Boston City Council recognized International Jazz Day with a guest performance, approved $4 million for the YouthWorks Grant and discussed the establishment of an Office of LGBTQIA+ Advancement and a Transgender, Gender-diverse, Intersex and LGBTQIA2s+ Oversight Commission at its Wednesday meeting.
City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune recognized International Jazz Day and spoke on Boston’s jazz roots in a presentation.
“It’s a unique art form that embodies a unique blend of creativity and cultural heritage,” Louijeune said. “It’s played a significant role in our cultural development here in Boston.”
Louijeune invited jazz artists Ken Field and Walid Zairi to speak and perform Duke Ellington’s song “Caravan” at the meeting.
“Music alone is important,” Field said. “It is a way for communities to come together to respond to difficult times, which we’re experiencing now.”
City Council unanimously passed Docket 0887, a message and order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expend $4,149,200 through the YouthWorks Grant, awarded by the Mass. Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and administered by the Boston Office of Workforce Development.
At-Large Councilor Erin Murphy reported on the docket in her capacity as chair of the Committee on Strong Women, Families and Communities.
“This grant supports summer and school year jobs for more than 1,000 low-income and at-risk youth, ages 14 to 25, across our city,” Murphy said.
Murphy emphasized the grant’s ability to offer important opportunities to low income and at-risk youth.
“These jobs do more than provide a paycheck,” Murphy said. “They offer mentorship, skills, training and career pathways in critical industries like biotech education and public service.”
District 2 City Councilor Edward Flynn highlighted the grant’s support for youth with disabilities.
“That’s what this program is also all about, is making sure that we treat our poor people with disabilities, our young people with disabilities, giving them … an opportunity to be successful,” Flynn said.
City Council discussed Docket 0968, an ordinance establishing the Office of LGBTQIA2s+ Advancement, and referred the docket to the Committee on Government Operations.
The ordinance was sponsored by At-Large Councilor Henry Santana, who emphasized the importance of protecting the queer community.
“Boston has long been a national leader in civil rights,” he said. “This ordinance is about continuing that tradition by institutionalizing our commitment to the LGBTQIA2s+ community.”
District 9 Councilor Liz Breadon also supported the docket and emphasized its importance.
“Many of the young people that are growing up in the United States today do not feel safe to express themselves,” Breadon said. “Right at this moment in this country, there is a severe and serious effort to push us back into the closet and make us disappear completely.”
District 7 Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson echoed Breadon’s sentiment.
“It is incredibly important during this time that we protect our most vulnerable communities,” she said.
City Council also discussed Docket 0969, an ordinance establishing a Transgender, Gender-diverse, Intersex and LGBTQIA2s+ Oversight Commission.
At-Large Councilor Julia Mejia said Docket 0969 comes as another protective step following the LGBTQIA2s+ sanctuary city resolution passed by the Council in February.
“The Commission will serve as a body that is fully, truly representative of the LGBTQ+ community, centering the voices and experiences of those who live at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities,” Mejia said.
The Docket was referred to the Committee on Government Operations. Mejia said the Commission aims to bring accountability.
“Community members have been calling for accountability, and our vision for this commission is to do just that by looking at the long-missing accountability partners and trusted voices within every corner of city government,” Mejia said.