The Commonwealth Tenants Association

The Youth Development Program

 

The After School Program

The CTA After School Program operates Monday – Friday 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM, offering the youth of the development an opportunity to complete homework assignments, participate in small and large group activities and spend time with friends.  The program features a tutoring program with tutors from the Boston College 4Boston program.  Each week, sixty 4Boston volunteers spend four hours helping 100 CTA youth residents with their homework and supervising arts and crafts, recreation, and other activities. 

The Mentoring Program

The Boston College PULSE program offers 25 youth in the Commonwealth Housing Development the opportunity to work one-on-one with a Boston College student who serves as a tutor and mentor for the academic year.  Each day, PULSE tutors help Commonwealth youth residents with their homework in their homes, providing participants with the individual attention they need to improve their study habits.  The pair spends an additional 2-4 hours together each weekend as companion-time.  Companion-time is the mentoring component that involves activities at Boston College and throughout the city.

The Teen Program

Recognizing the unique needs of the over 70 teens living within the Commonwealth Housing Development, the CTA added a specific teen program to its Youth Component.  

To best serve the teen population, youth staff designated the hours of 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. exclusively for teen activities, including access to educational games; preparation software for those studying for the PSAT, SAT, or GED examinations; and software designed to perform job and college searches. Teens are encouraged to participate in either the boys’ or girls’ discussion groups each week to address specific topics such as dieting and healthy eating, teen dating and violence, and how to deal with peer pressure.

The Summer Program                                                       

To help children and teens engage in educational activities when school is not in session, the CTA offers a free summer program for 65 residents ages 6-14.  Participating youth follow a carefully designed schedule in order to expose them to arts and crafts, performance arts, life skill-building, environmental education, and recreational activities such as basketball and swimming.  Each week, youth go on a field trip.  In the past, destinations have included the Boston Public Library and Harvard Museum of National History.  Participants also go on one large field trip at the end of the summer to places such as the Roger Williams Park Zoo and the New England Aquarium.