Rahn Dorsey, the Chief of Education for the City of Boston, attends Youth Design workshop facilitated by social impact strategists from Cause Consulting
BOSTON, MA, [District Hall, July 16, 2015] – Today, 35 young people participating in the Youth Design program rolled up their sleeves to strategize, create and share their vision for how Boston Public High Schools can provide inspiring learning experiences beyond the high school walls. During a half-day workshop taught by volunteers from social impact strategy firm Cause Consulting, the Youth Designers crafted and presented their ideas to the Chief of Education for the City of Boston, Rahn Dorsey, and his team. Their concepts are part of Mayor Walsh’s High School Redesign initiative.
“Now more than ever, Boston’s youth seek to reach outside of their classrooms for experiences that will equip them for life after high school. They are hungry to gain critical skills, learn about career pathways, and be an active part of Boston communities,” said Mark Feldman, Principal & Managing Director of Cause Consulting and Youth Design Board member. “We are thrilled to share our expertise and connect Youth Designers to our networks and industry.”
To arrive at their ideas, students took part in an interactive workshop where they learned how to create and pair social impact messaging with design. They identified Boston-related experiences that they wish they had access to and the people in Boston who could help make that a reality. Applying techniques such as audience mapping and message development, they created powerful calls-to-action and presented them to Mr. Dorsey and his team. Their presentations will be considered by the Mayor’s Office of Education, Boston Public Schools (BPS) and the Boston Opportunity Agenda as they plan for the future.
“Our Youth Designers provide an essential voice and a critical perspective as part of the city’s visioning process,” said Tony Richards, Executive Director of Youth Design. “Following today’s workshop, students will participate all summer in the Youth Designers Take Action Competition, creating their own public service announcements focused on engaging other Bostonians to support public schools.”
Youth Design is a leading Boston-based nonprofit organization that empowers talented urban youth to pursue a path to Higher Education and promising equitable careers by engaging the professional design community to mentor, educate, train and employ the next generation. Since 2003, Youth Design has helped to shape the next generation of diverse design professionals through aggressive educational and workforce development initiatives set in the context of design while promoting diversity in the creative economy.
Cause Consulting is a Boston-based strategy and communications firm that helps companies simultaneously strengthen business and impact society. Ranked as the #2 CSR Communications Agency by CR Magazine, the firm specializes in CSR strategy, signature programs, cause marketing, employee engagement and c communications.
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Contacts:
Kayla Mottola, Cause Consulting
kmottola@causeconsulting.com
Tony Richards, Youth Design
tony@youthdesign.org