Working on the Waterfront: The 2023 Waterfront Ambassador Program Draws to a Close

The fifth summer of the Boston Waterfront Initiative’s Waterfront Ambassadors program drew to a close in mid-August. Ten youth ambassadors from the Greater-Boston area joined the Trustees Boston Waterfront team to learn about the Piers Park III project and East Boston community, acting as liaisons for the Trustees throughout the summer.

The program spanned seven weeks, each with a different theme that helped the Ambassadors to connect to the Trustees’ work in East Boston. Weeks 1-4 are recapped in a blog found here.

Land Stewardship

The fifth week of the Waterfront Ambassadors’ program focused on land stewardship, with the group making multiple trips to local Boston Community Gardens and visiting the Massachusetts State House. To frame the week’s theme, the group spent time discussing land stewardship and the ways local indigenous communities steward the land.

To begin the week, the group visited Nightingale Garden, learning how to process compost. They worked with Trustees stewards to scoop, wheelbarrow and rake compost, allowing nutrients to be cycled back into the garden. The next day, they visited the Julian, Judson, Dean Community Garden where the Ambassadors repainted the fence.

Later in the week, the group made a trip to the Massachusetts State House, meeting with Rep. Adrian C. Madaro of the 1st Suffolk. Rep. Madaro represents the community where Piers Park III will be located. The group enjoyed a chance to hear Rep. Madaro’s story, and the work they can do at their age to be involved in local politics.

The week wrapped up with a trip to the New England Aquarium, where staff from the Aquarium led the Ambassadors on a tour of the downtown waterfront to share information about their Downtown Waterfront for All project.

Over the weekend, the Ambassadors engaged in community outreach via the Trustees Sabores de Nuestra Cultura Family Festival at Piers Park. The teens refined their skills by engaging with the East Boston community and gathering feedback about the Piers Park III project.

Agriculture

Week six of the program focused on Agriculture. To begin the week, the Ambassadors gave their second tour of Piers Park to a youth group from Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is the region’s leading voice for clean water and continued public investment in Boston Harbor, the region’s public beaches, and the Boston Harbor Islands, according to their website.

The group traveled to the Trustees’ Powissett Farm in Dover, MA to process garlic for the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. The experience allowed the Ambassadors to delve into the topic of food access.

The Ambassadors returned to the East Boston Farmer’s Market later in the week, selling produce, and once again engaging with the community around Piers Park III and the Trustees’ Boston Waterfront Initiative.

To wrap up the week, the Ambassadors attended a Youth Summit at the Charlestown Navy Yard. At the summit, the group presented the work they engaged in over the summer through an innovative skit about the Maverick Mothers.

Policy & Activism

The last week of the Waterfront Ambassador program included opportunities for the Ambassadors to practice mock interviews and learn financial literacy, to prepare an end of program presentation, and to reflect on the summer. The group gave a presentation on their experience to Trustees’ Staff at Piers Park, performing their skit, and sharing key takeaways.

Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space for the City of Boston addressed the group. “The truth is, that we aren’t going to fix all of this,” she said to the group. “You’re going to have to come behind us and do a lot of work. But the decisions we make can make it easier or harder. And I’m doing my best to make it easier for the generations that come behind us.”

The Ambassadors offered the following reflections on their experiences in the program:

Nicky: “This program was a great opportunity to meet new people. For some of us, this was our first job, and it’s a great opportunity to connect with the community – the Trustees, partners in East Boston, and more. We had a great time.”

*Luis: “I’ve made a lot of friends and had fun in the process. My favorite experience was the community garden – we worked as a group, and I learned a lot about the power of teamwork.”*

“Week five was probably my favorite week. I had never been to the State House. My favorite part of that day was going out on the balcony that looks over the Boston Common and downtown. Rep. Madaro is the east Boston state representative, and he gave us a lot of great information about career paths and how he got to where he is.”

— Ian

Diego: “This was a great way to develop my social skills. I was never outgoing prior to this program, but I’ve developed that in my time as an Ambassador. I liked the community gardens – they piqued my interest in nature and community agriculture.”

Henry: “My favorite experience was deCordova. I learned things I haven’t had the opportunity to explore before about art. Throughout the program I think we learned how to come together, and we’ve become a family.”

*Alex: “Coming from the suburbs, I didn’t know a ton about Boston. I learned a lot about different communities, culture, and the different neighborhoods in the city.”*

“This was a great way to meet new people and I have been to some amazing new places. Some of my favorite experiences were Crane Beach and the Family Festivals. I’ve learned so much about community and engagement.”

— Cecilia