Briscoe 8th Grader Represents Beverly in Statewide Project 351

More than 300 eighth graders representing the Commonwealth's 351 cities and towns came together for a day of service as part of the annual launch of Project 351.

Briscoe Middle School eighth grader Thomas Adams represented Beverly at the event on Saturday, Jan. 26. 

Launched during Governor Deval Patrick’s inaugural in 2010, Project 351 is dedicated to celebrating youth leadership, inspiring the ethic of service, and recognizing the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Chaired by Governor Deval Patrick, Project 351 celebrates the ethic of service, youth leadership, and the power of community to uplift and unite. Eighth-grade ambassadors from cities and towns across the Commonwealth are nominated by local educators for unique leadership and service opportunities over a year's term.

Governor Patrick hosted a Youth Town Meeting at the State House this morning, before joining ambassadors for an afternoon of service at five non-profit and educational organizations across Boston.

"I welcome Project 351 ambassadors from across the Commonwealth to the State House as we unite in the spirit of service," said Governor Patrick. "Project 351 is designed to inspire, challenge and motivate our next generation of leaders to give back and make a significant impact in our community.”

The young people participating were all nominated by education leaders in their hometowns, based on their exemplary service ethic and spirit of generosity.

Nate Solder of the New England Patriots, Jared Sullinger of the Boston Celtics, and Andrew Ference of the Boston Bruins joined the ambassadors for their service, which took place at Cradles to Crayons, the Greater Boston Food Bank, Pine Street Inn, Hennigan Elementary School and BCYF Community Center, and Amory Street Housing.

“I’m excited to serve with these bright, committed young students,” said Sullinger, who served at the Pine Street Inn. “It’s important to give back to the community and help out the less fortunate here in Boston.”

"Volunteerism is important,” said Solder, who served at Hennigan Elementary School. “I am glad to play a small part in honoring Martin Luther King’s legacy and encouraging the next generation to give of their time and resources. Today I am proud to join students from around Massachusetts to paint and landscape this school and community center. Governor Patrick’s Project 351 is a great example of inspiring leadership, dedication and giving selflessly.”

Service at each location was led by members of the Project 351 Service Coalition, including City Year, Boston Center for Youth & Families, Boston Cares, Citizen Schools, Commonwealth Corps, Massachusetts Service Alliance, Playworks, Ripples of Hope, and the Eli J. Segal Citizen Leadership Program.

“Project 351 is something that has made me not only a better leader, but a better person,” said Andrea Nevis, a Project 351 alumnus. “It’s inspired me to encourage other teens to serve.”

Cradles to Crayons, located in Brighton, provide homeless and low-income children with the essentials they require to thrive - to feel safe, warm, ready to learn, and valued. While there, ambassadors worked in teams to sort and prepare clothes, books and toys for children from communities across the Commonwealth. 

The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. While there, ambassadors packed bags of healthy snack options for students in the Boston Public Schools and sorted groceries to prepare for distribution to GBFB partners.

Founded in 1969, the Pine Street Inn serves more than 1,600 homeless adults daily, providing a full spectrum of services to help them reach their highest level of independence and get back to a place they can call home. Ambassadors created birthday cards for the 700 tenants in permanent supportive housing, packed personal care kits for the 150 homeless men and women served daily by outreach workers, and made apple pies for all of those receiving that evening’s meal at the emergency shelter.

The James W. Hennigan K-5 School serves 583 students in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. Ambassadors created take home math and literacy resource kits comprised of flashcards, article samples, storybooks, and bookmarks for every student in the school. They also helped reorganize and clean out a storage room so that it can serve as a book room and created literary-themed panel murals to line the main hallway of the West Zone Early Learning, which serves 120 students in grades K-1.

The BCYF Community Center, located at James Hennigan K-5, is one of 35 facilities managed by Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the City of Boston’s largest youth and human services agency. Ambassadors repainted three of the Center’s rooms, cleared out storage rooms, and created personal care kits for the Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly program.

Amory Street Housing is a welcoming and caring Boston Housing Authority community that offers a wide variety of living arrangements for low-and-moderate income elderly and disabled individuals. Ambassadors added to this special community by bringing inspiration and warmth to the residents through their service. Ambassadors created panel murals, assembled personal care kits for all tenants, and made fleece blankets and scarves.

At each location, community partners and volunteers spoke to the eighth graders about the impact of their service.

“Today’s events celebrate the unlimited potential of young people to create positive change across our Commonwealth,” said Carolyn Casey, Executive Director of Project 351. “We hope that the skills, enrichment, and friendships gained will inspire the Ambassadors' continued service and engagement of their communities.”

The events concluded at the State House, where Governor Patrick led the ambassadors in a reflection on the impact of their work as well as a celebration of the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Courtesy of Project 351.