Boston Teen Police Academy

HOPE worldwide Massachusetts partners with the Boston Police Department and local civic groups to conduct a yearly program in which 50-75 teens are invited to participate in the Academy. The teens are paid for a summer job to attend the program. The program involves physical training, community service, character development and other areas of interaction. The Academy counselors are Boston police officers and HOPE volunteers who mentor the teens. This program has resulted in closer relationships between the police force, the teens and their communities. A number of the teens have gone on to pursue a career as police officers. The mayor of Boston has described this program as the most effective program in the city to create good will, improve race relations and connection between the police and the city of Boston. The end of each summer program  concludes with  a celebration event in which the teens are honored in front of hundreds of family members, the mayor of Boston and the Superintendent of the Boston Police Department.