This summer, ZUMIX has employed 20 young people as youth staff members, giving them valuable experience in program planning, co-facilitation, and event execution. The group has also taken several exciting field trips around Boston, visiting historic sites and learning about different topic areas. Read on for ZUMIX intern Bryan Ayala’s perspective on a recent trip to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute:
“This summer, we wanted to show our youth the importance of speaking out against certain issues, and the power our voices can have in society. We took a trip to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute to experience the process of how the Senate makes decisions.
“We talked about issues such as climate change, and whether companies should be taxed for how much carbon dioxide they release through their actions. We role-played as Democrats and Republicans from different U.S. states, with different points of views on these topics. We took these ideas and spoke for them, even if, in reality, we might not agree with them at all.
“I also thought it was cool to be in a place that’s an accurate replica of where an actual Senate hearing would take place at the State House. At the end, we all voted on whether the policy should be passed to potentially be implemented as an official law. The outcome: We passed the law!”
