When you walked out of your last meeting at work, did you feel solidarity with your colleagues and believe that your voice was heard? Were the issues researched, discussed fairly and consensus achieved by a fair vote with respectful, constructive conversation? If you were involved in a meeting with youth from Cambridge based peace and justice organization Boston Mobilization, this is the type of decision making process you would be a part of.

Boston Mobilization (MOBE), has been nestled on Bow Street since 2005. Originally formed in 1977, MOBE was a local chapter of the national anti-nuclear organization Mobilization for Survival. Eventually the anti-nuclear focus shifted to broader peace and justice issues, and in the MA area MOBE currently concentrates efforts on teaching youth organizing and leadership skills to examine and address systemic injustice through a social justice perspective. Recent projects include the Sub/Urban Justice Program that trains young leaders, and the published book of stories by area students with frank personal narratives on race and strategies to combat racism, Speak UP!

"We’re not even a whole person but still 90 percent of little Brad’s ipod
Cause he loves the struggle and how we depict it
He can’t handle the whole truth so we give him a snippet
Of what we went through gotta go through jus to get to
What u got cause your hairs blonde and your eyes blue"

MOBE also offers workshops in areas such antiracism and antimateralism, which Executive Director Chris Messinger explains as an examination of the distribution of resources, specifically “ways that class and wealth play out structurally, not so much about personal consumer culture.”

In preparation for leadership roles, local youth participate in a 6 week training program on issues such as class, race, gender and sexuality to learn the organizing skills that, “build a system to change a system.” Young people become peer educators after acquiring knowledge in group facilitation and curriculum development. Participants are also engaged in the organization through fundraising activities and there is a currently a youth member on the Board of Directors. Cambridge teen resident Cheyenne attests to the benefits, “..with all of the programs I have participated in Sub/Urban Justice has been the only one that told me I had the power to change the world, and showed me a practical and exciting way to help fight against social injustices: community organizing.”

Does the People’s Republic of Cambridge, in all our liberal glory (8th most liberal city according to a 2005 study by the nonpartisan Bay Area Center for Voting Research) have much to work on in terms of racism and other “isms?” Messinger believes our schools are supportive, but notes “liberal attitudes don’t change institutional structures of inequality.” Seeing the work continue to grow can be challenging, “..battling giant systems, it’s hard to see the change you’re making and stay inspired.” Using Speak Up! as part of classroom curriculum for example, is difficult when “teachers feel pressure to teach to MCAS.”

Despite the challenging work of the continuous fight against multi forms of oppression, the folks involved with Boston Mobilization remain optimistic. Lead Organizer Nina Mukherjee notes the joy, “when we see young people demand really deeply. Their power is so overwhelming that adults can’t ignore them.” Cambridge area youth and beyond are encouraged to get involved. “We’re interested in people who want to help us make change in this world.”

For more information on Boston Mobilization, visit www.bostonmobilization.org