Family Fun Night & The Spot
by Sade Ladega , Neighborhood Youth Ministries staffPictured: Sade (right) serves snacks with a neighbor during Family Fun Night.
Working with the Boston Project this year has truly been a blessing. First, I was blessed with the opportunity to help plan the Family Fun Nights out in Elmhurst Park. Family Fun Nights are a series of Monday nights Boston Project hosts for families to enjoy quality time with one another. Each Monday there was a different activity that families could enjoy like playing Bingo, listening to a Steel Pan Band, enjoying ice cream sundaes, movie nights, and even a Talent Show.
I think these nights were very important to have because families don't spend enough quality time together and with other families from their very own community. I've seen friendships begin, and existing relationships develop further. I've seen youth together simply engaging in healthy activities with one another. I can honestly say that every Monday I saw God moving through all the youth and families in the TNT.
I was also able to help plan both "The Spot in Dot" (short for Dorchester) and "The Tween Spot." These were youth café's where young people from our neighborhood were able to come to a safe place where they can hang out with each other, listen to music, play games, eat food and win prizes. Even though youth can do these things at many different locations, we had over 120 different youth make the choice to come out to our events this summer. I was so proud that the youth made a decision to place themselves into a healthy environment with us. A lot of them also decided to invite their friends and family to make the same decision.
I enjoyed this summer so much, but I was also able to learn from and grow in many different areas. This was my first summer ever working with teens and at first I wasn't sure I would be able to connect with them as much as I would with younger kids that I am used to working with but God was definitely at work. I feel a true connection as well as a genuine love and compassion for the youth that I have had a chance to meet with this summer and I am excited to see how God will work in their lives as they grow up.
