The city of Boston is no stranger to providing youth-oriented public services. Opportunities like the Youth Jobs Program, the Summer Youth Employment Program and youth services provided by various neighborhood initiatives can all prepare young people for success in both their professional and personal lives. However, such opportunities are not always available to undocument youth, blocking off paths that are already difficult to navigate for those living in diaspora communities. This barrier did not go unnoticed by city officials, and in 2020, the pilot for the Dreamers Fellowship was launched with 50 students enrolled.
The Dreamers Fellowship is a work-readiness and leadership program for immigrant youth of any status. It is overseen by the Health and Human Services Cabinet, the Department of Youth Engagement and Employment, and the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement. The Fellowship allows young people who do not yet have permanent citizenship status to gain hands-on job experience and professional development skills within safe, familiar settings, such as local churches and immigrant-serving nonprofits. “The fact that I would be surrounding myself with people who are in a similar situation as me, I think that was a very comforting thing,” said Camila, a participant of the Dreamers Fellowship.
The pilot program saw success, despite occurring during the height of the pandemic. Students took hands-on roles to help their communities through the crisis by distributing food and working as the welcome crew for a vaccination clinic run by the Boston International Newcomers Academy. Now, in 2021, as a permanent annual program, the second summer class recently graduated, having quadrupled the number of students to reach a total of 200 participants.
For the duration of the fellowship, students from ages 15 to 22 work for 22 hours a week for six weeks over the course of the summer. Their job training is done through various nonprofit partners such as Agencia Alpha, Boston Asian Y.E.S., Centro Presente, the Caribbean Youth Club, and Sociedad Latina, among others. “The activities we provide around youth development are meant to give them tangible life skills,” explained Nickey Nesbeth, Founder and Director of the Caribbean Youth Club. The diversity of partnering organizations reflects that of the youth participants themselves, with students who have roots from Brazil to China. The fellowship also helps build upon English communication skills, allowing those with limited English proficiency to enroll and succeed.
“It was the perfect time for them to be stationed in this program,” said Yusufi Vali, Director of the Mayor’s Office for Immigration Advancement.
Fellowship students also receive a bi-weekly stipend for their work, allowing them to take home $1,300 to their families. “Many of them used the stipend to save for their future, but a lot also used it to pay rent,” Vali explained, “If you or your family don’t have status, it’s hard to make ends meet.” In 2017, one-in-four first generation children were found to be living in poverty, with the number only decreasing by 3% by the second generation. Legal status can bar someone from various opportunities in both their career and life, making immigrant workers easier to take advantage of in low-paying or under-the-table jobs. For many, the vision of a sustainable career is murky.
“They’ve taught me what it really takes to be a leader, and what it takes to get a job when you don’t have the same privileges as everyone else, when you’re undocumented,” said Guilherme, a recently graduated fellowship student.
The summer has not been the only option for youth looking to join this program, as last spring, a session was held thanks to private funding. Program staff and managers are hopeful that they will be able to replicate their spring success in 2022, with the ultimate goal of offering the fellowship year-round. This would allow students to continue their growth at a greater capacity and bring the skills they acquire back to school and extracurricular activities while enrolled. It would also mean more stipends given to youth and families who need the support. “Immigrants drive the labor force in Boston, [they make] Boston the beautiful, diverse city it is,” said Vali, “By investing in our immigrant youth, we really all benefit, and that’s why this program is so important.”
While 34% of the U.S. claims to see immigrants as a “burden”, a 2018 survey showed that foreign-born individuals entered the workforce at a rate of 65.7%, a higher rate than that of native-born adults. Immigrants help boost the economy, with high numbers in fields such as hospitality, healthcare, maintenance and farming. According to Census data, immigrants who have less than a four-year degree account for 11% of U.S. workers total, despite any systemic barriers they may face. In addition to the abundance of workers, children of immigrant families make up around 30% of students enrolled in higher education. Programs like the Dreamers Fellowship recognize the hard work behind these numbers, and provide support to youth who, at the end of the day, want to become the best versions of themselves.
