The 2024 Waterfront Ambassador Program Draws to a Close
The sixth summer of the Boston Waterfront Initiative’s Waterfront Ambassadors program drew to a close in mid-August. Eleven youth ambassadors from the Greater-Boston area joined the Trustees Boston Waterfront team to learn about the Trustees’ commitment to the Boston community, particularly East Boston, acting as liaisons for the organization throughout the summer.
The program spanned seven weeks, each with a different theme that helped the Ambassadors to connect to the Trustees’ work. The themes included: Public Space Stewardship; Art; Public Space and Accessibility; Community Building and Coastal Education; Exploring Boston Harbor; and Horticulture and Agriculture.
Highlights of the program were trips to the Boston Harbor Islands, local community fixtures, and to Trustees properties including the Crane Estate in Ipswich, Powisset Farm in Dover, and deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln.
Partnerships with several local community organizations created impactful moments. Organizations that supported, educated, and worked with the Ambassadors included Stone Living Lab, New England Aquarium, TreeEastie, Boston Harbor Now, Neighborhealth, MyRWA, UMass Boston’s Sustainable Solutions Lab, and Save the Harbor/Save the Bay.
Below the Ambassadors offer their reflections on the summer they shared and the work they did throughout.
Hellen T. Funez, Chelsea
“I have lived in Chelsea almost all my life and I always thought I knew every part of the Boston area. This summer I got to go to many different places that I hadn’t seen before. I got to see and learn about new places just across from my city. The most interesting and rewarding activity was the festival [4th Annual Sabores de Nuestra Cultura: Family Festival] because we got to see how we helped make peoples’ days.”
Alex Hutchinson, Hingham
“I learned a lot about the climate issues facing urban communities. These communities are often overlooked, while other areas get a lot of attention. The most rewarding activity for me was working with Tree Eastie. Walking around East Boston, they clearly need more green space to reduce summer heat and improve the neighborhood.”
Ricardo Martinez, Revere
“The most valuable thing that I learned was being more conscious of how we individually impact the area around us. I learned about different ways other people have helped to dampen our mistakes, to help the environment and give us places to enjoy the outside. Now more than ever outdoor green spaces are becoming scarce in more urbanized communities like many of ours.
Being outside added another rewarding layer to the experience. It allowed us to connect directly with nature, which deepened our understanding of the places The Trustees are continuing to protect. From my experiences like helping the Nightingale Garden, I've been able to share my knowledge with those around me who didn't know about the many places we visited. Every time I talked about the ambassador program my friends were jealous because of these unique experiences that are enjoyable.”
Gia Loc Hoang, Dorchester
“The most valuable thing I learned from the Waterfront Ambassadors program was the importance of how education and outreach can inspire collective action to protect our waterfronts.”
Philip Ashenuga Roslindale
“Speaking with the community helped me a lot, and it is youth programs like these that help our generation to remain in the environmental field.”
Charles Sebo, Roslindale
“This summer working with the Waterfront Ambassadors and The Trustees, I learned many things. Youth will have the biggest impacts in years to come with climate change and public green space. We will have the biggest say and we will have to make the changes. What I value most is the friendships that I have made here and all the people I’ve met. The most interesting activity was going to the deCordova Museum and all the interesting sculptures there. “
Samantha Carcamo Chavez, Winthrop
“My favorite part of this summer was meeting new people. I got to see and experience new places and new environments with people I would’ve never met otherwise. Something I learned this summer was the importance of connecting with those around you.”
Charlie Huff, Roslindale
“This summer working with The Trustees I learned about how the environment affects life in the city. The different activities and workshops we did [helped] to widen our perspective about areas with more green space vs less green space. The most influential activity that provided a real-world example was the tree walk that we had in East Boston.”
Olivia Morris, Revere
“The most valuable thing I learned with The Trustees this summer is all I’ve learned about our communities. I learned about the different challenges that our communities face and their accessibility to the waterfront.
The most interesting activity we did this summer was extracting water chestnuts from the Mystic River! It was really cool to learn about the invasive species and get to kayak along the river.”
Nicky Mandola, East Boston
“This was my third year with the Waterfront Ambassador program and each year I can say that I take away a lot of positive experiences and make new connections with people we work with. This year felt especially different as we focused less on Trustees’ projects and more on engaging the community with the Boston waterfront. This will probably be my last summer as an ambassador, and it has been an amazing summer and an even better program to be a part of.”
Khalid Jama, Roxbury
“The most rewarding activity we did over the summer was going to the farmers market every week and being able to interact with the vast community. I liked doing this because it helped me with my public speaking, and also made me realize the amount of healthy things there are in the area.
The most valuable thing I learned as a Waterfront Ambassador is that everyone has a part in their community, but it’s the people who put extra work into the community who make it better.”
We look forward to welcoming our teen Ambassadors back in 2025 to continue this important work.