By Mohamed Barrie, Teens in Print Director
What do the founding principles of the United States of America mean to Boston teens? Some who were never pictured when those words were written? Teens in Print is taking on a project that feels both timely and deeply personal to the young people we serve. I’m excited to announce our upcoming special magazine issue, “Promises of the Revolution,” funded by Mass Humanities.
TiP’s upcoming project, “Promises of the Revolution,” will showcase perspectives from Boston’s youth on the promises made in the Declaration of Independence, ahead of America’s 250th birthday. Students in Teens in Print will reflect on how these promises manifest in Boston and its people. Funding will support student stipends, staff salaries, and food costs, as well as designing, publishing, and distributing the magazine.
When I think about the founding promises of this country: freedom, equality, and the pursuit of happiness, I think about the teens who walk into our newsroom every week. Many of them carry identities and experiences that were never included in the original vision of this nation. And yet, they are the ones pushing us forward. They’re the ones asking the bold questions about what those promises mean today, and who truly gets to benefit from them.
Through this project, TiP students will dive into the ideals laid out in the Declaration of Independence and explore how those ideas show up in their neighborhoods, families, schools, and city. They’ll research, interview, and write new pieces that connect history to the world they’re growing up in right now. And because this is Teens in Print, students aren’t just participating, they’re leading. Their voices will drive the entire issue, from concept to final layout.
The team guiding our TiPsters through this project brings deep expertise and care to the work. Zahra Belyea, our Collaborative Coaching Specialist, will design and lead the curriculum that helps students engage thoughtfully with the founding ideals of this country. Cass Clarke, our Teens in Print Specialist, and Elvis Alvarado, TiP Program Manager, will work closely with students throughout the writing process, supporting everything from brainstorming to polished final drafts. And Rachel Charles, a Publishing major at Emerson College, will collaborate with our teens to design, curate, and prepare the special issue for publication and distribution.
Our goal is to ensure this project lives beyond the page. The final work will appear across TiP’s website, magazine, podcast, and social media, including a special magazine issue and dedicated podcast episodes. Releasing next summer, the edition will give teens a public platform to share their perspective on America’s unfinished work. It’s a citywide conversation led by young voices, and in Boston, people will be able to experience these stories in multiple ways.
About Mass Humanities:
Mass Humanities, an organization that for 50 years has strengthened civic life in Massachusetts by bringing people together through stories, dialogue, and the public humanities, supports projects that illuminate voices too often left out of our shared narrative.
The Promises of the Revolution initiative, and Mass Humanities’ overall mission, are deeply aligned with WordPowered’s work to center and amplify often-overlooked voices, particularly the voices of young people. At WordPowered, we create spaces where youth experiences, perspectives, and opinions are heard and respected. Through journalism, young people think critically, use their voices to create change, and share perspectives that honor diverse experiences and challenge inequities. We believe this is central to their personal development, sense of agency, and ability to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Past articles TiPsters have written we recommend reading:
- “A message to America: How I learned resilience” by Eirini Voutsadaki
- “Can Gen-Z Even Achieve The American Dream?” by Jade Manning
- “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of selfish excess” by Khadija Raza
Thank you to Mass Humanities for your support in this upcoming opportunity. You can learn more about their mission here.