT IS BOTH ABLE TO MEET THEIR THEIR CONCRETE NEEDS FOR DIRECT AID AS WELL AS BE SUPPORTIVE AND AFFIRMING OF THEIR IDENTITIES.  AND THEN AS SOME OF MY OUR YOUTH LEADERS I TALKED TO ON THE PREVIOUS PANEL, WE ALSO OFFER OUR YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES AMONG OTHER THINGS OUR YOUTH LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE WHICH WORKS TO RUN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. WE ARE A YOUTH LED ADULT SUPPORTED ORGANIZATION AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WITH YOUTH IS IN RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND IS HELPING TO MEET WHAT IS BOTH EXISTING AND EMERGING NEEDS INCLUDING WHAT WE RECOGNIZE TO BE THE LIKELY EMERGING NEED OF YOUNG PEOPLE COMING TO MASSACHUSETTS FROM OTHER STATES SEEKING SAFETY AND RESOURCES THAT THEY CANNOT FIND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES OF ORIGIN . SO WE ARE WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE AND EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE DO BOTH HERE IN BOSTON AND WE DO ALSO SUPPORT WORK STATEWIDE. WE RUN STATEWIDE EVENTS INCLUDING MASSACHUSETTS YOUTH PRIDE WHICH WILL ACTUALLY BE RIGHT HERE ON CITY COUNCIL PLAZA THIS COMING SPRING AND WE SUPPORT I KNOW LEVI MENTIONED ON THE PREVIOUS PANEL THE AGLE NETWORK WHICH IS ALMOST 35 YEARS OLD. IT IS A GROUP OF 15 LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS ALL OVER MASSACHUSETTS. WE HAVE SITES IN WESTERN MASS IN PITTSFIELD AND SPRINGFIELD AND AND WORCESTER ON THE CAPE ALL DOING THIS WORK IN VARIOUS WAYS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL ALL COMMUNITY BASED. SOME OF THEM ARE FULL NONPROFITS LIKE BAGLEY WITH THEIR OWN PHYSICAL COMMUNITY CENTERS.  SOME ARE VOLUNTEER LED USING SOME OF THE RESOURCES THE PREVIOUS PANEL TALKED ABOUT LIKE LIBRARIES OR SCHOOL SPACES . BUT ALL OF THEM ARE HELPING TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A SAFETY NET FOR YOUNG PEOPLE NOT JUST HERE IN BOSTON BUT ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.  GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THERE IS ONE PANELIST THAT WE HAVE THROUGH ZOOM.  YOU MAY YOU MAY GO. I THINK WE CAN HEAR YOU.  THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PARTICIPATE VIA ZOOM CALL EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JULIAN NELSON.  MY PRONOUNS ARE THEY HE SHE. I AM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT BOSTON GLASS WHICH SERVES AND TRANS YOUTH OF COLOR AGES 13 THROUGH 24 IN THE BOSTON METRO AREA. WE HAVE A PHYSICAL DROP IN SPACE LOCATED IN JAMAICA PLAIN WHICH IS THE CENTER OF OUR SERVICE MODEL. WE PROVIDE VARIOUS CLINICAL SERVICES THROUGH THAT DROP IN SPACE SUCH AS HIV TESTING AND COUNSELING AS WELL AS PREP REFERRALS. WE PROVIDE FREE OUTPATIENT THERAPY THROUGH OUR STAFF OF ALL AND POSSE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICIANS AND WE PROVIDE FREE LEGAL CONSULTATIONS SERVICES WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP THROUGH THE HEALTH LAW INSTITUTE AND WE ALSO HAVE WEEKLY PROGRAMING SUPPORT GROUPS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS IN PHYSICAL DROP IN SPACE. THE PROGRAM ITSELF HAS EXISTED SINCE 1995. WE HAVE HISTORICALLY HAD VERY STRONG TIES TO THE LOCAL BALLROOM COMMUNITY IN BOSTON AND IN GREATER NEW ENGLAND. WHEN I SAY BALLROOM I DON'T MEAN LIKE THE WALTZ.  IF YOU HAVE EVER SEEN SERIES POSE OR MADONNA'S VOGUE VIDEO, THE DANCE STYLE VOGUING FEATURED IN THAT VIDEO COMES FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT I AM REFERENCING IN THE BALLROOM COMMUNITY HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN A SAFE SPACE FOR AND TRANS PEOPLE OF COLOR SPECIFICALLY FROM THE BLACK AND LATINX COMMUNITY SINCE THE LATE SEVENTIES AND EARLY EIGHTIES. OUR PROGRAM THROWS KIDDY IN THE LOCAL SCENE AND PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR FACILITATING EVENTS ON THE SCENE AS A MEANS OF PROVIDING OUTREACH AND SERVICES TO THESE TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. I WANTED TO USE MOST OF MY TIME TODAY TO TALK ABOUT SOME HIGHLIGHTS IN TERMS OF AREAS WHERE THERE ARE GAPS IN SERVICES AND FUNDING COULD HAVE A GREATER IMPACT ON AND TRANS YOUTH ACROSS THE CITY.  ONE SUCH AREA IS RELATED TO THE INCREASING RATES OF HOUSING INSECURITY AND HOMELESSNESS EXPERIENCED BY AND TRANS YOUTH WITH OTHER PANELISTS MENTIONED ESPECIALLY AND TRANS YOUTH OF COLOR. THE INCREASING COSTS OF LIVING IN THE CITY ARE MORE COMPLICATED AND NUANCED ISSUES REGARDING FAMILY DYNAMICS AS WELL AS INCREASED STIGMA AND SCRUTINY BEING PLACED ON TRANS FOLK BY THE NATIONAL DISCOURSE ON IDENTITY POLITICS ARE ALL CONTRIBUTING FACTORS THAT FACTORS INTO THIS INCREASE AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE VERY FEW YOUTH SHELTERS AVAILABLE IN THE CITY AND EVEN FEWER THAT ARE OUT AFFIRMING FOR AND TRANS PEOPLE.  SO MUCH OF THE EXISTING FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING ADVOCACY FOCUSES SPECIFICALLY ON PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV OR YOUTH WHO LIVE IN SPECIFIC AREA CODES OR ATTEND CERTAIN SCHOOLS. AND SO THE AVAILABILITY OF MORE FUNDING TO SUPPORT RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING ADVOCACY WOULD BE A GREAT BOON TO ALL WRITERS WHO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY AND TO AND TRANS YOUTH ACROSS THE CITY IN GENERAL. ANOTHER GAP IN SERVICES AND FUNDING IS RELATED TO THE RAPIDLY INCREASING NEED FOR THERAPEUTIC SERVICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN BOSTON SINCE THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC AND ESPECIALLY WITH THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION ENTERING INTO OFFICE, AND TRANS YOUTH OF COLOR ARE REACHING OUT IN MUCH GREATER NUMBERS FOR THERAPEUTIC SERVICES AND THERE ARE SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH PROVIDERS TO SUPPORT THE INCREASING NEED. OUR OUTPATIENT THERAPEUTIC SERVICES ARE ENTIRELY GRANT FUNDED AND OUR WAITLIST CONTINUES TO GROW EVERY WEEK AND SO HAVING MORE FUNDING TO HIRE ADDITIONAL CLINICIANS WOULD MEAN THAT WE COULD PROVIDE MORE LOW BARRIER THERAPEUTIC SERVICES TO MORE YOUTH AND THIS WOULD HELP TO ADDRESS A VARIETY OF OTHER HEALTH CONCERNS FACING AND TRANS YOUTH SUCH AS HIGH RISK FOR SUICIDE, SUICIDALITY AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.  AND FINALLY I WANTED TO MENTION THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT HEALTH NAVIGATION SERVICES FOR AND TRANS YOUTH. CURRENTLY FUNDING THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SUPPORTS SHORT TERM HEALTH NAVIGATION SERVICES BUT IN PRACTICE MOST CLIENTS NEED A DEDICATED HELP ADVOCATE TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE VERY CONFUSING AND OFTEN OFFPUTTING NETWORK OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES AND THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR AID THROUGH THESE VARIOUS SERVICES IS OFTEN VERY SLOW AND FRUSTRATING AND THE YOUTH THAT ARE ACCESSING THEM ARE OFTEN FACING VERY IMMEDIATE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS HEALTH CONCERNS. LIKE I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY AND SO THE NEED TO HAVE ADVOCATES WHO THEY TRUST AND WHO LOOK LIKE THEM AND WHO HAVE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AS THEM IS MORE PREVALENT THAN EVER TO KEEP THEM ENGAGED IN THESE SYSTEMS SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE HIGHER LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS AND ACCESSING THE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. AND I WANT TO ALSO ADD THAT THE AVAILABILITY OF EMERGENCY FUNDING TO HELP PAY FOR THINGS LIKE LEGAL FEES, HOTEL STAYS, MEDICAL BILLS, GENDER AFFIRMING ITEMS LIKE WIGS, CLOTHES,  BINDERS, PACKERS ETC. WOULD ALL HAVE AN EVEN GREATER IMPACT ON THESE SERVICES AND ON THE YOUTH THAT WE SERVE. THANK YOU. THANK JOINED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE AND CITY COUNCIL AT-LARGE ERIN MURPHY.  THEY'RE WITH US HERE TODAY. NOW THAT WE HAVE THE LARGER PANEL, I'LL START WITH THE LEAD SPONSOR FOR QUESTIONS AND THEN WE'LL GO ORDER OF ARRIVAL AFTER THAT.  COUNCIL S.A. YOU HAVE 4 MINUTES ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU MR CHAIR. AND THANK YOU TO OUR PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE. I'LL JUMP RIGHT IN. MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR BOTH DR. FERNANDO SALINAS. KUDOS.  I'M SORRY IF I PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME INTO TO CURTIS SANTOS.  YOU KNOW I REALLY CARE ABOUT OUR LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND I REALLY BELIEVE IN COMMUNITY SPACES.  AND ONE THING THAT YOU KNOW AS A AS AN ISLAND CITY COUNCIL STARTED GOING IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD INTO THESE SPACES. ONE THING THAT I SEE LACKING IS OUR BLACK AND BROWN OUR LINE ACTS YOUTH AND I MEAN NOT JUST YOUTH BUT JUST JUST PEOPLE IN GENERAL IN THESE SPACES. RIGHT. AND I THINK I REALLY WANTED TO BE IN OUR OFFICE IS VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW WE HOW WE APPROACH THIS WORK AND WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM BOTH OF YOU IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER TO TO TO SERVE OUR BLACK AND BROWN AND OUR BIPOC COMMUNITY AND OUR BIPOC YOUTH?  RIGHT. THERE ARE LGBTQ PEOPLE THAT ARE BLACK AND BROWN AND HISPANIC. I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW WE AS THE CITY OF BOSTON CAN BE MORE INTENTIONAL ABOUT CREATING THAT SPACE FOR THEM.  I DON'T MIND STARTING.  THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. I THINK THAT GOING BACK TO WHAT JULIAN SAID ARE REFLECTIVE. THAT'S RIGHT. CULTURALLY REFLECTIVE LESS CREATING IN URBAN COMMUNITIES THAT THEY FEEL SAFE.  I KNOW THAT GOING FROM ROXBURY, DORCHESTER TO DOWNTOWN MIGHT BE HARD FOR SOME BIPOC INDIVIDUALS . TRANSPORTATION MIGHT BE ISSUES SO REALLY CENTRALIZING COMMUNITY HUBS OR SAFE ZONES FOR LGBTQ BIPOC INDIVIDUALS IS CRUCIAL. I THINK OF HOW THE CITY IS CREATING A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER AND RIGHTING THE WRONGS BUT WE'RE RIGHT IN THE WORLD, PAUL. ALL RIGHT. THE NEW GROVE HALL COMMUNITY CENTER SOMETHING CREATING INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE THAT TO BRING COULD REALLY BRING A SAFE HAVEN TO BIPOC LGBTQ INDIVIDUALS AND JUST I MEAN BUT SO WE TALK ABOUT CREATING A SAFE SPACE. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE. WHAT DOES THAT SAFE PLACE LOOK LIKE FOR OUR BLACK AND BROWN HOUSING SUPPORT? RIGHT. CREATING HOUSING SUPPORT SO BLUE WE DO A LOT OF THINGS. WE DO MENTORSHIP WHICH WE ACTUALLY HAVE A BIPOC MENTORSHIP PROGRAM THAT WAS REFLECTIVE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SERVE. HOUSING SUPPORT, COOKING CLASSES WE DO COOKING CLASSES ALL FOLKS HOW TO COOK WITH $25 OR LESS, RIGHT? IT'S A HARD TIME. IT'S HARD TIMES FOR SOME FOLKS. WE WORK WITH THE REENTRY FOLKS ,RIGHT. MAKING SURE THAT WHEN FOLKS ARE COMING HOME FROM OUT OF PRISON THEY HAVE ACCESS TO CARE. THEY HAVE LINKAGE TO CARE, LINKAGE TO SOMEONE WHO CAN SUPPORT THEM OUTSIDE OF JUST THE NORMAL DAY TO DAY FUNCTIONING. SO JUST CREATING MORE INTENTIONAL SERVICES PROVISIONS THAT CAN SUPPORT THEM AND ACTUALLY DO LINKAGE TO CARE SUPPORT. THANK YOU.  I WOULD JUST ADD THE FACT OF THINKING ABOUT TERMINOLOGY THAT SOMETIMES WE IN ACADEMIA SOUND LIKE WHY ARE YOU KEEP DOING THIS? BUT FOR EXAMPLE THIS IS WHY I AVOID USING SAFE SPACES. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING FROM THE MOMENT THAT PERSON LEAVE THEIR HOUSE TO THEY ARRIVE TO OUR CENTER. SO I THINK WE CAN AIM TO HAVE A SAFER RIGHT OR SAFE BUILDING OF SPACES THAT'S ONE THING. AND THE OTHER ONE THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING LIKE YOU KNOW LIKE BETWEEN LINES IS THE IDEA OF ALLIES AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BUT IT MAKES IT ABOUT YOU. AND I THINK YOU CAN YOU WHATEVER THIRD PERSON RIGHT AND I THINK WE CAN TALK ABOUT ACTING IN ALLYSHIP BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU. IT'S ABOUT US. SO I DO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF THESE CENTER SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE BIPOC TO HAVE THOSE POSITIONS OF POWER. I'M ULTRA PRIVILEGED. ONE OF THE FEW FOLKS OF COLOR THAT WORKS IN MY DEPARTMENT AT TUFTS UNIVERSITY SO FANCY RIGHT SO BUT VERY FEW OF US YOU KNOW GET THERE. AND I THINK THE THE BIG PROBLEM IS WHY WE'RE NOT HIRING AND WHY WE ARE ALSO EXPANDING.  IS THAT A WORD ANYWAY? THROWING A WAY WITH TEACHERS, TRANS TEACHERS OF OF THE PROFESSION. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT.  YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. WELL, THANK YOU BOTH. AGAIN, THANK YOU TO OUR PANELISTS FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.  AND THANK YOU COUNCILOR SANTANA COUNCILWOMAN.  CHAIR THANK THANK YOU. I GUESS I'LL START WITH MICHELLE AND JULIAN IN TERMS OF DROP IN SPACES, YOU KNOW WHAT TYPE OF I MEAN HOW MANY PEOPLE COME TO YOUR SPACES?  YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF STAFFING DO YOU NEED AND I GUESS THE THIRD PART IS WHAT SORT OF OUTREACH DO YOU TO USE TO GET THE WORD OUT? I GUESS MICHELLE, YOU WANT TO START?  YEAH. THANK YOU. SO WE ARE OPEN RIGHT NOW BAGLEY'S COMMUNITY CENTER IS OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 2 P.M. UNTIL EARLY EVENING.  ONE OF THE THINGS WE'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DO IS EXPAND OUR HOURS INCLUDING TO SATURDAYS. WE KNOW THAT'S AN ASK FOR OUR COMMUNITY FROM THE COMMUNITY IT'S SOMETHING WE ARE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO RIGHT NOW. SO IT IS STAFFED BY A COMBINATION OF OF FULL TIME STAFF SO TRAINED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE WORK ON OUR PROGRAMS TEAM AND BY WE HAVE ADULT ADVISORS WHO ARE TRAINED AND VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO HELP TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT ALMOST EVERY EVENING WE ALSO HAVE STRUCTURED PROGRAMING A LOT OF WHICH IS LED BY OUR PEER LEADERS AND SO THEY ARE OFTEN ANOTHER ANOTHER SPACE, ANOTHER PERSON IN THE SPACE TO TO WELCOME PEOPLE, GIVE THEM A TOUR, INTRODUCE THEM TO BAGLEY. DEPENDING ON THE EVENING WE SEE ANYWHERE FROM FROM 10 TO 40 YOUNG PEOPLE A NIGHT.  CERTAIN EVENINGS HAVE MORE WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS TEND TO BE A LITTLE BIT BUSIER. MONDAYS TEND TO BE A LITTLE BIT QUIETER AS PEOPLE ARE STARTING THEIR WEEKS OFF. WE FIND THAT WHEN WE HAVE LARGER EVENTS OR STRUCTURED PROGRAMING THAT WE SEE MORE FOLKS COMING IN AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN THROUGHOUT THE DAY LESS FOR DROP IN BUT MORE TO ACCESS A SPECIFIC SERVICE SO THEY MIGHT COME INTO THE SPACE, COME DOWNSTAIRS AND GO PRIMARILY TO THE CLINIC OR PIVOT AND GO PRIMARILY TO ONE OF OUR THERAPY ROOMS. WE SERVE OVER 10,000 YOUTH EVERY YEAR AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND THEN MORE THROUGHOUT THE STATE. AGAIN, THE GOAL IS ALWAYS TO BE TO BE THINKING ABOUT HOW WE EXPAND. I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES HAVE IDENTIFIED A COUPLE OF AREAS WHERE THERE'S ALWAYS A NEED FOR MORE. OUR SIMILARLY OUR THERAPY WAITING LIST IS ALWAYS LONGER THAN WE ARE ABLE TO TO FULFILL. WE ALSO KNOW THAT YOUTH ARE COMING OUT YOUNGER AND YOUNGER. WE HAVE SOME PARTNER SITES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE WHO HAVE DONE REALLY EXCELLENT PROGRAMING WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND EVEN A LITTLE BIT YOUNGER AND SIMILARLY AS SOMETHING WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND INTO PARTICULARLY BECAUSE ONE OF THE ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS IS THAT WITH THE THE GROWTH OF THE THE GSA MOVEMENT, THE GENDER AND SEXUALITY ALLIANCES AT SCHOOL MORE AND MORE HIGH SCHOOL AGED YOUTH HAVE A SPACE AT LEAST A SPACE THAT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE IN.  BUT GSA IS ARE STILL A LOT LESS PREVALENT AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL AND THOSE THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR ARE LOOKING FOR FOR SPACES TO CONGREGATE.  ALTHOUGH AGAIN, THE STAFFING NEEDS THE SORT OF LOGISTICS OF A OF A DROP IN VERSUS A MORE STRUCTURED SPACE SHIFT AS WE AS WE GO YOUNGER. OKAY. AND JULIAN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WHAT KIND OF OUTREACH DO YOU DO ? SO FOR US WE UTILIZE THINGS LIKE VARIOUS METHODS WE USE SOCIAL MEDIA WE HAVE RECENTLY DONE LIKE A GEO SOCIAL AD CAMPAIGN ON GRINDER TO PROMOTE OUR TESTING AND PREP REFERRAL SERVICES.  WE'VE UTILIZED BILLBOARDS TO EVEN UTILIZE AN EMPTY AD CAMPAIGN SO WE REALLY TRIED TO GET, YOU KNOW, VERY CREATIVE IN TERMS OF THE WAYS WE BRING YOUTH INTO THE SPACE AND ALSO JUST SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT OUR SERVICES. I WOULD SAY PROBABLY THE BIGGEST WAY THOUGH THAT WE DO OUTREACH IS WE HIT THE STREETS ,WILL FLIER WILL TALK WITH PEOPLE DIRECTLY AT TRAIN STATIONS AND THEN THERE'S ALSO LIKE OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS. SO AS I WAS MENTIONING IN MY OPENING STATEMENT, WE'RE VERY CLOSELY RELATED TO THE BALLROOM SCENE HERE IN BOSTON AND SO WE THROW KIKI IN THE LOCAL SCENE AND SO THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH AND THROUGH THOSE EVENTS WE OFTEN BRING IN A LOT OF NEW YOUTH.  I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, AT A TYPICAL BALL THERE COULD BE 50 TO 100 PEOPLE THAT MAY COME. IN TERMS OF THE DROP IN SPACE ITSELF, WE ARE OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AS WELL FROM 1 TO 6 MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AND FROM 1 TO 5 ON FRIDAY. I WOULD SAY THAT ON A MONDAY OR TUESDAY WE COULD SEE 20 PEOPLE HANGING OUT IN THE SPACE AND THEN THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE WEEK IT COULD VARY DEPENDING ON WHAT PROGRAMING IS HAPPENING.  AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING OF COURSE TO EXPAND THAT AND TO HAVE MORE YOUTH IN THE SPACE TO HAVE MORE TIME AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO THROW EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.  AND I WOULD SAY THAT WE RELY HEAVILY ON OUR YOUTH, OUR PATRONS.  WE ALSO HIRE PEER LEADERS LIKE BAGLEY DOES TO HELP LEAD AND FACILITATE OUR VARIOUS PROGRAMING IN THE SPACE AND ALSO TO HELP US WITH OUR OUTREACH AND WE RELY HEAVILY ON THEM TO ALSO SPREAD THE WORD FOR US TO AMONGST THE COMMUNITY SINCE IT'S MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE TO UTILIZE YOU KNOW, CLIENTS COMMUNITY MEMBERS THEMSELVES TO BRING IN THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR NETWORKS INTO THE SPACE.  OKAY. THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. COUNCILOR BREADON.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.  AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.  AND I'VE MET SOME FOLKS FROM BAGLEY AT THE WE HAD A YOUTH ORGANIZED HEALTH FAIR AT THE WALK SQUARE YMCA AND IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL TO SEE THAT THE YOUTH ORGANIZE THEIR OWN EVENT AND THEN TO HAVE SUCH A WIDE RANGE OF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURS PRESENT TO HAVE EDUCATE AND INFORM FOLKS. I'M JUST WONDERING ABOUT THE MAYBE THE NEED FOR MORE OF OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL SPACES BECAUSE I THINK THE ENVIRONMENT ,THE LEGAL STRUCTURE, THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT AROUND SCHOOLS AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO OR NOT DO IN SCHOOLS IS GOING TO TIGHTEN SIGNIFICANTLY. I THINK WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT, YOU KNOW, GO AFTER CREATE MORE SAFE SPACES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL BUILDING THE SCHOOL THE STRUCTURE.  ANY THOUGHTS?  NOW YOU'RE A LIBRARIAN? YEAH, I WAS WAITING TO SEE IF ANYONE JUMPED IN. I'M HAPPY TO SAY I'LL ALWAYS ADVOCATE FOR LIBRARIES FOR THOSE TYPES OF SPACES. THEY'RE PLACES WHERE STUDENTS TEND TO BE CONGREGATING.  ANYWAY, A LOT OF LIBRARIES IN THE AREA MAY ALREADY HAVE TEEN ADVISORY BOARDS WHICH ARE WAY OF CREATING LIKE PEER LED LIBRARY PROGRAMS. THAT'S ACTUALLY HOW OUR SPACE STARTED AT OUR LIBRARY WAS TO HAVE MEMBERS ALL OF US SHARE THAT IT WAS ONE OF THE STATE OF THE NEED FOR THIS PROGRAM AND A DESIRE TO SEE IT HAPPEN. BUT LIBRARIANS ARE ALSO PEOPLE WHO ARE HOPEFULLY POSITIONED IN THEIR COMMUNITY WITH ADDITIONAL CONTACTS LIKE THEY KNOW OTHER YOU KNOW, YOUTH CENTERS, INTERFAITH ORGANIZATIONS, YOU KNOW, PLACES WITH THESE ROOMS. SO WE COULD GET INTO IF THE LIBRARY ITSELF DOESN'T HAVE THE SPACE FOR IT. BUT I DO THINK ANY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION THAT HAS TEAMS REGULARLY MEETING AT IT ALREADY IS PROBABLY THE PERFECT PLACE TO START.  ALL THE BETTER IF AS WE WERE HEARING EARLIER LIKE A LIBRARY YOU KNOW THERE'S A BILLION REASONS WHY A STUDENT COULD BE THERE SO IF THEY'RE LIVING AT HOME AND CLOSETED IT MAY BE EASIER FOR THEM TO GET TO A LIBRARY UNDER THE PRETENSE OF GOING TO THE LIBRARY AND THEN BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM A SPACE LIKE THIS. YEAH, WE'D REALLY LOVE OUR LIBRARIES FOR THAT REASON.  AND ALSO IN TERMS OF AS ACCESS TO SERVICES YOU SAID THAT THERE'S A WAITLIST FOR MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AT BAGLEY. ARE THERE OTHER REFERRAL SPACES THAT YOU CAN REFER? OBVIOUSLY IF YOU'RE WORKING WITH YOUNGER STUDENTS THEN THEY NEED PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND THAT MAKES IT VERY TRICKY SOMETIMES.  IF THEY'RE IF THE PARENTS ARE NOT SUPPORTIVE, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THOSE SORT OF CHALLENGES? YEAH. SO SO YES YES TO EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID. YES. SO BAGLEY IS ABLE TO OFFER AH WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER DROP IN THERAPY AND SHORT TERM THERAPY AND WE ALSO ASK FOR A COUPLE OF THERAPEUTIC GROUPS BUT THOSE ARE OUR TWO MAIN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES. AND THE THING THAT IS IS UNIQUE AND UNIQUELY BENEFICIAL TO YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICULARLY AS YOU AS YOU SUGGEST IN LGBTQ POSITIVE YOUTH WHO ARE NOT COMFORTABLE BEING OUT TO THEIR PARENTS EITHER BECAUSE THEY'RE AS MINORS OR AS YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE STILL ON A PARENT'S HEALTH INSURANCE. IS THAT OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE FREE. THERE'S NO INSURANCE NEEDED.  THERE'S NO INSURANCE ASKED FOR. SO IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO REFER TO A A SERVICE THAT THAT PARALLELS THAT EXACTLY THAT IS ALSO FREE THAT IS ALSO NO INSURANCE REQUIRED. YOU KNOW WE CERTAINLY MAKE REFERRALS BETWEEN US AND THE BOSTON GLASS BUT I THINK WE ARE BOTH VERY OFTEN IN THE SAME POSITION OF HAVING MORE NEEDS THAN THERE ARE RESOURCES.  THERE ARE CERTAINLY OTHER PLACES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE REFERRALS TO OFTEN THOUGH THOSE ARE THEN PAID. I THINK THE OTHER BIG CHALLENGE IS FINDING CULTURALLY COMPETENT PROVIDERS. I KNOW SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TALKED ABOUT JUST THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDERS THAT SHARE THE IDENTITIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE LGBTQ CULTURALLY COMPETENT, WHO ARE SUPPORTIVE AND ABLE TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF TRANS YOUTH AND AND TRANS YOUTH OF COLOR.  AND THAT CAN BE PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING.  AND FRANKLY I THINK SOMETHING WE'VE WE'VE COME UP AGAINST IS THAT EVEN WHEN THERE ARE RESOURCES TO TO BRING MORE FOLKS ONTO THE TEAM THERE ISN'T YET A STRONG PIPELINE SOCIALLY OF OF FOLKS COMING OUT OF GRADUATE THERAPY SOCIAL WORK PROGRAMS WHO ARE COMPETENT IN THOSE AREAS THAT THERE ISN'T EVEN NECESSARILY A LARGE POOL OF CANDIDATES TO TO JUST YET TO TO DRAW FROM SO ANYTHING ALSO THAT HELPS BUILD THAT POOL OF CANDIDATES UP OR DOWN THE ROAD WILL BE MORE PROVIDERS AVAILABLE EVENTUALLY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE NOT JUST NOT JUST SERVICES BUT REALLY GOOD SERVICES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR . COUNCILOR PREPARED.  THANK YOU, MR CHAIR.  AND THANK YOU TO THE BALANCE FOR BEING HERE. IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR YOUR TESTIMONIES AND TO JUST GET A GLIMPSE OF YOUR EXPECTATIONS AREA. MY QUESTION IS ABOUT YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS IN THE CITY. MAYBE SPECIFICALLY TO DO BOTH.  WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP LIKE WITH THE SCHOOLS IN OUR CITY?  WHAT KIND OF OUTREACH DO YOU DO TO CONNECT WITH THEM? I KNOW TO COUNCILOR BRADY'S POINT IS VERY TOUGH TO PROVIDE SERVICES AT THE SCHOOL BUT WHAT IS LIKE WHAT IS THE PIPELINE LIKE TO GET STUDENTS TO KNOW THAT YOU EXIST AS A RESOURCE AND TO YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT REFERRALS. I MEAN IMMEDIATELY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT A NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH CENTER, WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP LIKE WITH THE HOSPITAL'S RC BOSS IS KNOWN FOR AMAZING MEDICAL SYSTEM BUT WHAT DO YOU HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM? IS THERE A WAY FOR A PEDIATRICIAN OR SOMEONE THAT YOU KNOW TAKES CARE OF THE HEALTH OF THE OF THE YOUNG ADULT TO REFER THEM TO YOU?  YEAH. SO I CAN START YOU KNOW BOSTON GLASS AS WELL. SO IN TERMS OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SCHOOLS SO WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE MASS COMMISSION ON LGBTQ YOUTH IN GENERAL BUT BUT IN PARTICULAR THEY'RE SAFE SCHOOLS PROGRAM WHICH IS OUR STATEWIDE NETWORK FOR SUPPORTING GSA IS SO WE WORK BOTH TO CO-HOST EVENTS AND CO ADVERTISE OPPORTUNITIES BUT ALSO TO TO MAKE USE OF THOSE HELPING YOU TO MAKE TRANSITIONS BETWEEN THOSE TWO SPACES IF THEY COME TO BAGLEY GETTING THEM CONNECTED WITH A SCHOOL BASED GSA AND VICE VERSA IF THEY'RE STARTING AT THEIR SCHOOL GETTING THEM CONNECTED TO ANY OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER OPPORTUNITIES WE ALSO HAVE JUST AS A AS VERY SPECIFIC NOTE WE HAVE A MAILING LIST SPECIFIC FOR ESSAYS AND FOR BOTH EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS THAT GOES OUT WITH EVENTS PARTICULARLY TARGETED TOWARDS THAT AGE GROUP IN TERMS OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH AND REFERRALS WITH SOME OF OUR HOSPITALS WE DO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH A NUMBER OF HOSPITALS IN THE AREA BOTH THROUGH GRANTS AND THROUGH DIRECT RELATIONSHIPS.  WE WORK CLOSELY WITH M.G. H MASTER AND ALL 111 EVENING OR ONE DAY A WEEK. WE HAVE A NURSE FROM M.G. H WHO COMES TO OUR CLINIC AND IS ACTUALLY ABLE TO PROVIDE PRESCRIPTIONS FOR HIV TREATMENT RIGHT ON SITE. OTHERWISE WE MAKE DIRECT REFERRALS TO THEM.  USUALLY THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE ONCE WE MAKE THAT REFERRAL ARE SEEN AND GET THAT SCRIPT WITHIN 24 HOURS WHICH AS WE ALL KNOW FROM NAVIGATING OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS IS FASTER THAN NORMAL AND THEN SIMILARLY HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY CENTERS TO CONTINUE JUST FILLING IN THOSE GAPS AROUND WHAT'S SERVICES ARE NEEDED. I ECHO EVERYTHING THAT SHE SAID . I THINK WE DO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LGBTQ YOUTH COMMISSION WHICH IS REALLY ONE OF OUR GREAT PARTNERS AND THEN ALSO OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR WORK WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AT BRIGHTON HIGH SCHOOL SPECIFICALLY LEGACY PROGRAM AND WHAT SHE DOES A LOT OF REFERRALS TO THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM AND THEN ALSO AS FAR AS PARTNERSHIPS OF HEALTH CENTERS WE DO PARTNER WITH A LOT OF HEALTH CENTERS AROUND HEALTH EQUITY AND MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS HAVE ACCESS TO CARE AND SO WE DO WORK WITH LGB, WE DO A LOT OF WORK WITH FENWAY HEALTH ADVANCING HEALTH EQUITY AROUND COVID 19 IMPACTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT ALSO WE'RE REALLY GETTING INTENTIONAL AROUND HOW DO WE CONNECT OTHER COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS WITH LGBTQ IDENTITIES AND HOW DO THEY SERVE THAT POPULATION WITHIN THE INSTITUTIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT IS VERY INCLUSIVE FOR EVERYONE THAT COME TO THE INSTITUTION TO BE SERVICED?  YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S I'M I'M REALLY HAPPY TO KNOW THAT THERE IS ALREADY SOME SORT OF A STANDING RELATIONSHIP AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT HOSPITALS COMMUNITIES THAT I REPRESENT I REPRESENT ROSSDALE HYDE PARK MATTAPAN THAT REGION I KNOW THAT THEY THERE'S THERE'S A LACK OF HEALTH CENTERS. I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NOTICED THERE IT'S A LACK OF HEALTH CENTER SO THE THE GET FOLKS COMING FROM THAT AREA TO LIKE BMC AND THOSE OTHER COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS IT'S REALLY IT'S REALLY HARD. YEAH SO THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING THAT QUESTION TO SEE WHAT IS THE EXISTING ONES JUST TO SEE WHERE PEOPLE ARE BEING.  HOW CAN PEOPLE GO TO THEM? SO I WOULD LOVE TO IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION PLEASE SEND THAT WE ALSO OFFER FOLKS FREE RIDES TO GET TO THE HEALTH CENTERS TOO. RIGHT. IF THEY'RE IF THEY HAVE SOME DEFICIENCIES IN GETTING TO THE HOUSE IN A REAL SAY OUT HERE, GO TO LIVE HERE, GO A LITTLE OUT THERE AND GO UBER VOUCHER TO GET YOU TO THE HEALTH CENTER AS WELL. SO IT'S ALL ABOUT THE REACHING OUT AND GETTING ACCESS TO THOSE SERVICES. COUNCIL BUT THEN I APOLOGIZE I FORGOT TO START THE TIME FOR YOU BUT I DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION THAT THAT WAS SO GOOD. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILOR MEJIA THE FLOOR IS YOURS.  THANK YOU. SO JUST GOING TO DIVE RIGHT? AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL SHARED WITH US THUS FAR. SINCE I ONLY HAVE 4 MINUTES I HAVE FOUR QUESTIONS A MINUTE EACH.  OKAY. DON'T TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME BECAUSE I WILL PUT A BUZZER ON YOU AND I'M GOING TO JUST SPIT THEM ALL OUT AND YOU ALL CAN FIGURE I WAS GOING TO ANSWER THEM. ONE IS AROUND TRAINING FOR LGBTQ AFFIRMING SPACES. I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT TRAINING ARE YOU DOING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, PROVIDERS, HEALTH CENTERS, COMMUNITY CENTERS BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN ALL SPACES AND PLACES WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING TRAINING AND EDUCATION NOT JUST IN SPACES THAT WE'RE OPERATING IN.  SO CURIOUS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IF ANYTHING ANYONE COULD TALK ABOUT THAT.  JULIAN I WAS AN HONORARY MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REVLON WHEN I LIVED IN NEW YORK. I WORKED AT THE HETRICK MARTIN INSTITUTE THE HOUSE THE HOME OF THE HARVEY MILK SCHOOL.  AND WHILE I WAS THERE I DID A LOT OF WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE GOAL WAS TO REALLY HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT WE WERE DOING A HIV AND AIDS AWARENESS INITIATIVE AND FOR ME IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO REALIZE THAT HIV WASN'T ABOUT WHO YOU DID BUT WHAT YOU DID THAT PUT YOU AT RISK. AND SO WE WERE TRYING TO CREATE SPACES FOR OUR ORIENTATIONS TO BE IN COMMUNITY WITH EACH OTHER SPECIFICALLY IN AREAS LIKE MATTAPAN EXCUSE ME MANHATTAN,  BRONX AND BROOKLYN IN HIGH AREAS WHERE THERE WERE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR. AND I'M JUST CURIOUS IN TERMS OF LIKE WORKING ON DOING MORE INTEGRATED PROGRAMING WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR YOU ALL WITHIN THE HOUSE. YOU KNOW, WITH THE BALLROOM SCENE I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ART SPACE TO DO MORE INTEGRATED PROGRAMING WITH TEEN EMPOWERMENT AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU ALL POTENTIALLY ALL COULD BE COLLABORATING WITH. SO WE'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IF THERE'S ANY OPPORTUNITIES THERE AND IF IT EXISTS, GREAT. AND IF NOT, LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO THAT AND THEN I REALLY LOVE YOUR ACID BASE FRAMING BECAUSE WHAT I'VE SEEN HERE IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR IN PARTICULAR IS THAT WE ALWAYS LEAD WITH OUR DEFICITS OF VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES BUT WE'RE NOT VULNERABLE. WE'RE RESILIENT, GREAT EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED EXACTLY SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE BOTH GREAT. YEAH, WE'VE BEEN HARMED. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT.  SO THAT'S ABOUT CLAIMING THE STORY IN THE NARRATIVE AND I THINK THAT WE HERE ON THE COUNCIL AND EVEN PROVIDERS WE NEED TO START REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW WE POSITION AND HOW WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE RESILIENT BECAUSE THERE IS STRENGTH IN THAT STRUGGLE AND I'D LOVE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE FROM EVEN IN POLICY BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO REALLY START THINKING ABOUT HOW WE POSITION THESE CONVERSATIONS IN WAYS THAT LEAD WITH THOSE ASSETS AND NOT FALL VICTIM TO THE THE STEREOTYPICAL PLIGHT. SO I LOVE YOU ALL TO TALK ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU.  IF I COULD START OFF WITH THE TRAINING I DON'T MIND BUFFALO'S BIGGER OF A FOUNDATION. WE OFFER TRAININGS TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT ENTITIES ONE BEING CHILDREN'S SERVICES A ROXBURY,  ANOTHER BEING A PROJECT GREAT.  BUT THEN ALSO WE OFFER TRAININGS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY SETTING.  WE OFFER PARENTS AND GUARDIANS THAT COME ON TRAININGS WITH US AND LEARN ABOUT PRONOUNS, LEARNING ABOUT INCLUSIVITY,  LEARNING ABOUT MAKING ENVIRONMENTS MORE FRIENDLY FRIENDLY UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN FOLKS COME INTO YOUR BUILDING OR YOUR BUSINESS THERE'S NO SIGNS THAT REFLECT THEM THEY MIGHT NOT FEEL INCLUDED IN SOCIETY. AND SO WE DO A LOT OF TRAININGS AND I THINK THAT AS WE ADVANCE OUR TRAININGS WE'RE LOOKING TO DO MORE WORK WITH HRC AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE COMING INTO THE FOLD OF HAVING A BIGGER, LARGER CONVERSATION WITH US. BUT ALSO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE PRIDE IN THE WORKPLACE ON MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS ARE COMING INTO CONVERSATIONS, UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS IN THE WORKPLACE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR DIGNITY IN THE WORKPLACE AND NOT FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO DEFAULT TO BEING DEVALUE FOOD IN THE WORKPLACE. SO WE'RE DOING A LOT OF WORK WITH PRIDE IN THE WORKPLACE AS WELL OUT TO HELP ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT INTEGRATING SERVICES IN THE PORTLAND SCENE AND THEIR RELATION TO HIV PREVENTION WORK, IT'S SO EXCITING TO HEAR THAT YOU WERE INVOLVED THE HOUSE OF RED LION AND ACTUALLY THE KIKI SCENE IN BALLROOM STARTING OUT AS A GRASSROOTS WAY OF ADDRESSING HIV PREVENTION IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE AS AN ORGANIZATION REALLY TRIED TO KEEP THAT THE HISTORY OF THAT AND THE TRADITION OF THAT GOING RIGHT NOW.  YOU KNOW WE JUST RECENTLY HAD A PREP THEMED BALL THAT WAS FUNDED THROUGH THE MOLLA OFFICE AND WE USE THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE PREP REFERRALS TO CLIENTS THAT CAME TO THE BALL AND TO ALSO JUST PROVIDE EDUCATION AND MESSAGING ABOUT HIV.  AND WE ALSO ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON ORGANIZING A DINNER AND KIND OF PANEL DISCUSSION WITH ALL OF THE BALLROOM MOTHERS AND FATHERS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND IN BOSTON TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF SUBSTANCE USE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO CREATE THAT MOMENTUM AND TRYING TO CREATE THAT INTEGRATION BETWEEN THE BALLROOM COMMUNITY AND THE LEADERS IN THE BALLROOM COMMUNITY AS WELL AS SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE CITY TO MAKE A STRONGER NETWORK IN A WAY OF KIND OF ADDRESSING THE THIS COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT FEELS MORE CULTURALLY RELATIVE TO THEM AND HELPS THEM FEEL MORE EXCITED AND MORE SAFE TO ENGAGE IN THE SERVICES AND TO HEAR THIS MESSAGING. SO THAT'S ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE GOALS OF OUR PROGRAM AND SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON ACTIVELY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOUIJEUNE OH I'M SORRY , DID YOU ADD SOMETHING REAL FAST? YEAH, PLEASE. WELL, I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON POLICY BUT DEFINITELY I KNOW THAT POLICY USES RESEARCH AND IT HAS TO DO WITH WHAT KIND OF RESEARCH WE DO AND WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS WE ASK AND THE RESULTS THAT WE PRODUCE. SO INSTEAD OF GIVING ME IS IT HARD TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL? YES, IT IS.  IF YOU ASKED ME WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING THING ABOUT HAVING A NONBINARY CHILD BOOM IF YOU START DOING WAIPA FOR EXAMPLE AGAIN I STRUGGLED COMING HERE WITH WHEN MY CLINIC INVITED ME I WAS LIKE I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE HERE AND OF COURSE WE HAVE ALL HAVE SOME TO ASK BUT AGAIN LIKE WHO SHOULD BE HEARING FROM THEM? WE ARE SERVING THEM AND THEY SHOULD BE CO CONSTRUCTING THAT BEYOND THIS 5 MINUTES RIGHT RIGHT THING THAT WE'RE DOING WE SHOULD HAVE LIKE A TASK FORCE AND WE SHOULD BE WORKING ON REGULAR BASIS BUT SO YES I THINK RESEARCH WE ARE CO RESPONSIBLE OF THIS BECAUSE IT'S THE KIND OF RESEARCH WE'VE BEEN DOING AND USUALLY THERE'S A PHRASE THAT I LOVE I THINK IS FOR FROM TRANS HUB IS RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE TO US RATHER THAN WITH US SO LET'S ALSO LIKE THIS BRINGS JOY THIS REALLY CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AND I THINK WE'RE HEADING INTO THAT DIRECTION YEAH GREAT THANK YOU BECAUSE RESOLUTION THANK YOU MR CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR SANTANA FOR HOLDING THIS VERY IMPORTANT HEARING.  A NUMBER OF YOU HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF THIRD SPACES AND I THINK THIS IS THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT THOSE SPACES OUTSIDE OF HOME AND OUTSIDE OF WORK THAT CAN BE PLACES AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH BUT LIKE THIRD SPACES ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME OF LIKE JUST SO MUCH DIVISION AND LACK OF PLACES WHERE THAT ARE LOW BARE ENTRY WHERE YOU CAN GO AND REALLY COMMUNE WITH FOLKS. BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF IT FOR THIS WORK AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT YOU CURTIS, BECAUSE I THINK YOU YOU DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF DISRUPTING SPACES THAT MAY BE HOSTILE OR NOT WELCOMING OR NEUTRAL AND YOU TAKE THEM OVER AND THINK ABOUT THAT EVENT THAT WE DID IN DORCHESTER AND IN THE PANEL AND HOW BEAUTIFUL IT WAS TO BE IN A SPACE AND IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE MAYBE FOLKS AREN'T ALWAYS COMFORTABLE OF  FOLKS OCCUPYING AND TAKING THAT SPACE AND YOU DO THAT SO BEAUTIFULLY FOR OUR BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. SO I JUST WANTED TO SALUTE YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND THERE'S ALSO A REALLY AND I KNOW THIS IS ABOUT YOUTH BUT THERE'S AN INTERGENERATIONAL NATURE THAT I THINK IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL AS WELL, ESPECIALLY WHAT THE ELDERS CAN TEACH THE YOUNG PEOPLE. RIGHT? THE WAY THAT YOU KNOW, THE WHITE HOUSE IS CELEBRATING WORLD AIDS DAY ELDERS WHO GREW UP IN THAT FEAR OF WHAT IT MEANT TO BE STIGMATIZED.  SO THERE'S SO MUCH CROSS LEARNING TO DO. WE ARE HERE JOINED BY OUR WONDERFUL MOLA AND THEY'VE DONE REALLY GREAT WORK WITH THE BEYOND PRIDE MINI GRANTS BECAUSE LET'S FACE IT I THINK A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS LIKE GREAT IDEAS AND HOW WE FUND IT AND SUPPORT IT WONDERING WHAT INTERACTION YOU ALL HAVE HAD WITH THOSE THE PRIDE MINI GRANTS IF ANY AND ANY FEEDBACK YOU HAVE FOR US ON HOW IT IS OR ISN'T WORKING I DON'T MIND STARVING.  I DON'T KNOW. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION FOR THE PRIDE BEYOND PRIMARY GRANT WE USED IT FOR WE GOT THE CURATORS I WOULD SAY CURATORS BUT WE REESTABLISHED BOSTON BLACK PRIDE HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON WHEN IT WAS STOLEN FROM US AND I THINK THAT WITH THE BOSTON WITH THE PRIDE MANY GRANTS BEYOND PRIMARY GRANTS WE USE THAT ACTUAL FUNDING TO FUNNEL MONEY TO HELP SUPPORT BLACK PRIDE BOSTON AND I THINK THAT BLACK PRIDE IS SUCH A SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT ACROSS THE NATION.  I THINK THAT HERE IN THE CITY OF BOSTON IT'S UNDERFUNDED, TOTALLY UNDERFUNDED.  AND WHEN I MET WITH THE PRIDE ORIGINAL PRIVATE LEADERS AROUND BLACK PRIDE THEY STATED THERE WAS ONLY GETTING $2,000 TO RUN A BLACK PRIDE. SO THAT DOESN'T EVEN MITIGATE THE VISIBILITY AROUND BLACK PRIDE. WHEN I KICKED WHEN WE STARTED CARRYING SPACE FOR BLACK PRIDE WE SAT DOWN WITH LEADERS, LEADERS AND SAID WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM MY PARTY? SAY WE DON'T EVEN KNOW BLACK PRIDE EXISTS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON. AND SO WE STARTED THE MOVEMENT AGAIN AND SO I THINK FUNDING IT HOLISTICALLY BUT NOT UNDERFUNDING IT BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT NATIONALLY IT'S A HUGE MOVEMENT IN DIFFERENT CITIES AND I THINK BOSTON PREDOMINANTLY WE'RE LIKE ALMOST LIKE THE FIFTH CITY WITH THE MOST POPULATED LGBTQ INDIVIDUALS HERE IN THE CITY. AND SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF HOW FOLKS ARE TAKING UP SPACE BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING TO CULTIVATE CULTURE WITHIN THAT SPACE THAT THEY'RE TAKING UP?  THANK YOU SO MUCH CURTIS AND I ASKED THAT AGAIN BECAUSE THAT'S OUR BAILIWICK HERE.  ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO FUNDING AND WORKING ALONGSIDE MOLD I KNOW THEY CARE ABOUT IT DEEPLY AND IF THEY HAD UNLIMITED POOLS THIS IS SOMETHING WE WOULD PUT MORE MONEY TO. WONDERING WHAT THE SCOPE THE LANDSCAPE OF FUNDING LOOKS LIKE NOW WITH THE FEAR OF IS THERE FEAR OF FUNDING FOR ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST TO OUR COMMUNITY THINKING ALSO ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW MICHELLE YOU MENTIONED YOU KNOW IS THERE PREPARATION BEING DONE TO BE FOR FOLKS WHO MAY FIND SAFETY AND SAFE HARBOR IN MASSACHUSETTS?  JUST WOULD LOVE TO HEAR A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT YOU ALL ARE THINKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF YOUR WORK GIVEN THE NATIONAL CLIMATE AND LANDSCAPE OF FEAR AND MAYBE OUR HESITATION TO BE AS SUPPORTIVE ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR TRANS COMMUNITY GENERALLY WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING AND SUPPORT. YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THIS QUESTION.  SO BAGLEY WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO RECEIVE FUNDING FROM FROM THE STATES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, FROM THE FROM THE CITY, FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE INCREDIBLE SOURCES OF FUNDING THAT HELP SUPPORT OUR WORK IN ADDITION TO TWO PRIVATE FOUNDATION GIVING AND AS YOU AS YOU SUGGEST IF THERE ARE CHANGES AT A FEDERAL LEVEL THAT IMPACT THE MONEY COMING TO THE STATES AND THEREFORE ARE COMING TO THE CITY THAT IS LIKELY TO LEAD TO TWO ADDITIONAL CUTS TO THAT FUNDING WITHIN PRIVATE GIVING. WE KNOW THAT PRIVATE GIVING IS WAY DOWN FROM WHAT IT HAS BEEN IN RECENT YEARS. SO WHILE WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO BE OKAY THERE IS A LOT OF ANXIETY ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT AND AND A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY YOU KNOW, WITH THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT WE COULD BE LUCKY AND THINGS ARE OKAY OR SOME SOME REALLY WORST CASE SCENARIOS COULD HAPPEN. SO I THINK THAT IS THAT IS A CONSIDERATION AND I THINK IT IS PARTICULARLY A CONSIDERATION AS YOU MENTIONED WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THERE WILL BE MORE PARTICULARLY YOUNG TRANS TRANS KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES COMING TO THE STATE.  I KNOW FOR THE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE STARTED COMING ALREADY OFTEN ARE COMING FIRST TO BOSTON AND ARE FINDING THAT THEY THEY SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.  THEY CAN'T AFFORD HOUSING, THEY CAN'T FIND EMPLOYMENT, THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE COST OF LIVING AND THEY ARE GOING INTO OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE AS MANY RESOURCES. SO I THINK IT WAS ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES MENTIONED EARLIER AROUND IN ADDITION TO THINGS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON LGBTQ YOUTH IN THE SPACES FOR THEM IT IS ALSO ALL OF THE THINGS LIKE HOUSING, LIKE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT ARE GOING TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO TO COME HERE AND ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO LIVE AND THRIVE HERE.  THANK YOU. I FORGOT TO STATE YOUR TIME BUT INFLUENCES OTHER COUNTRIES AND I APOLOGIZE IF YOU GET DISTRACTED.  I'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE ARE JOINED BY COUNCILOR . WE'RE ALL AS WELL.  BUT UP NEXT WE HAVE COUNSELOR AARON MURPHY. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU HENRY FOR COUNSELOR SANTANA FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND HOLDING THIS TODAY AND A FEW THINGS WHEN YOU WERE SHARING ABOUT YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY AND THE ORGANIZATIONS YOU WORK WITH YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US. RIGHT. THAT YOU'VE BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES. THIS ISN'T A NEW THING.  SO AND YOU'VE BEEN DOING THE WORK FOR A VERY LONG TIME.  SO THAT'S IMPORTANT. AND CURTIS, I DO LIKE YOUR SHIRT SPOKE AND YEAH, MICHAEL DOWLING HAS DEFINITELY HELD SPACE FOR DECADES ALSO STARTING BACK YOU KNOW WITH THE AIDS AND THEN THE SUICIDE WAVE IN SOUTH BOSTON AND DEFINITELY IS A MODEL I THINK IN THE CITY OF WHERE YOU KNOW YOU CAN LOOK TO BECAUSE ONE OF MY QUESTIONS AND I THINK YOU KNOW YOU ALL CAN ANSWER THIS NICELY BUT SOMEONE LIKE MICHAEL DEFINITELY COULD ANSWER IT. YOU KNOW WHAT STANDS OUT TO ALL OF YOU AS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SAFE SPACES FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY COMPARED TO THE SPACES WE ALREADY HAVE AND YOU KNOW, IF THERE WAS A CHECKLIST LIKE WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE ON THAT CHECKLIST THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE IN THESE SPACES?  I THINK FOR ME THE FIRST THING THAT'S COME TO MY MIND IS TRANSPHOBIA AND HOMOPHOBIA RIGHT?  I THINK THAT THE SPACES TODAY TRANSPHOBIA AND HOMOPHOBIA CAN BE SO DISGUISED BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TREATMENT AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THAT LANGUAGE OR THAT SHARED RESPONSE ABILITY OR UNDERSTANDING HOW THEY'RE BEING MISTREATED. AND SO I THINK THAT WHEN WE THINK OF CREATING COMMUNITY SPACES FOR YOUTH IN A SAFE SPACE, I THINK IT'S THE SAME AUTONOMY OF BRINGING THE SAME SERVICES BUT MORE INCLUSIVE BEING MORE INCLUSIVE IN THEM FEELING LIKE THEY HAVE A HOME THEY GO TO THEM FEEL LIKE THEY CAN WALK INTO THE SPACE. THEY'RE BEING ACKNOWLEDGED BY THEIR NAMES, BY THEIR PREFERRED NAMES I SHOULD SAY. AND SO I THINK IT'S THE SAME MODEL BUT JUST MORE SO REFLECTIVE OF CULTURE HOW IT'S REFLECTIVENESS BUT ALSO JUST CREATING THAT SAFE SPACE. YOU KNOW, FOLKS STILL COMING INTO COMMUNITIES AND AS I THINK ABOUT THE TOBIN I THINK ABOUT LENA PARK, I THINK ABOUT THOSE ALL THOSE COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT I TAKE OF SPACE IN AND THEY'RE GREAT THEY'RE GREAT.  IT'S GREAT FUNCTIONING BUT THERE'S UNDERLINING TRANSPHOBIA AND HOMOPHOBIA THAT WITHIN THOSE INSTITUTIONS.  I THINK MICHELLE WHEN YOU MENTIONED TO TWO YOUTH LED ADULT SUPPORTED AND I THINK MOST OF US IF WE REFLECT IT BACKWARDS WOULD SAY THAT WE WOULD HOPE THAT THAT'S HOW WE DO IT. BUT I THINK THAT REALLY STOOD OUT FOR ME ALSO BECAUSE YOU'RE TAKING THE LEAD FROM THEM AND TELLING THEM WHAT THEY NEED. I THINK THAT SAYS A LOT AND IF I'M SORRY AND I FIND IT HARD FOR A LOT OF BIPOC BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH TO STEP UP AND SAY HEY, SERVES ME WE HAVE A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM THAT'S REFLECTIVE OF BIPOC INDIVIDUALS AND IT'S SO HARD TO WILL AND THEN SAY HEY THIS IS FOR YOU, THIS IS A SAFE ZONE. BE A PART OF THIS EXPERIENCE AND I WANT TO BRING ATTENTION TO THAT. WE HAVE NO YOUNG BLACK OR BROWN YOUTH TODAY TO STAND UP AND SAY THIS IS WHAT WE NEED SO WE'RE THERE'S A GAP TO BE FILLED SOMEWHERE I'M THROUGH THE CHAIR OF THE SPONSOR WAS INVITED.  YOU KNOW I MEAN CHILDREN SPEND MOST OF THEIR DAY OUTSIDE OF HOME.  YOU KNOW, THE MOST OF THEIR TIME IS AT SCHOOL. I WAS WONDERING IF THEY WERE INCLUDED IN PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. THEY WERE GOOD OKAY.  SORRY . YEAH, IF YOU DON'T MIND. SORRY . DO WE INVITE THEM? WE THEY WERE INVITED TO THIS HEARING.  I KNOW. AND THANK YOU FOR THE I SEE THE LIBRARY AND THE AND ALL THE OTHER CITY OR ORGANIZATIONS.  THANK YOU. I DO THINK THAT'S A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO NOT BE HERE ESPECIALLY TO HEAR FROM THE PANELISTS DIRECTLY BUT JUST YEAH, BUT I'M ALMOST UP WITH MY 4 MINUTES. JUST THANK YOU FOR I THINK YOU KNOW THE POLICY ALWAYS IS WHAT COMES NEXT DOOR SHOULD ALWAYS BE WHY WE HOLD THESE HEARINGS AND THIS ISN'T THE ONLY TYPE OF YOU KNOW SOMETHING I KNOW OUR OFFICE IS THINKING ABOUT A LOT OF THAT YOU KNOW THE THE ONLY POWER WE HAVE AS COUNSELORS ISN'T JUST TO HOLD THESE HEARINGS. IT'S TO BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU, UPLIFTING YOUR NEEDS AND YOUR VOICES AND THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO START TO HEAR EXACTLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU NEED. BUT IT'S ON ME , RIGHT? I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF TO FIND OUT AND BE OUT THERE AND HEARING HOW WE CAN BE ALLIES AND BE MORE SUPPORTIVE SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR OF COUNCILOR UP OFF OKAY WITH THAT I ALSO GO TO MY QUESTIONS ONLY BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A THIRD PANEL SOME FOLKS ON THE PANEL AT THE HARD STOP SO I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE FOR ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS, ENLIGHTENING US AS A BODY AS WELL. YOU GUYS ARE EXCUSED AND OF COURSE WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE THIRD PANEL AS WELL. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.  I'D NOW LIKE TO CALL UP THE ADMINISTRATOR PANEL.  WE HAVE JULIANNE LEE, THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, LGBTQ PLUS ADVANCEMENT I BELIEVE PEDRO I THINK HAD A HARD STOP FROM THE DIRECTOR OF YOUTH ENGAGEMENT ADVANCEMENT. UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T THINK HE'LL BE HERE. SUMMER GROSSMAN, DIRECTOR OF CENTER OF BEHAVIOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS AT THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION. DAVID LEONARD PRESIDENT PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND MARTY RIVERA, COMMISSIONER OF BUSY LIFE AND LIVING OFF SEATS GRACE KENDALL, WELCOME VERY MUCH. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN AND THANK YOU FOR FOR BEARING WITH US.  AND I KNOW THE TIME CAN ALWAYS BE AN ISSUE AND I KNOW SOME FOLKS HAVE HARD STOPS AND HAVE ALREADY HAD HEART STOPS SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO TAKE YOUR TIME AND BE WITH US HERE TODAY.  I THINK YOU'VE HAD A LOT TO LISTEN TO IN THE FIRST TWO PANELS AND CERTAINLY A LOT TO ABSORB AND SO WE HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU IN THIS HOW WE CAN MAYBE PUT SOME OF THAT STUFF INTO ACTION AND CREATE THE SPACES AND SOME OF THE AREAS THAT YOU GUYS ARE ALL IN CHARGE OF . I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS AN OPENING STATEMENT OR EACH OF YOU HAVE OPENING STATEMENTS OR ANY PRESENTATIONS TO MAKE BUT WE CAN START IN ANY ORDER YOU HAVE TO SO WE JUST PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND WE'LL GO DOWN THE LINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING.  CHAIRMAN FITZGERALD. COUNSELOR SANTANA. OTHER HONORABLE COUNSELOR IS MY NAME SMART GROSSMAN PRONOUNCED SHE HER DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION ALSO A PROUD PARENT OF TWO KIDS IN VPA SCHOOLS AND ONE OF WHOM IDENTIFIES STRONGLY WITH THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY EVEN THOUGH SHE IS OF YOUNG AGE CURRENTLY 13 SO HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE AT HOME ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE A YOUTH GROWING UP IN TODAY'S SOCIETY. SO THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH FOR CALLING THIS HEARING. IT'S SO IMPORTANT SO I HAVE A FEW DATA POINTS SOME OF THEM YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD BUT I'M JUST GOING TO TRY TO DEEPEN A LITTLE BIT AS WE GO JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT, I'LL GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW ON SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT THE CENTER IS DOING TO ADDRESS LGBTQ YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND SOME OTHER POINTS AS WELL.  SO HOPEFULLY YOU CAN SEE THE SLIDE. OKAY SO THIS RESONATES WITH WHAT YOU'VE PROBABLY ALREADY HEARD SOMEWHAT BUT TRYING TO LINK THINGS BACK THE HEALTH OF BOSTON MENTAL HEALTH REPORT PHC PUT OUT EARLIER THIS YEAR REALLY HELPFUL REPORT AND AS YOU'LL SEE THERE'S SOME DEEP DIVES ABOUT YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND SPECIFICALLY LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH. BUT AS YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD BEFORE BUT IN BOSTON IN 2021 YOU SEE THE MORE THAN 40% OF STUDENTS REPORTING PERSISTENT FEELINGS SADNESS,  HOPELESSNESS, HOPELESSNESS AND ANXIETY AN INCREASE FROM 27% IN 2015.  IMPORTANTLY ON THIS SLIDE YOU CAN SEE THE BIG INCREASE AND YOU'LL SEE THIS IN ANOTHER CHART AS WELL. BUT AS YOU KNOW, LGBTQ YOUTH FACE DISPROPORTIONATE CHALLENGES NOTABLY HIGHER PREVALENCE OF POOR MENTAL HEALTH FOR YOUTH THAN THEIR CIS OR HETEROSEXUAL PEERS GENERALLY IN MASSACHUSETTS AS YOU MIGHT HAVE ALREADY HEARD, 71% OF LGBTQ YOUTH REPORTING SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY WITH RATES HIGHER 78% FOR NONBINARY AND TRANSGENDER YOUTH. SO WE'LL GET INTO THAT DIFFERENCE A LITTLE BIT MORE LATER AND ALSO JUST SO YOU KNOW, THIS DOES ALIGN WITH THE 2019 BOSTON COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT SHOWING THAT LGBTQ YOUTH IN BOSTON 48 48% AT THAT TIME REPORTING PERSISTENT SADNESS COMPARED TO 27% OF HETEROSEXUAL NON TRANS YOUTH IMPORTANTLY ON SOME OTHER HEALTH ISSUES JUST TO KNOW IT'S NOT JUST THE ANXIETY OR THE DEPRESSION OR THE SUICIDALITY THAT REPORT ALSO SHOWED THAT YOUTH ARE MORE LIKE LGBT.  Q PLUS YOUTH ARE MORE LIKELY TO SMOKE OR USE E-CIGARETTES MARIJUANA USE ALCOHOL, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS DRUGS COMPARED TO THEIR HETEROSEXUAL OR NON TRANS YOUTH. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS HEALTH OF BOSTON MENTAL HEALTH REPORT FROM 2017 1921 AND 21 YOU CAN SEE LGBTQ PLUS UNFORTUNATELY WEREN'T ABLE TO GATHER DATA OR DID IS NOT YET GATHERED HONESTLY FOR TRANS GENDER NONCONFORMING YOUTH BUT FOR LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH EXPERIENCING HIGHER RATES AND A RANGE OF MENTAL HEALTH INDICATORS. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT SADNESS PURPOSELY HURTING THEMSELVES CONSIDERING SUICIDE AND PLANNING SUICIDE AND ATTEMPTING SUICIDE UNFORTUNATELY IS ALL HIGHER FOR LGBTQ YOUTH IN BOSTON.  ALSO YOU CAN NOTE THAT I THINK IT'S ON THIS SLIDE SO YOU CAN SEE THE PURPLE BAR IF YOU JUST LIKE RUN DOWN WHAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT. BUT TO ME IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTS LIKE IT'S THE FIRST THING THAT JUMPED OUT AT ME WHEN I LOOKED AT THE HEALTH OF BOSTON MENTAL HEALTH REPORT.  IT'S ANOTHER REASON I'M REALLY GLAD WE'RE HERE TODAY.  BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE TREVOR PROJECT ALSO SHOWED THAT IN 2024 SO THIS IS NOW ONE IN TEN LGBTQ YOUTH ATTEMPTING SUICIDE IN THE LAST YEAR AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NATIONAL DATA THAT SHOWS AND TRANS AND GENDER DIVERSE ARE EXPERIENCING THE MOST SEVERE STRESSORS FROM THEIR PEERS INCLUDING BULLYING, LACK OF FAMILY SUPPORT AND GENDER BASED DISCRIMINATION WHICH LEADS TO HIGHER RATES OF DEPRESSION, SELF-HARM,  EATING DISORDERS AND SUICIDE SUICIDALITY THAN THEIR CISGENDER HETEROSEXUAL AND THEIR CISGENDER LGBT LGBT PEERS . SO AS YOU UNDERSTAND DEEPER INTO THE COMMUNITY OF COURSE SOME OF THIS WE'LL TALK IN A STEP YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD THERE'S A TERM CALLED MINORITY STRESS WHICH TALKS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE THINGS LIKE WHAT WE SEE GOING ON WITH THE ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION, THE SORT OF TARGETING OF YOUTH WHO ARE TRANS OR GENDER NONCONFORMING AND WHAT THAT REALLY DOES TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AS YOU HEARD EARLIER AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE INTERSECTIONALITY REALLY MATTERS AND WHAT WE WERE JUST HEARING FROM AND TALKING ABOUT SO FOR LGBT IQ PLUS YOUTH OF COLOR IN PARTICULAR WHO FACE A DUAL BURDEN OF RACISM AND HOMOPHOBIA OR TRANSPHOBIA OR ALL THE ABOVE HIGHER RATES OF DEPRESSION, GREATER FEELINGS OF SCHOOL AND SAFETY LEADING TO HIGHER ABSENTEEISM AND REDUCED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND AN INCREASED RISK WHICH YOU HEARD US TALKING ABOUT OF HOMELESSNESS, VIOLENCE, INVOLVEMENT IN CHILD WELFARE AND THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO YOU CAN ONLY SEE THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF THE LAYERS OF OPPRESSION AND WHAT THAT DOES TO YOUTH. I'M GOING TO SKIP OVER SOME THINGS SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO HEAR THINGS YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD IN THE INTEREST OF TIME JUST SO YOU KNOW AS YOU HEARD BUT JUST TO PUT SOME NUMBERS ON IT.  LIMITED ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES EVEN AS YOU CAN HEAR THE DEMAND GROWING IN THIS PARTICULAR POPULATION. RESOURCES ARE INSUFFICIENT SO FAR IN 2023 ASSOCIATION BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE REPORTS THAT FOR EVERY 9.2 COUNSELORS HIRED TEN ARE LEAVING THE FIELD SIGNIFICANT WORKFORCE GAP.  A NATIONAL DATA SHOWS THAT 50% OF LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH WHO WANTED MENTAL HEALTH CARE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET IT.  SO I'M VERY PROUD TO WORK FOR THE BOSTON PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSION. I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT A FEW THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE GAPS AND TO ADDRESS LGBTQ YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IN PARTICULAR SOME OF WHICH RESONATES WITH SOME OF THE POINTS BROUGHT UP TODAY. BUT IN RESPONSE TO WHAT I FIND VERY ALARMING DATA, WE HAVE USED OUR FUNDS TO ADDRESS YOUTH URGENT MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF LGBTQ YOUTH. THE INVESTMENTS INCLUDE SUPPORTING THROUGH CHARITIES COMMUNITY BASED INITIATIVE WHICH IS A CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE ALREADY UNDERWAY. WE'RE WORKING WITH A VENDOR TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS FOR ADULT SERVING YOUTH IN NON-CLINICAL SETTINGS. THIS WOULD BE ALSO BEYOND SCHOOL SO NOT MEANT FOR SCHOOLS OR THOSE WHO ARE RECEIVING OR GIVING CARE IN CLINICAL SETTINGS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS ETC. BUT AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS OF ANY TYPE THERE'S A CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM TO BRING THOSE ADULT YOUTH WORKERS MENTAL HEALTH KNOWLEDGE. SO THIS WOULD BE LIKE A MENTAL HEALTH TYPE OF 1 TO 1. SO THOSE THAT ARE INTERACTING WITH YOUTH ALL THE TIME REALLY UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON. BUT IN RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS THAT WE KNOW IS HERE WE ASKED OUR TRAINING CAPACITY VENDOR I MEAN OUR TRAINING CAPACITY GROUP TO WORK WITH A VENDOR TO DO AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF LGBTQ YOUTH DEEP DIVE INTO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SO THAT THOSE ARE OPTIONAL AND NOT UNFORESEEN BUT THOSE THAT COME INTO THAT ARE JURIED IN INTO THAT PROGRAM ARE MEANT TO BE ABLE TO GET THOSE ADDITIONAL LEARNING ADDITIONALLY, THOSE PROGRAMS ARE MEANT TO SERVE BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH IN BOSTON ALREADY SO TRYING TO GIVE A FOCUS ON THAT INTERSECTIONALITY IN THE WAY THOSE LAYERS OF OPPRESSION AFFECT YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH.  IN ADDITION, UMASS BOSTON WHICH ALREADY HAD BEEN GIVEN ARPA FUNDS TO ADDRESS THE WORKFORCE GAP BY TRAINING LET'S SEE HOW WE APPROACH THIS BROADLY BIPOC LGBTQ PROVIDERS SO STUDENTS WHO ARE BEING LEARNING HOW TO BECOME EITHER MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS, THERAPEUTIC MENTORS NOW WE'RE ADDING SOME SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS BUT RECENTLY ALSO ASKED WITH SOME ARPA FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO VA TO ADDRESS LGBTQ YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IN THOSE TRAINING PROGRAMS BY ADDING AN ADDITIONAL TRAINING LAYER INCLUDING THEY HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERTISE IN NEURODIVERSE AND LGBTQ YOUTH IDENTITY. SO AGAIN ADDRESSING THOSE OPPRESSED INTERSECTIONAL IDENTITIES OR MISUNDERSTOOD IDENTITIES AND I'M ACTUALLY VERY EXCITED TO JUST HAVE A SMALL MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT OUR COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN WHICH IS COMING OUT WHICH I'VE BEEN WORKING ON OVER THE PAST YEAR.  ALL COUNSELORS ARE INVITED AND YOU MIGHT SEE IN YOUR INBOX SOMEWHERE THERE WILL BE A POP UP WHICH IS SORT OF A CULMINATION OR KICKOFF OF THE BEGINNING OF THIS CAMPAIGN WHICH WAS CALLED A HEADS UP.  IT'S CREATED FOR YOUTH IN PARTICULAR IN BOSTON AGAIN WITH A FOCUS ON BIPOC LGBTQ YOUTH ALTHOUGH IT'S OPEN TO EVERYONE ASKING THOSE YOUTH TO ENGAGE IN UNDERSTANDING AND ADDRESSING THEIR OWN MENTAL HEALTH THERE'S A WEBSITE THERE'LL BE A LET'S SEE SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN WITH THE HEADS UP HASHTAG FOR SHELTERS, ALL THE GOOD STUFF TO GET OUT THERE AND THEN THIS ONE TIME EVENT WHICH WILL BE A HUGE SORT OF BRINGING YOUTH IN, GIVING THE MARCH YOUTH PERFORMANCES IN A WAY TO REALLY GET SOME ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND AWARENESS LIFTED UP ABOUT HOW YOUTH CAN TAKE CARE OF AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT EMPOWER EACH OTHER TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH. SO THAT IS ON THIS THURSDAY FROM 3 TO 7 P.M. AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT FOR THE HEADS UP CAMPAIGN. SO IN CONCLUSION WE CAN SEE WHERE WE NEED TO INTERVENE. WE DO WANT EVERY YOUNG PERSON TO FEEL SAFE AND IN FACT SEE HERE ON THIS LAST SLIDE YOU CAN SEE THAT LGBT, LGBTQ YOUNG PEOPLE REPORT LIVING IN VERY ACCEPTING COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS ATTEMPT SUICIDE AT LESS THAN HALF THE RATE OF THOSE REPORT LIVING IN VERY UNACCEPTING COMMUNITIES. AND SO I WOULD BELIEVE THAT BY BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT CONCEPTUALIZATION OF INCREASING SAFE SPACE THIRD SPACE OR COMMUNITY SPACE FOR LGBTQ YOUTH WE ARE ACTUALLY SAVING LIVES. SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU TO BRING THIS FORWARD.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH COMMISSIONER . YOU'D LIKE TO THANK MR DENOON.  GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MIKE RIVERA, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE BOSTON CENTER FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES. I HAVE FIRST THANK YOU COUNSELORS AND I WANT TO THANK THE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SHARE WITH US TODAY AS WELL AS THE PROVIDERS FOR YOUR ADVOCACY, YOUR PASSION AND YOUR PERSISTENCE.  THANK YOU. YOU SEE I HAVE OPERATES THE CITY OF BOSTON'S 30 PUBLIC COMMUNITY CENTERS INCLUDING TWO OLDER ADULT CENTERS, 18 POOLS AND A BEACH AT THE B.C. Y OF KALI COMMUNITY CENTER AS THE CITY OF BOSTON'S LARGEST HUMAN SERVICES PROVIDER CITY CAPITAL C B C I F PRIORITIZES WELCOMING ALL BOSTON YOUTH ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES.  OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL YOUTH ENGAGE IN A SAFE AND FUN ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOP A SENSE OF BELONGING, CONNECT WITH A CARING ADULT AND CONNECT WITH RESOURCES FOR BASIC NEEDS.  B.C. BCA F USES AN INTERSECTIONAL LENS TO ADVANCE EQUITY AND INCLUSION. THIS MEANS THAT WE RECOGNIZE ALL THE DIVERSE IDENTITIES OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE INCLUDING DIVERSE GENDER IDENTITIES. WE COMMIT TO PROTECT PROMOTE AND EMPOWER THEM ESPECIALLY THOSE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TRADITIONALLY MARGINALIZED. CREATING SAFE SPACES FOR LGBTQ A-PLUS YOUTH IS A PRIORITY FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.  TO THIS END, CYF HAS ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING.  FIRST WE BECAME DESIGNATED A SAFE PLACE SAFE PLACE LOCATIONS. ALL OF OUR CENTERS STARTED THIS PAST YEAR.  SECOND, WE INVESTED IN TRAINING ALL OUR STAFF TO STRENGTHEN YOUTH ENGAGEMENT.  AND THIRD, WE DEVELOPED A PROGRAM FRAMEWORK WITH AN EQUITY LENS.  IN 2023 STAFF REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL B.C. WEBSITES PARTICIPATED IN THE SAFE PLACE TRAINING, WHICH IS A NATIONAL YOUTH OUTREACH AND PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE HELP AND SAFETY. DCF JOINS BPL IN THIS NATIONAL MODEL TO CREATE GREATER ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR YOUTH. SAFE PLACES ARE EASILY IDENTIFIED BY THE YELLOW SAFE PLACE SIGNS ON OUR BUILDINGS. ALSO THIS YEAR B.C. WE HAVE LAUNCHED THE LGBTQ EYE A PLUS PEER LEADER GROUP AT CURTIS HALL AND THE BLACKSTONE. AND SOON WE'RE ADDING THE HANNIGAN FLIERS ARE CIRCULATING FOR YOUTH SERIOUSLY INTERESTED IN BEING LGBTQ EARLY PLUS PEER LEADERS. WE ALSO PILOTED AN LGBTQ A-PLUS YOUTH EXPRESSIONS NIGHT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT'S COLORS AND BLUE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THESE AND TAKING THE LEAD OF THE YOUTH ON HOW TO IMPROVE AND HOW TO ENGAGE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ON STAFF TRAINING.  5065 STAFF HAVE PARTICIPATED IN POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT TRAINING OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS WITH HEALTH RESOURCES AND ACTIONS BEST PRACTICE OR BEST INITIATIVE RATHER INCLUDING 82% OF OUR YOUTH WORKERS AT P.S. Y UPS ACADEMY WHICH IS A TWO DAY ALL STAFF TRAINING IN JANUARY ARE YOUTH WORKERS PARTICIPATED IN A JOB SPECIFIC SESSION ON PROMOTING GENDER SENSITIVITY FOR YOUTH WORKERS. ADDITIONALLY, 39 STAFF PARTICIPATED IN THREE ELECTIVE ELECTIVES ADDRESSING EQUITY TOPICS INCLUDING EQUITY FOUNDATION, LGBTQ A-PLUS DISABILITY 101 AND LGBTQ A-PLUS YOUTH THREE BETERBIEV MANAGEMENT STAFF PARTICIPATED IN A FOUR DAY EQUITY AND INCLUSION ACADEMY TRAINING TO PREPARE THEM TO TRAIN OTHER STAFF ON EQUITY PRACTICES AND LASTLY ON THAT NOTE P.S. WIFE IS MEETING WITH THE EQUITY AND INCLUSION CABINET AS WELL AS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF LANGUAGE ACCESS TO PLAN A TWO HOUR TRAINING FOR RBC WIV STAFF IN THE SPRING OF 2025. ON CREATING WELCOMING SPACES FOR LGBTQ A-PLUS YOUNG PEOPLE WITH REGARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR FRAMEWORK WHICH WAS MY THIRD POINT OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WE'VE EMBARKED ON A PROCESS TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM FRAMEWORK TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY, HIGH QUALITY AND EQUITY IN RBC WAY OF PROGRAMING. AS PART OF THIS PROCESS WE ADMINISTERED A YOUTH PARTICIPANT SURVEY EARLIER THIS YEAR. FROM THIS SURVEY WE LEARNED THAT B.C. WAY AFTER REC STAFF DIRECT SERVICE STAFF EXCEL AT FORMING SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR YOUNG PEOPLE. THE SURVEY FURTHER REVEALED THAT 90% SO 95% OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE SURVEYED ALWAYS OR OFTEN FEEL SAFE AT THEIR BUSY LIFE CENTER. 92% ALWAYS OR OFTEN FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG AT THEIR B.C. CENTER.  98% SAY AT LEAST ONE ADULT AT THEIR BUSY WAY OF CENTER CARES ABOUT THEM. THE QUALITY RELATIONSHIPS YOUTH EXPERIENCE AT OUR CENTERS PROVIDE THE CENTRAL FOUNDATION FOR HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESSFUL LIFE OUTCOMES. YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL SAFE, KNOW THEY BELONG. RELY ON TRUSTWORTHY ADULTS WHO CARE ABOUT THEM AND EXPERIENCE ENGAGING OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH THEIR PEERS AND EXPLORE THEIR INTERESTS.  A GREAT BODY OF RESEARCH TELLS US THAT YOUTH WITH THESE ASSETS ARE LIKELY TO DEVELOP INTO SUCCESSFUL, THRIVING AND CARING ADULTS. YOUTH WHO DO NOT HAVE THESE ASSETS ARE LESS LIKELY TO THRIVE BUSY WORKSPACES HAVE SERVED AS COMMUNITY HUBS AND SAFE HAVENS. SAFE HAVENS FOR GENERATIONS OF CUSTODIANS FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND IN AN EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN THESE HUBS AND IMPROVE THE SERVICES DELIVERED TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE AWU AND HER MINISTRATION WE'VE MADE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN EFFORTS LIKE THESE THAT I'VE SHARED TODAY TO BUILD STAFF CAPACITY, CREATE WELCOMING SPACES AND DEVELOP INCLUSIVE QUALITY PROGRAMING. ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, WE RECOGNIZE THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE TO ENSURE EVERY PERSON WHO WALKS OUR DOORS BE A YOUTH ELDER OR STAFF WHO IDENTIFIES AS LGBT Q I PLUS FEEL SAFE AND WELCOMED. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING. GOOD AFTERNOON.  DAVID LEONARD, PRESIDENT OF THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER TESTIMONY AND TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE ACROSS OUR CITY, STATE NATION AND PARTICULARLY WITH THE FOCUS ON YOUNG PEOPLE AND OUR SAFER SPACES. THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY THINKS ABOUT THESE ISSUES THROUGH THE LENS OF PROGRAMS,  SERVICES, COLLECTIONS AND SPACES AND SO IN EACH OF THOSE CATEGORIES WE HAVE EXAMPLES OF STAFF PREPARED EIGHT PAGES OF PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS RIGHT ACROSS ALL OF OUR BRANCHES AND AT CENTRAL AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY IN COPLEY SQUARE.  I'M NOT GOING TO READ IT ALL TO YOU IN THE INTEREST OF TIME BECAUSE I THINK IT ECHOES AND BUILDS UPON WHAT YOU'VE HEARD AND WHAT OUR VERY FIRST PANEL, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORING CITY OF MILTON, TOWN OF MILTON WERE ASKING FOR . I THINK WE ALREADY DO A LOT OF THIS WORK BUT THERE IS MORE MORE TO BE DONE AND THERE'S ALWAYS MORE TO BE DONE AS EACH NEXT EACH ENCOUNTERS THESE ISSUES OF QUESTIONS OF IDENTITY INTERSECTIONAL THE AND NEW AND INTERESTING WAYS. AND SO YOU KNOW, I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE IS TO CONTINUE DOING THIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE LESBIAN, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, GAY URBAN FOUNDATION THAT WE'VE PARTNERED WITH LIKE BOSTON GLASS, LIKE BERKELEY, LIKE COMPANY ONE, LIKE THE THEATER OFFENSIVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE CITY WE ALREADY DO TO WORK WITH YOU KNOW, OUR COLLECTIONS REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND OUR JOB IS TO LIVE UP TO THE MOTTO ON THE FRONT OF OUR DOORS FREE TO ALL BEING SERIOUS ABOUT THE ALL PART OF THAT REGARDLESS OF WHO PEOPLE ARE OR IDENTIFY AS THE LIBRARY SHOULD BE A SAFE SPACE FOR EVERYBODY BOTH IN OUR COLLECTIONS IN HOW STAFF ARE APPROACH GUESTS AND THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WE OFFER AND TO DO THAT MORE WITH PEOPLE INSTEAD OF NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE THAT IN SOME WAYS IS THE OPPORTUNITY GOING FORWARD. I'LL JUST END BY NOTING THAT THIS IS PERSONAL. I CAME OUT AS A GAY MAN IN MY TWENTIES. I DID NOT HAVE THE ACCESS TO THESE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE TODAY AS A YOUNG PERSON GROWING UP IN HIGH SCHOOL.  I THINK MY PATHWAY TO BEING FULLY MYSELF WOULD HAVE BEEN FASTER AND BETTER HAD I HAD ACCESS TO THOSE RESOURCES.  SO THIS IS PERSONAL. THIS IS WORK THAT I HAVE BEEN DOING IN IT SINCE THE EIGHTIES IN DUBLIN AND SINCE I CAME TO BOSTON COLLEGE AND RE FOUNDED THE GAY AND LESBIAN STUDENT GROUP WHICH HAD GONE DORMANT THERE IN THE NINETIES.  SO THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHAMPION THIS WORK NOT JUST FOR LGBT COMMUNITY ACROSS OUR LIBRARIES BUT FOR ALL OF BOSTON IS IS A REAL PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR TO DO THAT AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY ON THAT TOPIC. THANK YOU.  GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I'M GOING TO SHORTEN CHAT ABOUT A HALF AND I'LL LET MY DEPUTY TAKE OVER BUT I AM JULIANNE LEIGH I USE SHE THEY PRONOUNS AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF LGBTQ I TO US PLUS ADVANCEMENT OR MOLA ON ISSUES REGARDING LGBTQ AFFIRMING SPACES FOR OUR YOUTH. I'D LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ISSUE UP. I APPRECIATE TODAY'S YOUTH PANELISTS WHO SPOKE SO BRAVE WITH THEIR VOICES.  I HAVE A LITTLE ONE WHO IS SIX AND I HOPE THAT THEY GROW UP TO BE YOU.  I PARTICULARLY WANT TO THANK YOUTH WHO ARE WATCHING FROM HOME WHO MAY NOT HAVE FELT SAFE TODAY TO ATTEND.  I ALSO WANT TO THANK COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THIS WORK.  YOU ARE THE BACKBONE. YOU ARE THE HEART OF OUR CITY AND TO OUR CITY COUNCILORS WHO HAVE SPONSORED LGBTQ EFFORTS AND SERVE AS ACTIVE ALLIES FOR OUR INTERSECTIONAL COMMUNITY.  BEFORE I CONTINUE, I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR DEPUTY.  HELLO. I'M DANNY FIANCEE. I USUALLY EARN PERSONAL PRONOUNS. I AM DEPUTY DIRECTOR HERE AT MOLA AND SUPER GRATEFUL FOR THIS PANEL. SIMILARLY AS A YOUNG PERSON I ACTUALLY GREW UP IN BAGLEY. I WAS THERE TIL THEY KICKED ME OUT AT 22. I WORKED AT GLASS ALSO AS A YOUNG PERSON AND AN ADULT JERRY HALL OF CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE, FENWAY HEALTH. LOTS OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING YOUNG LGBTQ PLUS PEOPLE. AND SO THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT . I STARTED WHAT I THINK IS STILL THE FIRST GSA IN A PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL IN MASSACHUSETTS. SO ALTHOUGH IT REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR THAT WORK WITH YOUNGER PEOPLE AS WELL. THANK YOU.  LET ME JUST SHARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT OUR OFFICE HAS ACHIEVED IN THE PAST YEAR THAT HAVE REALLY INTENTIONALLY CENTERED OUR YOUTH.  MOLLA HAS CREATED LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH THROUGH OUR YOUTH FELLOWS PROGRAM. THESE YOUNG LEADERS ARE GAINING MENTORSHIP, ADVOCACY TRAINING AND PUBLIC SPEAKING EXPERIENCE FORMING A PIPELINE TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOP AND HIRE AN APPLICATION.  IN ADDITION, INITIATIVES LIKE OUR AMPLIFY GSA PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH BOSTON CELTICS AND TD BANK SUPPORT AND PROTECT GENDER AND SEXUALITY ALLIANCES IN BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE AFFIRMING AND INCLUSIVE SPACES TO THRIVE. THIS PAST YEAR WE HAVE SHIFTED AMPLIFY GSA INTO A LARGER PARTNERSHIP WITH OH YEAH AND THEIR MAYORS YOUTH SUMMIT WHICH I WILL HAVE OUR DEPUTY SHARE A BIT MORE POINTS FOR. OH YEAH ON DIRECTOR CRUZ'S BEHALF MOLLA HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO STEWARD CITYWIDE SOLELY CONVENINGS WHICH STAND FOR STATE OF OUR LGBTQ YOUTH. IT WAS BEGUN BY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND WE CONTINUE WITH MULTIPLE COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDING MANY OF WHO SPOKE TODAY INCLUDING BAGLEY BREAK TIME MAP FOR HEALTH.  THIS SPACE ACTS AS A WAY TO BRING INFORMATION AND RESOURCE SHARING AND COLLABORATION AND COMMUNAL ACTION IN RESPONSE TO BOSTON'S LGBT YOUTH NEEDS.  WE HAVE PRIORITIZED CREATING AFFIRMING SPACES.  WE'VE HOSTED YOUTH FOCUSED EVENTS SUCH AS BRING IT TO THE HALL WHERE LGBTQ AIR TO US PLUS BIPOC YOUTH MET WITH CITY LEADERS FROM MULTIPLE CITY AGENCIES INCLUDING OH OH I BEMA MOYA MAYOR'S OFFICE AND SO MANY OTHERS. THEY WERE ABLE TO SHARE THEIR STORIES TOWNS AND EMPOWERING IN AN EMPOWERING ENVIRONMENT.  MOLA PROVIDES LGBTQ EYE TO US PLUS EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO CITY OF BOSTON AGENCIES AND OFFICES INCLUDING MANY OF THOSE AGENCIES UP HERE TODAY. P.S. WHY HAVE STAFF CITY OF BOSTON RUN SHELTER STAFF BPD AND BTA AND SO MANY OTHERS WHO SERVE YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES? THIS TRAINING IS CRUCIAL IN FOSTERING INCLUSIVE AND AFFIRMING SPACES WHICH HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND ALLYSHIP.  WE'VE PROVIDED MENTAL HEALTH WELLNESS WORKSHOPS AS WELL AS OVERDOSE PREVENTION AND NARCAN TRAININGS. ADDRESSING THE ALARMING HEALTH CHALLENGES THAT FACE OUR LGBTQ AYYAD TO US PLUS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS. AND LASTLY AND POTENTIALLY MOST IMPORTANTLY LAST FISCAL YEAR WE ALLOCATE A $250,000 IN BEYOND PRIME ANY GRANTS TO 51 ORGANIZATIONS DIRECTLY INVESTING IN THE WELL-BEING AND FUTURE OF OUR LGBTQ IATSE PLUS COMMUNITY. AMONG THOSE GRANTS NEARLY ONE IN $3 TOTALING $70,000 WAS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING LGBTQ AID TO US PLUS YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE BAGLEY BOSTON GLASS SPRINGTIME AND MANY OTHERS RECEIVED FUNDING FOR ESSENTIAL PROGRAMING RANGING FROM LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TO COUNSELING TO GENDER AFFIRMING GARMENTS AND TEMPORARY HOUSING SOLUTIONS.  I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR DEPUTY TO SAY A FEW MORE WORDS.  SO DESPITE THESE INCREDIBLE EFFORTS WE HAVE FACED OVERWHELMING DEMAND.  WE RECEIVED OVER $750,000 WORTH OF REQUESTS FOR OUR BEYOND PRIZE MONEY GRANTS FIVE TIMES WHAT WE COULD ACTUALLY FUND TO RESPOND. WE STRETCHED BEYOND OUR INITIAL BUDGET OF $130,000 AND PULLED AN ADDITIONAL AND ONE TIME ONLY $100,000 FROM OUR STAFFING BUDGET. FROM SALARY SAVINGS IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THESE URGENT COMMUNITY NEEDS. SO THAT BROUGHT OUR TOTAL GRANT FUND UP TO 250,000 FOR LAST YEAR. BUT THIS YEAR WE DO NOT HAVE THAT OPTION. ALTHOUGH OUR OFFICE IS FULLY STAFFED AND WE ARE SO EXCITED WE WILL BE $100,000 SHORT OF LAST YEAR'S GRANT FUNDING.  BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT NONE OF THIS IS ACTUALLY ENOUGH. LESS THAN 1% OF ALL PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS NATIONWIDE GO TO LGBTQ AFFIRMING PROGRAMING AND SERVICES. AS WE HEARD FROM THE PANEL EARLIER ABOUT SOME FUNDING CONCERNS. AND THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE DISPARITY.  AS A CITY WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE BOSTON DO MORE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR LGBTQ TO US PLUS YOUTH ESPECIALLY IN THIS POLITICAL MOMENT WHERE LEGISLATIVE AND INTERPERSONAL ATTACKS ON OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SPREADING ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IN THE LAST MONTH ALONE WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT RISE IN HATE CRIME INCIDENCES IN BOSTON.  IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE TREVOR PROJECT NATIONALLY WHICH OFFERS 24 SEVEN CRISIS SUPPORT LINE SAW A 700% INCREASE IN EMERGENCY CALLS IN EARLY NOVEMBER ALONE. OUR LGBTQ AID TO US PLUS YOUTH ARE FACING PROFOUND POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL THREATS AT THIS MOMENT AND THOSE THREATS ARE UNLIKELY TO DISSIPATE ANY TIME SOON. ADDRESSING THIS CRISIS REQUIRES INTENTIONAL, INFORMED AND SUSTAINED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR OUR CITY AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY DOING THE WORK TO PROTECT AND UPLIFT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. AND WE MUST NOT ONLY INVEST IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR CURRENT RESIDENTS BUT ALSO ALLOCATE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO ENSURE OUR CITY CAN SERVE AS A SAFE HAVEN FOR THOSE FLEEING REGIONS WHERE THEIR VERY EXISTENCE IS UNDER ATTACK. THE GAP BETWEEN THE NEEDS OF OUR LGBT Q PLUS YOUNG PEOPLE AND FUNDING AVAILABLE REMAINS STAGGERING, UNANSWERED AND UNSUSTAINABLE. OUR CITY OF BOSTON YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATIONS NEED MORE FROM US IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THOSE AFFIRMING SPACES AND THE AMAZING SERVICES THAT YOU HEARD ABOUT EARLIER THAT OUR YOUTH NEED TO GROW. WHEN WE FAIL TO INVEST IN OUR YOUTH WE RISK OUR FUTURES. BUT WHEN WE STEP UP AS WE HAVE SEEN OUR CITY DO TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE DON'T JUST HELP THEM SURVIVE. WE HELP THEM TO THRIVE. WE EMPOWER THEM TO BECOME LEADERS, INNOVATORS AND ADVOCATES WHO STRENGTHEN OUR CITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. AND DARE I SAY I'M A PRODUCT OF MANY OF THOSE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR LGBTQ TO US PLUS COMMUNITY.  THANK YOU PANEL FOR YOUR STATEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS. REALLY APPRECIATE IT. WE'LL NOW GET INTO QUESTIONING. WE'LL START WITH THE LEAD SPONSOR CONFERENCE SANTANA GARCIA SANTANA THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU MR CHAIR. I'M SORRY . I'M SORRY . IF I COULD IF I COULD SHARE SOME POINTS FROM OH, YEAH.  SINCE PEDRO HAD TO LEAVE. IS THAT OKAY? YEAH. PLEASE SLIDE THROUGH IT. YEAH. SO JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND ADVANCEMENT DIRECTOR CRUZ WHO DID HAVE TO LEAVE BUT WE HAVE BEEN PARTNERING AS OUR DIRECTOR SAID EARLIER AROUND THE MAYOR'S YOUTH SUMMIT IT'S THE SECOND YEAR THIS FEBRUARY COMING. OH YEAH. DEFINITELY MADE SURE THAT THERE WERE LGBTQ FOCUSED EVENTS OFFERED ACROSS THE CITY LEADING UP TO THE SUMMIT LAST YEAR. EVEN CONNECTING ORGANIZATIONS LIKE BAGLEY WHO HAVE SUCH BEAUTIFUL SPACES WITH INITIATIVES THAT NEEDED THAT SPACE AVAILABILITY AND THEY LAUNCHED YOUTH LINE A RESOURCE HUB FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 14 TO 25 AND THEY'VE ALSO HIRED A FULL TIME RESOURCE COORDINATOR TO HELP CONNECT YOUNG PEOPLE TO OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES ACROSS THE CITY AND WITHIN CITY HALL AND MULA WILL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO HELP HIRE A FELLOW THAT WILL WORK WITH THE YOUTH LINE ALONG WITH THEIR RESOURCE COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE COORDINATOR AND THEY'VE EXTENDED INVITATIONS FOR LGBTQ YOUTH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL AND TO SPECIFICALLY BRING THAT THAT LENS INTO THAT WORK AND LAUNCH YOUTH SPEAKS BOSTON YOUTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 14 TO 25 THEY'LL BE COLLECTING DATA UNTIL JANUARY AND THEN WE'LL PRODUCE A REPORT ABOUT WHAT YOUTH POPULATIONS NEED ACROSS THE CITY HOPING TO INFLUENCE CITY HALL INVESTMENTS WITH RESULTS.  OH YEAH, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE ON OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERIES WHICH SERVES TO TRAIN ADULTS IN THE FIELD TO PROVIDING YOUTH SPACES.  AND MALLETTE CONTINUOUSLY TRAINS STAFF ON COMPETENCY AS WELL AS THEM SUPPORTING THE SUI GROUP.  EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH BECAUSE THE SANTANA FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU MR CHAIR AND THANK YOU TO OUR PANELISTS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR TESTIMONIES. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU YOU ALL SHARING YOU KNOW HOW PERSONAL THIS IS, HOW MUCH YOU ALL CARE ABOUT IT AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE ,YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT LEONARD AND COMMISSIONER RIVERA I'M SPECIFICALLY EXCITED TO SEE YOU BOTH HERE.  YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE HEARD FROM YOU KNOW, DIRECTLY FROM OUR YOUTH AND OUR FIRST PANEL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY LIBRARIES YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY LIBRARIES BEING AND A LOCATION A POTENTIAL LOCATION FOR THESE SPACES AND I COULDN'T HELP TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BUSY BUSY LIFE CENTERS ALSO BEING PART OF A POTENTIALLY OF THE SOLUTION HERE BEING SOMEONE WHO IDENTIFIED AS A B, C Y IV KID AND YOU KNOW, HAD ACCESS TO ME THROUGHOUT MY MY CHILDHOOD. SO MY QUESTION TO YOU BOTH IS IS TO PAS QUESTION FIRST WHAT CURRENT AND I KNOW YOU KIND OF WENT INTO IT AND TO YOUR PRESENTATIONS BUT WHAT CURRENT PROGRAMING DO YOU HAVE IN RESPECT TO THE LIBRARIES AND IN OUR BPCI CENTERS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY? AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN OUR YOUTH AND US AS COUNSELORS AS WELL AND DO TO APPROACH YOU ALL AND YOU KNOW AND YOUR DEPARTMENT AND CREATING AND OPENING UP NEW SPACES FOR OUR LGBT LGBT Q PLUS COMMUNITY SO EITHER OF YOU CAN CAN START SO I MENTIONED TO I SAY TWO INITIATIVES, RIGHT? AND SPECIFICALLY THE PEER LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE TO AND SOON TO BE THREE SITES AND WE MENTIONED TO I MENTIONED THESE YOUTH EXPRESSIONS NIGHT PLUS YOUTH EXPRESSIONS NIGHT THOSE ARE THE TWO THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE THAT ARE SPECIFIC FOR LGBTQ YOUTH AND ARE THOSE HAPPENING WEEKLY MONTHLY AND LIKE SO THE EXPRESSIONS WE JUST DONE THE FIRST ONE TO CURTIS HALL IN SEPTEMBER AND SO THOSE ARE PROBABLY WE'RE LOOKING AT QUARTERLY SO WE HAVEN'T DONE ONE SINCE SEPTEMBER.  WE TAKE OUR LEAD FROM THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND EVEN THE IDEA OF CREATING THE PEER LEADERSHIP GROUP AND SPACE CAME FROM YOUNG PEOPLE AT CURTIS HALL. AND SO AGAIN THE THE SPACES THAT HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST ARE THE ONES THAT WE'VE TAKEN OUR LEAD FROM. THANK YOU.  YEAH, I THINK ON THE PROGRAMING FRONT BOTH LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH OCTOBER AND PRIDE MONTH JUNE PROVIDE PARTICULAR OPPORTUNITIES ALTHOUGH THIS WORK IS ALL YEAR ROUND NOT JUST NOT JUST ONCE ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR IT'S JUST SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF WORKING WITH THE HISTORY PROJECT TO UPLIFT HISTORY BOSTON SPECIFIC ACROSS LOCATIONS TABLING AT PRIDE BOTH AT THE YOUTH PRIDE AS WELL AS THE THE JUNE PRIDE PUTTING ON PLAYS IN CONJUNCTION WITH WITH COMPANY ONE SOME PRIDE EVENTS AND DRAG QUEEN STORYTIME EVENTS. AGAIN EACH BRANCH CHOOSES WHAT IS RIGHT FOR ITS COMMUNITY AND YOU KNOW THERE'S REALLY A RICH RANGE OF PROGRAMS ON OFFER.  YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I WANT TO GET INTO MY SECOND QUESTION. I KNOW WE'RE SHORT ON TIME SO YOU KNOW, HOW POSSIBLE IS IT POSSIBLE I MEAN RIGHT TO OPEN UP MORE COMMUNITY SAFE SPACES OR WHATEVER WE WANT TO CALL THEM, YOU KNOW? AND HOW HOW DO WE GO ABOUT THAT? AND I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH COMMISSIONER RIVERA BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN SOME MODELS OF THIS IN OUR LIBRARIES. I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE SEEN IT IN RBC MEMBER CENTERS AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW IS IT POSSIBLE? WHAT'S THE PROCESS? WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO TO OPEN UP SPACES LIKE THIS? YEAH. SO AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED THE PIER WE WHAT I'M REFERRING TO IS A PEER LEADER GROUP. HERE'S WHAT WE SENT TO WE HAVE A SAFE SPACES SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT OF WHAT YOU DESCRIBE IN WHAT WAS DESCRIBED BY THE YOUNG PEOPLE EARLIER THAT IS PEER DRIVEN,  SUPPORTED BY ADULTS AND IT HAS SPACE FOR AND TRANS YOUTH. SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE THAT AT TWO FACILITIES, TWO SITES AND AS DAVID SAID, WE YOU KNOW REALLY WE ALLOW THE SITES AND THE CONSTITUENCIES OR THE YOUTH AT THOSE SITES TO DRIVE WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE THERE. OKAY. I THINK I MISUNDERSTOOD EARLIER SO I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION. AND SO IF THERE IS A SITE WHERE A YOUNG PERSON OR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE EXPRESSING A DESIRE TO START ONE THAT YOU CAN EASILY ARRANGE FOR THAT.  AWESOME. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. BOTH AGENCIES HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE SAFE SPACE PROGRAM. SO WHERE WE'VE GONE THROUGH TRAINING WE'VE DESIGNATED OUR SPACES. WE ARE ACTING IN THAT IN THAT IN THAT WAY I THINK TWO QUESTIONS BECOME YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT AGES, NEED DIFFERENT THINGS AND THEN DO WE HAVE THE SUFFICIENT, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTIVE ADULT ROLE TO PARTNER WITH THE SPACE TO TO BRING IS TO BRING IT TO LIFE IN A WAY THAT THAT MEETS THOSE NEEDS WHETHER THAT'S TRAINING FOR EXISTING STAFF WHERE THERE ARE WHERE THERE IS CAPACITY TO DO IT OR ADDITIONAL STAFFING TO REALLY PROVIDE THOSE AND OTHER OTHER ROLES FOR FOR ALL OF OUR FOR ALL OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. WE DID HEAR THROUGHOUT THAT THOSE EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSECURITY OR HOMELESSNESS ARE AT GREATER RISK AND HOW WE REACH THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT NOT ALREADY BE USING A LIBRARY OR COMMUNITY CENTER AS THEIR THIRD SPACE. MAYBE IT'S ONE OF OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE CAN BE MORE EVEN MORE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THAT COULD GET COULD PROVIDE THAT. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU TO OUR PANEL. THANK YOU, MR CHAIR. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR COUNCILOR WEBER. THANK YOU.  THANK YOU, CHAIR. YEAH. JUST PICKING UP ON MR LEONARD'S LAST COMMENT. I THINK IT'S FOR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF LGBTQ PLUS ADVANCEMENT. YOU KNOW, WE HAD A HEARING HERE ON HOMELESSNESS AMONG LGBTQ+ YOUTH AND HOW IT IMPACTS KIDS OF COLOR MORE THAN ANY OTHER.  YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT KIDS JUNIOR SENIOR OF HIGH SCHOOL WHO MAY EVEN GET KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOMES, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY WHEN THEY COME OUT OF THE CLOSET OR I GUESS WHAT ARE WE DOING IN TERMS OF OUTREACH? YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER ,YOU KNOW, FOR THAT COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW?  THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, COUNSELOR. THANK YOU. I THINK THAT THERE'S A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO ATTACK THIS CRISIS AND I THINK THAT PROMOTING WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE IS A BIG PART OF THAT AND I THINK IT'S WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WITH MEETING OUR YOUTH WHERE THEY ARE AND DOING IT IN A SAFE WAY.  SOMETHING THAT OUR TEAM DOES IS WE LOOK AT A LANGUAGE ACCESS ARE WE REACHING THE YOUTH THAT ARE NEEDED IN WHATEVER LANGUAGE THEY THEY FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE WITH? SOMETIMES IT IS A CHURCH BULLETIN BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE PARENTS ARE READING IT OR THE GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDKIDS. SO GETTING REALLY CREATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO HOW WE'RE REACHING IT. WE'VE ALSO SEEN THAT LGBT PLUS YOUTH SPECIFICALLY BIPOC YOUTH ARE VERY MUCH A MULTI-MEDIA SO GETTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA REALLY BEING ABLE TO CONNECT WITH WHERE THEY ARE.  WE ARE ALSO WORKING TO CREATE OUR RESOURCE MAP WITH BE YOUTH SPARK AND NORTHEASTERN. SO REALLY TRYING TO MAP OUT WHICH RESOURCES ARE BOTH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WELL AS SPACES AS WELL AS CITY RESOURCES TO PUT THAT IN ONE PLACE FOR OUR YOUTH TO BE ABLE TO REACH THAT. AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT PRODUCING THAT AND WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS ON THAT. AND I'LL JUST ADD I THINK THAT WE HEARD FROM BREAK TIME DURING THAT HEARING THAT MOST OF THEIR MONEY DOES COME FROM PHILANTHROPY AND NOT NECESSARILY FROM THE CITY. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AS WELL. YEAH, WE THINK THAT AND NONE OF US SHOW UP AS HAVING A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL IDENTITY OR A SINGLE ISSUE THAT IT'S MULTIPLE IDENTITIES OUR INTERSECTIONALITY THAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE AND WHATEVER SET OF CHALLENGES WE'RE EXPERIENCING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND I THINK YOU KNOW, RATHER THAN LOOK TO SOLVE THOSE INDIVIDUALLY. SUPPORTING A TRUE ECOSYSTEM AS MY COLLEAGUES JUST MENTIONED ACROSS CITY AGENCIES PARTNERS SO THAT THE SAME INDIVIDUALS CAN COME AND GET DIFFERENT THINGS FROM DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT THEY NEED. I THINK WE CAN DO A WHOLE A BETTER JOB AT BEING AWARE OF WHAT EACH OTHER IS IS PROVIDING AND HAS ON ON OFFER. OKAY. I DON'T THINK THE CHAIR STARTED THE CLOCK BUT THERE'S ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION FOR SAMARRA.  WE'VE HEARD FROM OTHER FOLKS THAT THEY HAVE A THERAPY. THEY'RE PROVIDING THERAPY. WHAT DOES THAT WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT SHOULD WHAT KIND OF SERVICES AROUND THERAPY DO YOU THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL IN SPACE LIKE THIS? YEAH, I THINK THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. I THINK FOR THERAPY ESPECIALLY BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY ACROSS THE CITY AND MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY COULD WORK ON BUT WHERE THERE'S A POSITIVE SUPPORTIVE LGBTQ PLUS I TO SPIRIT THERAPISTS AND COUNSELORS ARE AND THEN ALSO THINKING ABOUT HOW TO WIDEN THAT. SO ARE THERE OTHER WAYS THAT WE COULD MAKE REALLY LOW BARRIER SUPPORTS REALLY LISTENING TO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, WHAT YOU'VE HEARD ACROSS OTHER PANELS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE?  I REALLY LIKE HOW BAGLEY FOR EXAMPLE HAS THE DROP IN SO THAT YOUTH THAT MIGHT NOT GET THEIR SUPPORT FROM THEIR FAMILIES OR CAREGIVERS TO BE ABLE TO BE TO SIGN OFF ON ALL THE FORMS AND INSURANCE ETC. TO GET THERAPY IN THIS SORT OF QUOTE UNQUOTE USUAL STYLE HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO GET SUPPORT, MAYBE EVEN IF IT'S NOT CALLED QUOTE UNQUOTE PSYCHOTHERAPY BUT IT COULD BE A PEER SUPPORT GROUPS MAYBE IT'S RUN BY CLINICIANS BUT IT ISN'T BEING CALLED THERAPY PER SE. THEY COULD BE ANOTHER WONDERFUL WAY FOR YOUTH TO FEEL SUPPORTED AND FEEL LIKE THEIR NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED. AND THEN I'M JUST PERSONALLY CURIOUS IN THE FUTURE IF THERE WOULD EVER BE FUNDING BUT I KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE TALKSPACE TEEN SPACE NEW YORK CITY IS RUNNING THAT IS LIKE A TEXT BASED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SO THAT YOUTH ANYWHERE THINK IT'S JUST PAID FOR BY NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC HEALTH BUT FOR EXAMPLE THEY'RE ABLE TO JUST TEXT COUNSELORS AND THAT'S PART OF THE PROGRAMING AND THEY ACTUALLY I TALKED TO THEM AND THEY'RE LIKE OH IT'S INTERESTING. YOU KNOW THE YOUTH OF COURSE LIKE TEXTING MORE THAN THEY LIKE HAVING THE LIKE LITTLE ONE ON ONE ZOOM CHATS OR WHATEVER. SO REALLY THINKING CREATIVELY ABOUT HOW YOUTH ACTUALLY INTERFACE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND ESPECIALLY TRYING TO GET AROUND THE STIGMA OF MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT INTERSECTIONAL IDENTITIES, NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO FEEL COMFORTABLE OR FROM THEIR FAMILY, CULTURE, RELIGION ETC. I FEEL LIKE MENTAL HEALTH IS SOMETHING FOR THEM A THIRD EVEN WANT. SO TRYING TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO OPEN UP A SENSE OF DEEP SUPPORT AS THEY EXPLORE THEIR IDENTITIES AND HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO HAVE AN IDENTITY. YOU KNOW AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO SUPPORT ANYONE WHO FALLS WITHIN THE LETTERS OF LGBTQ AA TO SPIRIT BUT OF COURSE THERE'S YOUTH. IT'S NORMAL NATURAL FOR THEM TO BE EXPLORING THEIR IDENTITIES. SO TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO NECESSARILY SAY I NEED A A THERAPIST BUT THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SPACE IS FOR THEM AS THEY EXPLORE WHO THEY ARE AND NOT THAT IT'S OKAY TO.  OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, CHAIR. THANK YOU COUNCILOR COUNSELOR HERE FOR US. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK. I JUST HAVE THREE QUESTIONS. I'M CURIOUS I ALWAYS SAY THAT BOSTON IS RESOURCE RICH, POOR COORDINATION, POOR.  BUT YOU GUYS ARE REALLY WORKING ON MAKING SURE THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE ANYMORE. SO I'D LOVE TO HEAR ALL THE CROSS POLLINATING YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING AND I'M CURIOUS JUST WOULD LOVE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT AND HOW THAT LOOKS WITH IMMIGRANT ADVANCEMENT. I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT OF RECENT ARRIVALS AND I'M JUST CURIOUS LIKE YOU KNOW THAT IS ALSO A POPULATION THAT I'D LOVE TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW WE'RE ACCLIMATING AND THEN AS WELL AS EACH JOHN AND WHY WE'RE HERE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT YOUTH I DO SEE AN OPPORTUNITY AND PROGRAMING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME CROSS EDUCATION LIKE I THINK SOMEONE MENTIONED EARLIER AROUND LGBTQ EDUCATION SPECIFICALLY FOR GRANDPARENTS I'D LOVE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND I KNOW CURTIS I KNOW YOU'RE NO LONGER ON THE PANEL HERE BUT I BELIEVE OUR OFFICE WORKED WITH YOU MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS DURING COVID AND YOU WERE ONE OF OUR PANELISTS. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. YOU DID SAY SOMETHING HERE ON THE PANEL THAT I LOVE TO HEAR FROM THE ADMINISTRATION SPECIFICALLY AROUND YOUTH OF COLOR. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WHILE I UNDERSTAND EVERYONE IS AT RISK ,I'D LOVE TO HEAR SPECIFICALLY WHAT PROGRAMING LOOKS LIKE FOR LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH OF COLOR IN THE CITY OF BOSTON.  I THINK THAT THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE AROUND NOT JUST PROGRAMING BUT POLICY AND KIND OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHY I HOW WE'RE CREATING SPACE FOR THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO HAPPEN. AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS AROUND SPACE CREATING YES, CREATING SAFE SPACES ARE IMPORTANT BUT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT ROLE IF ANY YOU ALL SEE SMALL BUSINESSES PLAYING INTO THESE CONVERSATIONS.  HOW ARE WE ACTIVATING SPACES NONTRADITIONAL WAYS LIKE LOOKING AT RESTAURANTS ARE ALWAYS DOING THINGS LIKE HOW CAN WE REALLY TAP INTO THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE DOING BUSINESS IN BOSTON? AND THEN LASTLY, SINCE WE'RE TARGETING BUSINESSES, I ALWAYS THINK THAT OUR HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS THEY NEED TO PAY THEIR PILOT TAXES. I'M GOING TO KEEP SAYING THAT.  AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, HOW ARE WE ORGANIZING AND WORKING ALONGSIDE SOME OF THESE HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS TO ENGAGE THEM IN SOME OF THIS FILLING IN THE GAP SPECIFICALLY AROUND FUNDING AND WHAT THAT POTENTIALLY COULD LOOK LIKE?  I CAN START US THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION I'M I'M A HUGE BELIEVER IN THAT WE ARE STRONGEST AT OUR INTERSECTIONS I WILL ALWAYS SAY THAT I SAY THAT TO MY DAUGHTER EVERY SINGLE DAY WE SAY IT AS A TEAM AND OUR STAFF.  I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN THAT. SO I WOULD SAY FIRST OF ALL ALL OF OUR EQUITY AND INCLUSION OFFICES WORK CONTINUOUSLY TOGETHER. WE HAVE REALLY GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WE MEET ON A WEEKLY BASIS WITH ALL THE LEADERS.  SO IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FOLKS LIKE DISABILITIES AND MOYA AND BLACK MALE ADVANCEMENT WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT, WE KNOW THAT WITH OUR REASON OF RIVALS THAT IS AN INTERSECTION THAT WE ARE WANTING TO BUILD OUT EVEN MORE OF A MUSCLE. AND THEN I WILL SAY WITH THAT CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATION WHAT I'VE SEEN OR AT LEAST MY STAFF HAVE SEEN ARE FOLKS COME IN TO CITY HALL AND REALLY SEE MOLA AS A BEACON OF SAFETY AND SO WE WILL GET FOLKS COMING THROUGH TO US THAT HAVE A LOT OF IMMIGRATION ISSUES AND QUESTIONS BUT THEY WILL START WITH US FIRST BECAUSE OF THEIR TRANS STATUS OR BECAUSE OF LGBT BEING PART OF THE OTHER AS FAMILY.  SO I WOULD SAY WE REALLY ACT AS THAT BEACON AND THEN WE DO WARM HANDOFFS ALL THE TIME LITERALLY PHYSICALLY WALKING FOLKS OVER LETTING THEM KNOW THEIR PRONOUNS AND SO WE'RE REALLY BUILDING AND CONTINUING TO BUILD THAT MUSCLE AND THEN I'LL SAY JUST AS FAR AS THE A STRONG PIECE I COME FROM A STRONG BACKGROUND BEFORE THIS ROLE I WAS AT SIX YEARS WITH COMMISSIONER SHEA AT A STRONG AGE STRONG IS MY BACKBONE AND SO I HAVE A REALLY BIG EYE ON WHERE YOU KNOW THE TEAM AND I ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON OUR YOUTH BUT SPECIFICALLY WITH OUR OLDER ADULTS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR YOUTH LEAN SO MUCH ON THEIR OLDER ADULTS AND SO WE ARE IN DEEP PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PRIDE AT HYDE PARK WHO HAS GOT HYDE PARK. HE'S GOT WITH THE PRIDE OF HYDE PARK AND THEY ARE BUILDING OUT A COMMUNITY CENTER THAT WILL BE OPEN FOR AND INCLUDING INTERGENERATIONAL ACTIVITIES. WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH AGE STRONG INCLUDING DAVID REIDY WHO IS THE LGBT PLUS LIAISON FIRST EVER AT AGE STRONG CONTINUINGLY INVITING HIM TO OUR EVENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT A THAT OUR LGBTQ OLDER ADULTS ARE INCLUDED IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO BUT SPECIFICALLY THE OLDER ADULT ALLIES WHO ARE RAISING KIDS ALWAYS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE REALLY BRIDGING THE GAP AREAS AROUND INTERGENERATIONAL WORK.  YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY I'VE SEEN FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHERE PARENTS OF YOUTH MIGHT NOT BE SUPPORTIVE BUT GRANDMA IS.  AND SO REALLY KEEPING IN MIND THAT OUR LGBT PLUS YOUTH CHOSEN FAMILY INCLUDE THOSE OLDER ADULTS AND THAT'S AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO AS WELL.  COUNSELOR COUNCILOR HERE IF IT'S OKAY ARE YOU GOING TO GO OH I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD BRIEFLY THAT ACTUALLY THE ENTIRE SUMMIT IS TODAY. I'M ACTUALLY HOPING TO GET THAT RIGHT TO THE CLUB WHERE MY RESPONSIBILITY IS.  BUT WE ALSO WORK WITH THE EQUALITY FUNDS ON THE RESOURCE PIECE MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS ARE CONNECTED ACROSS DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES.  WE SEND OUT WEEKLY COMMUNICATIONS TO OUR MANY GRANT RECIPIENTS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST AS WELL AS WELL AS SULLY THAT WE MENTIONED EARLIER WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO CONNECT PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT'S ALL AVAILABLE.  THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND ALSO SPEAK TO MY OWN PASSION FOR EQUITY IN THE WORK THAT WE DO ESPECIALLY AT THE CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS . SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT AN ALLIANCE WITH YOUR QUESTION THAT OUR RFP IS THAT HAVE GONE OUT ALWAYS INCLUDE THE EQUITY PERSPECTIVE. SO WHETHER WE'RE LOOKING FOR DIVERSIFYING AND EXPANDING THE WORKFORCE PATHWAY, INCREASING CAPACITY BUILDING, DOING COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGNS, ALWAYS LOOKING TOWARDS THOSE INTERSECTIONAL IDENTITIES AND SPECIFICALLY PUTTING IN THOSE RFP IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO ADVANCE BIPOC AND LGBTQ WORK AND BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT AND SAY IN THEIR RESPONSES HOW THEY'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THOSE INTERSECTIONS AND PUTTING WHO ON THEIR STAFF REPRESENT THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE,  WHICH COMMUNITIES DO THEY SERVE TO? THEY UNDERSTAND THE INTERSECTIONALITY.  ARE THEY ABLE TO ADDRESS IT? ARE THEY ABLE TO UNDERSTAND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH WHEN THEY'RE RESPONDING TO US SO THAT WE LIKE YOU WERE SAYING THAT WE DON'T JUST SORT OF APPROACH THINGS AS ALTHOUGH IT IS GENERAL WE NEED A LOT MORE FUNDS TO ADDRESS WHAT'S HAPPENING EVEN HERE IN BOSTON BUT THAT WE ARE REALLY DEEPENING AND UNDERSTANDING WHO ARE SERVING AND WHY AND WHY THERE MIGHT BE SOME NEEDS FOR ADDITIONAL FOCUS FUNDS AND THINKING FOR THOSE INTERSECTIONAL IDENTITIES. SO THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION THAT WE JUST HAVE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ROLE OF PARTNERSHIPS BOTH IN YOUR FIRST AND YOUR FOURTH QUESTION. I THINK YOU KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO LGBT YOUTH OF COLOR AND THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE THEATER OFFENSIVE WITH THE URBAN FOUNDATION, WITH COMPANY ONE TO ENSURE THAT WHERE WE MIGHT NOT HAVE OUR OWN EXPERTISE EVERYWHERE WE CAN RELY ON PARTNERS WHO DO TO FILL UP TO FILL UP THOSE GAPS.  SO AGAIN I THINK IT SPEAKS TO THE GENERAL ECOSYSTEM POINT OF VIEW AND I DO THINK THE INTERGENERATIONAL QUESTION IS A BOTH AND YES YOUNG PEOPLE NEED THEIR OWN SPACE BUT IT'S NOT ONE OR THE OTHER NOR IS IT ONLY SOMETIMES YOU NEED ONLY SPACE, SOMETIMES YOU NEED ALLYSHIP AS WELL. BUT BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT AND JUST BEING ACKNOWLEDGING OF THAT AND I KNOW THAT IPFS DOES HAVE A STRONG GSA PROGRAM EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT HERE TODAY SO I WANT TO UPLIFT THAT AND CERTAINLY THE LIBRARY PUBLIC LIBRARY CONTINUES TO WORK WITH BOTH THE SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL LIBRARY WHERE WE CAN.  IT'S A GREAT WILL.  THANK YOU. I'D JUST LIKE TO CONCLUDE IS SEEING THAT THAT'S ALL THE COUNCILS THAT ARE LEFT BUT IN CLOSING IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE IN A REALLY GOOD PLACE. I THINK THE YOUTH WOULD BE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM THE OTHER PANELS RIGHT THAT THAT IS GREAT TO HEAR THAT LIBRARIES DECLARE FOR A SAFE SPACE CERTIFIED AND YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT AND AS YOU GO FORWARD IT'S GREAT TO HAVE SOME OF THE PROGRAMING THAT YOU'RE DOING GREAT WORK FOR MORE TO SEE WITH DOCUMENTATION AND DATA TO BACK THAT UP AND FIND OUT WHAT WE NEED. CERTAINLY THERE'S SOME AREAS THAT WE COULD IMPROVE AROUND BIPOC AND MAKING SURE THEY FEEL SAFE AND HEARD AS WELL AND OUTREACH IS ALWAYS I THINK AN ISSUE IN ANY INITIATIVE THE CITY TAKES ON, RIGHT? IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT HOW DO WE GET THE WORD OUT AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUR ISSUE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY AND PERFECT THAT.  BUT I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU GUYS ALL AND I FEEL STRONGER ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE GOING FORWARD. I FEEL BETTER AND I HOPE THE YOUTH DOES AS WELL AND I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS CAN CONNECT WITH THEM AS WELL BECAUSE I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE DATA POINTS THEY WILL PROVIDE THE DATA POINT YOU PROVIDE AND I COULDN'T REALLY SEE THEM UP ON THE SCREEN. THEY SAID I WONDER IF THEY'RE THE SAME NUMBERS AND WHERE YOU GUYS GET DATA AND HOW YOU COULD SHARE AND GOING FORWARD PLEASE PLEASE USE THESE FOLKS AS AS A RESOURCE AS WELL AND WE'LL TRY AND GET MORE YOUTH INVOLVED FROM THE CITY OF COURSE. BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING HERE AND THANK YOU ALL.  DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC TESTIMONY ONE PERSON ON PUBLIC TESTIMONY GREAT EILEEN, GREAT BILL. YOU GUYS ARE RELIEVED YOU MAY LEAVE AND WE WILL LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC. SORRY , BUT THANK YOU AGAIN. I ALSO JUST WANTED TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION.  I LOVE THAT A LOT OF THE LEADERSHIP IS AND WE'RE OUT AND IT TAKES A LOT OF BRAVERY TO BE OUT ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW. SO I ALSO WANTED TO DO A HAT NOD TO ALL OF THE LEADERS WHO ARE LGBT PLUS THE CITY OF BOSTON BEING OUT AND SHARING OUR EXPERIENCES AND BEING BRAVE ABOUT DOING THE WORK WELL, YOU ARE ONE OF THEM AND THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO LEAD JULIETTE THANK YOU ALL SO I'LL GET TO WELL NOW GO TO AMARA ONLINE FOR SOME PUBLIC TESTIMONY. AMARA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR IN 2 MINUTES. THANK YOU.  SO THANK YOU. HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS AMARA AND MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE DAY AND I AM THE SUFFIX CIRCLE PILLOWS FACILITATOR AT BAGLEY'S FOR PEOPLE UNFAMILIAR WITH BAGLEY'S PROGRAMING I KNOW IT ALREADY KIND OF COVERED BUT BAGLEY HAS A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT AFFINITY MEETINGS RUN BY YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT PEER LEADERS FOR PEOPLE WHO HOLD SPECIFIC IDENTITIES LIKE TRANS AND NON-BINARY MEANING GIRLS HUMAN SAPPHIC CIRCLE SAPPHIC CIRCLE IS A MONTHLY MEETING FOR YOUTH TO IDENTIFY A TOPIC OR HAVE ANY SORT OF CONNECTION TO SAPPHIC IDENTITY AND AS A FACILITATOR PLAY ON TOPICS AND FACILITATE DISCUSSIONS AS WELL AS SIT ON THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE AND HELP WITH ALL OF BAGLEY'S PROGRAMING WORK.  I ORIGINALLY FOUND OUT ABOUT BAGLEY THROUGH ART JUST LIKE ONLINE SEARCHES BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO GET MORE INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY HERE IN BOSTON. I'M ORIGINALLY FROM LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK AND I CAME HERE TO ATTEND WELLESLEY COLLEGE.  I'M CURRENTLY A SOPHOMORE AND I GREW UP IN A VERY CONSERVATIVE MUSLIM HOUSEHOLD AND THUS I GREW UP ESSENTIALLY HIDING MY IDENTITY FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS. SO BEING A PART OF A SPACE LIKE BAGLEY WHERE I CAN FREELY EXPRESS MYSELF WITHOUT WORRY HAS BEEN EXTREMELY REWARDING BECAUSE I'M ALSO ABLE TO HELP OTHER YOUTH AT THE SAME TIME AND JUST BEING ABLE TO EXIST IN THE CENTER WHETHER I'M WORKING OR NOT AND HAVING PEOPLE AROUND ME WHO I FEEL SAFE AROUND IS VERY HEALING.  I FIND THAT A LOT OF  SPACES OFTEN OR ON THE OTHER HAND MUSLIM OR SOUTH-ASIAN SPACES ARE VERY CONTRADICTING AND ARE OFTEN NOT ACCEPTING OF ONE OR THE OTHER. BUT I FEEL THAT AT BAGLEY I NEVER THINK THAT I HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN MY CULTURE OR MY QUEERNESS BECAUSE EVERYBODY AROUND ME CELEBRATES BOTH.  BAGLEY HAS ALSO GIVEN ME OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THINGS I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE ABLE TO DO LIKE I TRAVELED TO BERLIN FOR A CULTURAL EXCHANGE EARLIER THIS MONTH WITH THE GERMAN CONSULATE AND OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS ARE ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT YOUTH AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THIS FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES OR FAMILY SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO DO THESE KINDS OF THINGS OTHERWISE. AND IT'S ALSO WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE BOSTON CITY COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT ALL YOUTH NO MATTER THEIR GENDER AND SEXUALITY FEEL SUPPORTED AND SAFE NAVIGATING A WORLD THAT CAN SO OFTEN BE THANK YOU . NO. NO. YES TONIGHT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. NEXT WE HAVE LEVI. LEVI. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR IN 2 MINUTES. THANK YOU.  I JUST WANTED TO SAY HELLO AND THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR GIVING US THIS SPACE AND BRINGING IT FORTH AS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED AND WILL CONTINUE TO NEED.  AND I ALSO WANT TO JUST REALLY QUICKLY REMIND YOU GUYS THAT IT'S NEVER A BAD IDEA TO INVEST IN YOUNG PEOPLE NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY ARE, WHAT IDENTITIES ALWAYS INVEST BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE THE FUTURE TO COME TO AMERICA. PUT PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE IT'S RIGHT. I WANTED TO REINTRODUCE MYSELF. MY NAME IS LEVI KRUSE AND I'M 22 YEARS OLD. I AM A TRANS MAN AND HAVE BEEN FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME. AS A KID I WAS ALWAYS INVOLVED IN WHATEVER MY SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY HAD TO OFFER ME . I WAS IN CLUBS SUCH AS GSA,  ANTI-BULLYING CLUBS, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND I SPENT MY EVERY MOMENT THAT I COULD AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. SO MUCH SO I EVEN ONE MEMBER OF THE YEAR WHICH I'M STILL VERY PROUD OF AND THESE PROGRAMS AND CLUBS GAVE ME THE STRENGTH I NEEDED TO KEEP GOING WHEN I WAS TRYING TO FIND MYSELF.  I WAS SUICIDAL WHILE I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO I WAS AND I WAS UNFORTUNATELY A PART OF THOSE VERY DEVASTATING STATISTICS WE HEARD ABOUT EARLIER FOR OUR LGBTQ PLUS YOUTH ESPECIALLY FOR OUR BIPOC YOUTH WHO MENTAL HEALTH IS IN A CONVERSATION AND IN HOUSEHOLDS LIKE MINE.  WHEN I GRADUATED IT WAS ON ME TO FIND A SPACE REPRESENTING EVERYTHING THAT MEANT SO MUCH TO ME . THERE'S NOT A LOT OF RESOURCES OUT THERE THAT KIND YOU KNOW JUST HAND IT TO YOU WHAT YOU CAN DO AFTER YOU GRADUATE FOR THINGS LIKE THIS.  AND I KNOW FOR ME SOMETHING THAT WAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS YOUTH LED AND PASSIONATE ABOUT PROGRESSIVE CHANGE BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS CHANGE TO COME AND THEN COME TO FIND OUT BAGLEY HAD OFFERED ALL THAT AND MORE. I ORIGINALLY CAME TO BAGLEY AS SOMEONE WHO WANTED TO GET MORE FROM MY COMMUNITY WHILE ALSO TRYING TO PROVIDE MORE. MY THERAPIST SENT ME A FLIER TO TRAIN MY PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS BECAUSE I DO SOMETIMES STRUGGLE WITH IT AND BECOME A PUBLIC SPEAKER WITH BAGLEY. BACK IN APRIL I CONVINCED ONE OF MY FRIENDS TO COME WITH ME TO THEIR SPEAKER'S BUREAU EVENT WHICH WAS A WEEKEND LONG TRAINING AND AFTER THAT WEEKEND HAD COME AND GONE WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND WE WERE CERTIFIED TO BE PUBLIC SPEAKERS WITH BAGLEY'S PUBLIC SPEAKER BUREAU WHICH IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY. THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT THEY HAD GIVEN ME AND SINCE THEN I WAS ABLE TO JOIN THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE AS AN INTERN FOR THE HEART CLINIC. THE HEART CLINIC STANDS FOR HEALTH, EDUCATION AND RISK REDUCTION TEAM. THIS YEAR THE TEAM IS MADE UP OF OUR PROGRAM MANAGER, OUR CLINIC, OUR CLINIC COORDINATOR AND THE FOR PEER LEADERS ENSURE WE OFFER LOW TO NO BARRIER STI TESTING AND HEALTH NAVIGATION SERVICES WITH OR WITHOUT INSURANCE FOR ANYONE 29 AND UNDER.  I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE AMAZING OUTCOME THAT COMES FROM THIS SERVICE BEING AVAILABLE TO YOUNG ADULTS AND YOUTH WHEN HEALTH, EDUCATION AND RISK REDUCTION IS ACCESSIBLE AND NO BARRIERS PUT IN FRONT OF IT AND ALSO ALL INCLUSIVE IT TRANSFORMS LIVES OF NOT THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT BUT ALSO FOR THE ALLIES INVOLVED SOMETHING THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING AT WORKING ON AT BAGLEY. AND EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN IS OUR CELEBRATION AND EVENT FOR WORLD AIDS DAY THAT HAPPENED JUST YESTERDAY DECEMBER 1ST ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4TH FROM 6 TO 8 WE DO HAVE AN EVENT THAT IS EDUCATION BASED AND COMMUNITY BASED TO LEARN ALL ABOUT WORLD DAY HIV AIDS AND WHAT THE MEDICATION PREP AND PREP IS. EVERYONE IS INVITED TO COME AND YOU KNOW THERE'S POWERS IN NUMBERS AND EDUCATION.  I HOPE EVERYONE DOES JOIN. BUT TO FINISH OFF WITH AN AMAZING QUOTE FROM OUR TALENTED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER THAT REALLY HAS RESONATED WITH ME , SHE SAYS TO TAKE CARE, TAKE AGENCY AND TAKE ACTION. THANK YOU, LEVI. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR COMING UP TO TESTIFY AGAIN TODAY. REALLY APPRECIATE IT.  WITH THAT THIS HEARING ON DOCKET 0998 IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH