Purpose
We are an organization of youth, led by youth and supported by adults, who are united by a common purpose: to increase youth power and create positive social change. To do this, we develop counter-cultural values, build relationships across differences, train and develop leaders, identify key issues of concern and take action for justice. Our goals are to improve the lives of young people, increase real political participation and build community.

Our Story
BYOP began ten years ago and was first known as the Roxbury Church Collaborative. A group of pastors wanted space for youth to take ownership of their communities at a time when youth violence was taking many victims. Liz Steinhauser, the first organizer, brought together many neighborhood church youth groups who won their first victory by re-opening the Melnea Cass Skating rink. Energized by the victory, we moved to bigger issues and successfully extended the time for the student public transportation pass (T-pass) from 6 to 8 pm!

As the group grew beyond Roxbury to other areas of Boston and included public schools and Jewish organizations in addition to churches, we became the Boston Youth Organizing Project (and '-area' was added soon after). We also partnered with an adult community organizing group, the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO). We brought over 500 (of roughly 4,000) people to their founding assembly and supported each other in camapaigns. We also built alliances with other youth and community organizations. BYOP, with partner and allied organizations, went on to sign a contract with Superintendent Payzant to improve bathroom facilities, got Mayor Menino and the Boston City Council to add $1 milllion for textbooks, passed the first legislation in the country to lower the local voting age (pending at state level) and won countless local campaigns through our school and congregation chapters.