Catholic Charities Extends Summer Hours at Teen Center in Dorchester

Cardinal O'Malley and Mayor Menino support agency's decision to keep the center open on weekends and lengthen weekday hours to continue providing a safe place for inner-city youth

Rev. J. Bryan Hehir, president of Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Boston, today announced expanded summer hours at the agency’s Teen Center at St. Peter’s School in Dorchester in response to recent violence in the city. The Teen Center, which serves teens ages 13 to 19 from the Bowdoin/Geneva neighborhood of Dorchester, will be open from 8 a.m.-9 p.m., 7 days a week from July 1-Sept. 1.

At Catholic Charities’ Teen Center, youth have access to a variety of supportive services and are provided with a safe place for recreation. There are approximately 200 members of the Teen Center, with as many as 80 participating in educational or recreational activities daily. In announcing the expansion of this program during the summer months, Hehir said, “This is one dimension of a broader effort by the archdiocese to contribute to safety and peace this summer.”

“We share the concerns of the many good and decent people who live and work in the neighborhoods that are being disrupted by acts of violence on the part of a small number of people,” said Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston. “We are especially concerned for the youth. The services offered through the Teen Center are critical in this community. Catholic Charities is committed to providing young people with a safe place to gather after school and during the summer. It is important to provide a positive, constructive alternative to the streets, out of harm’s way.”

“I appreciate the archdiocese stepping forward to be a part of the solution to the problems in Dorchester,” Mayor Thomas M. Menino said. “It is a good step for Catholic Charities to extend its hours at the Teen Center at St. Peter’s to be sure that the young people in this neighborhood can participate in positive activities to keep them out of trouble this summer.”

Catholic Charities’ Teen Center at St. Peter’s is part of a unique collaboration with St. Peter’s School and the Bowdoin Street After-School Program. The three programs, all housed in St. Peter’s School, have worked together to serve the families of the Bowdoin Street neighborhood for five years. More than 400 children ages 5-19 receive educational, recreational, social, and spiritual services daily at St. Peter’s. Last fall these three programs initiated a monthly neighborhood safety meeting, bringing together community residents, senior citizens, families, youth, and the Boston Police Department.

During the school year, the Catholic Charities Teen Center at St. Peter’s is open from 2-9 p.m. Teens spend time working on homework, playing educational games, researching on the Internet, preparing for the MCAS, and engaging in recreational activities such as sports and cultural activities. Focus groups meet weekly to address adolescent development issues and the multiple challenges that confront youth today, including drugs and alcohol, gang participation, and family conflict. Some teens serve as counselors in training, paid positions with job responsibilities in the Bowdoin Street After-School Program.

The Teen Center also is open on Saturdays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. for dance classes. Members often take weekend trips to go hiking, canoeing, camping, or skiing. During spring vacation this week, 40 teens from the center are visiting Washington, D.C.

During the summer months, the Teen Center at St. Peter’s offers much of the same programming with an increased emphasis on academics during the day, especially for those new to the United States. Many take English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes while others take English, math, and computer classes for school credit. Young people also receive help with the college admissions process. Recreational activities are held in the afternoons, and additional educational and cultural field trips are offered.

How the Community Can Help
The Teen Center at St. Peter’s is actively looking for summer employment opportunities for its members and other youth in the community. If you or your company would be interested in employing teens, contact Paulo De Barros at 617-506-6600 or paulo_debarros@ccab.org.

The expanded hours of operation for the Teen Center at St. Peter’s will come at a cost for Catholic Charities. These expenses are unbudgeted and include more books, computers, and food for increased membership; transportation; and employees’ salaries. If you would like to help, call 617-482-5440 or make a donation online at www.ccab.org.

Other Summer Opportunities for Youth with Catholic Charities
In addition to the Teen Center at St. Peter’s, Catholic Charities operates Sunset Point Camp in Hull. Each summer the camp serves as a dream ‘vacation’ for 300 children from all over the Greater Boston area representing diverse cultures, races, and religions, the great majority from lower income households. Others come from homes where extenuating circumstances are present such as the death of a parent or sibling, sudden departure of a family member, or a recent fire. The programs at Sunset Point Camp are designed around building life skills, including teamwork, leadership, self-discipline, self-esteem, sportsmanship, and good health.