Project Right, REAP and others describe violence‑prevention, community healing and youth employment needs

Representatives of community organizations described how city and grant funding have supported violence-prevention, community healing and youth employment programs and urged continued investment as the council develops the FY26 budget.

Michael Kozu (Project Right) described Project Right’s role supporting young people in Dorchester, Grove Hall and adjacent neighborhoods and said city funding and grants — including the Boston Public Health Commission’s VIP funding, the Community Healing Response Network and a Boston Police Department Shannon grant — have helped sustain prevention programs and volunteer initiatives like the MyCalls and People’s COVID basketball league. Kozu said such grants helped Project Right maintain long-term relationships with families and create programs that involve former participants as staff.

Hakim Sutherland of REAP described youth employment, mentorship and school-focused priorities; he asked for funding to improve school food and facilities and to expand mentor and peer-support programs.

Project Right said community-driven facility projects — including a proposed Grove Hall Community Center and the transition of Lillie Frederick Pilot Middle School as a temporary home for other schools during renovations — have been supported by city funding and nonprofit partnerships and that more consistent funding would enable longer-term projects.

Councilors thanked speakers and said testimony will be added to the budget record for future deliberations; no appropriations were made at the hearing.