A blueprint for building a multi-generational movement for social transformation in Boston

Abstract

This action research thesis sought to develop recommendations for how to better connect young people to efforts that grassroots community-based organizations are taking to foster economic democracy and transform the political economy of society in Boston. Using a mixed methods approach of participant observations, interviews, and an academic literature review, this thesis explores the overlaps and bridges the gaps between trends and activities in the transformative community economic development, community organizing, and youth development fields. I first describe the current state of the community economic development field - its failings to provide real material improvements in the lives for low-income people of color in the U.S., particularly in its current iteration. I also posit reasons for this failing - the field's inability to confront and challenge the underlying system of global capital market distribution. I use the framework of transformative organizing and transformative community economic development, and transformative use of existing systems and resources to describe the ways Boston based organizations are taking on strategies that challenge capitalism in order to meet people's needs and change our political economy. Highlighting the presence of youth in these existing social transformation activities, I then offer a framework for further youth engagement and provide recommendations to The City School, the Boston Center for Community Ownership, and the Center for Economic Democracy, for how they could further nurture youth participation in social transformation strategies in Boston.