Can you imagine a group of teenagers owning their own house? Well, in November the members of Youth In Action (YIA) moved into their own four-story home at 672 Broad St. in Providence. A huge step for any nonprofit, but especially for one run entirely by teens.

Luis Pagan, 19, has been with the organization for five years and was excited to be around for the move. "There's just this feeling," he says, "that this is ours." This feeling was solidified by 13-year-old Kenny Fernandez's signature on the purchasing agreement. The concepts of youth ownership, commitment, and leadership are at the heart of Youth In Action's mission to improve the local community.

The program, founded in 1997 by four youths and one adult, has been nationally recognized for its pioneering model. Youth plan and implement all programming and organizational development. Meanwhile, experienced adults compose a board of mentors and a paid staff of four to construct the organization's business framework, advising in strategic planning and financial and business management. "[It's] the nuts and bolts you have to do to keep a nonprofit business running," explains executive director Karen Feldman, "so that youth can go out and implement their ideas and their programming."

Sixteen-year-old Chace Baptista originally came to the group as a rapper interested in the organization's hip-hop classes and eventually joined one of the teams, working his way through a few of them before becoming co-chair of the board of directors. "It's really something unique," he says.

The four teams have worked together to create an art park with a water park, basketball courts, murals, and decorative benches in a vacant South Side lot. Their other efforts include reaching more than 1000 young people with health education street teams, developing an anti-violence curriculum for middle school students, and hosting weekly hip-hop and dance classes at Youth In Action's former home in Trinity Church. "You come for one thing and you end up getting hired," says Baptista, "and all of a sudden you have all these skills you didn't expect to have."

YIA's teen-run board of directors even convinced 10 City Councilors to give a total of $150,000 in city bond funds for use toward the house. The work in piecing together the logistics of homeownership brought Youth In Action's mission of youth empowerment to a whole new level. "It's kind of cool," says Pagan, "if I ever decide to have some real estate I know what I'll need to get a house."

For 16-year-old Joanne Charles, the accomplishment meant more than a new headquarters. "When you finally get to do something," she says, "it really lets youth know they have a voice." Even with the building's top two floors being rented out to make the mortgage, 672 Broad Street has doubled Youth In Action's capacity. The building will host expanded staffing accommodations, course offerings, and most importantly, membership. "We don't call it our house," says Pagan. "We call it our home."

Issue Date: December 20 - 26, 2002