What We Do

Job Readiness & Career Exploration

MPDC provides employment and a valuable learning experience for young people from the community through our After School Youth Employment Program (AYEP) and Opportunity Youth Employment Program (OYEP), and Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP).

How We Do It:

After-School Youth Employment Program (AYEP)

AYEP serves youth in high school ages 14-19 by pairing them with engaging internships, workshops, and training, focusing on increasing school attachment (Fall-Winter Season).

Opportunity Youth Employment Program (OYEP)

OYEP serves youth attending alternative BPS schools and out-of-work youth ages 16-19, focusing on increasing school attachment paired with professional and personal development.

Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)

SYEP serves youth, primarily Boston residents aged 14-19, for seven weeks during the summer and places them into meaningful, paid internships across Boston.

MPDC’s successful leadership and job training programs offer opportunities for young people to experience the world of work while attaining skills and knowledge to help prepare them for future meaningful employment.

We employ over 75 young people each year. They work alongside our staff and partner agencies to learn the “hard” and “soft” skills necessary to succeed in the workforce. MPDC staff members serve as mentors, challenging the young employees to pursue higher education, vocational training, union apprenticeship, and other opportunities as the best routes to long-term financial and personal stability.

To learn more, contact Yhinny Matos / 617.849.6236 or Romario Joseph/ 617.794.0529

Education

Empowering Youth Through Education and Hands-On Learning: Explore the MPDC Opportunity Employment Program (OEP).

How We Do It:

Career Exploration

Unlock local career possibilities with insights into trade schools and diverse fields.

HiSET Preparation Classes

Elevate your academic journey with weekly classes covering Math, Science, Social Studies, Reading, and Writing to excel in the HiSET Exam.

Job Readiness & Workforce Development Workshops

Equip yourself for the professional realm through workshops designed to instill the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities vital for workplace success.

Case Management / Mental Health Services

Our dedicated team includes a licensed mental health clinician who addresses mental health and socio-economic needs to ensure holistic well-being on your journey to success.

See MPDC Mental Health Hotline Resources here.

See MPDC Mental Health App Resources here.

Post-Secondary Educational Exploration

Exposure to opportunities to further your education beyond high school or HiSet/GED completion, such as colleges, vocational/tech/trade schools, and certifications.

Community Engagement Opportunities

Give back to your community and gain valuable experience by participating in volunteer opportunities at local shelters, food pantries, community events, and forums.

MPDC’s successful leadership and job training programs offer opportunities for individuals to experience the world of work while attaining skills and knowledge to help prepare them for future meaningful employment. The Opportunity Employment Program serves court-involved, out-of-school, unemployed people ages 16 to 24 pursuing HiSET completion.

We provide services based on our client’s needs and will work with them to complete personal goals identified during their engagement with our program. We hope that through this program, we can propel our clients into a successful future as well as combat the many barriers our community faces (such as gun violence, substance abuse, and addiction, to name a couple) on a day-to-day basis in hopes to give our communities a better chance at becoming more stable and vibrant.

Interested in MPDC’s Opportunity Employment Program?

If you’re gearing up for the HiSET exam, we’ve got you covered with free hybrid preparation sessions tailored for students aged 17-24. Dive into comprehensive assistance in all five testing areas – Math, Science, Reading, Writing, and Social Studies. Express your interest and discover more by filling out our intake form here.

Your pathway to success begins here!

To Learn More, contact Carlos Taveras / 978.397.5936

MPDC Scholarship Program 

Each year, through the Ralph Smith, Danette Jones, and Haynes Family Scholarships, MPDC helps several deserving students from Roxbury offset the cost of their college education.

How We Do It:

Several college-bound applicants from Roxbury are selected annually to receive scholarships. The awards range from $250 to $5,000 toward each recipient’s college tuition and expenses. MPDC’s college scholarship program was established by a bequest from the estate of Ralph Smith, our co-founder and first Executive Director, and a gift made in honor of Danette Jones, our second Executive Director. These scholarships make a meaningful difference in the lives of our young residents.

Each year, through the Ralph Smith, Danette Jones, and Haynes Family Scholarships, MPDC helps several deserving students from Roxbury offset the cost of their college education.

How We Do It:

Several college-bound applicants from Roxbury are selected annually by MPDC to receive scholarships. The awards range from $250 to $3,500 toward each recipient’s college tuition and expenses. MPDC’s college scholarship program was established by a bequest from the estate of Ralph Smith, our co-founder and first Executive Director, and a gift made in honor of Danette Jones, our second Executive Director. These scholarships make a meaningful difference in the lives of our young residents.

Read MPDC’s 2024 Scholarship Program Brochures

HAYNES FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP BROCHURE

SMITH & JONES SCHOLARSHIP BROCHURE

To Learn More, contact Yhinny Matos / 617.849.6236

MORE ON OUR SCHOLARSHIPS…

The Ralph D. Smith Community Service Scholarship
The Ralph D. Smith Community Service Scholarship is named after the first executive director of Madison Park Development Corporation. Mr. Smith was a resident of the old Lower Roxbury neighborhood. A baker by trade, Mr. Smith, was a leader among the residents of the old neighborhood. He led the charge to redevelop and restore the acres and land left vacant by urban renewal. Under his leadership, the core units forming the Madison Park Village complex were created. Upon his death in 1998, Mr. Smith left his entire estate to MPDC to establish a scholarship fund to help students “who have demonstrated community service in the Madison Park Village and Lower Roxbury areas.” The Ralph D. Smith Scholarship awards up to $3,500.

The Danette Jones Scholarship Fund
Danette Jones served as the second executive director of MPDC from 1988 to 1998. Under Ms. Jones’ leadership, MPDC expanded its housing development programs, created a collaborative cultural and economic development, and launched human capital campaigns. These initiatives included the establishment of youth and workforce development programs, the revitalization of community organizing efforts, and the expansion of computer training initiatives. Among Ms. Jones’s accomplishments is the successful transformation of the blighted Orchard Park Public Housing Development into the Orchard Gardens Townhouses. The Danette Jones Scholarship awards up to $1,000 on a one-time basis.

The eligibility requirements for these scholarships are as follows:

• A resident of the Greater Madison Park community as defined by the boundaries of Lower Roxbury – which include and are limited to residences in the 02119, 02120, and 02121 zip code areas;
• Enrollment full-time as a high school senior, progressing normally toward graduation in Spring/Summer 2024 with plans to enter college no later than the fall following graduation;
• A strong commitment to pursuing a bachelor’s or associate’s degree:
• Present involvement in community service and a strong commitment to continue community service throughout college

The Haynes Family Scholarship
The Haynes Family Scholarship fund is named in recognition of a family staple in the Roxbury community for over 50 years. Vincent Haynes, one of the founding members of MPDC, was a community activist at the forefront of Roxbury’s resident-led organizing efforts against urban renewal during the 1960s. Roy Haynes is an internationally acclaimed musician. Reverend Michael Haynes is a pastor of Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury. Haynes House, MPDC’s 131-unit apartment building at Madison Park Village, is also named in honor of the family. The Haynes Family Scholarship awards up to $3,500 for enrollment in a certificate program or a two- or four-year college.

The eligibility requirements for this scholarship are as follows:

• Must be a resident of the City of Boston
• Current MPDC youth leader entering an accredited two- or four-year college or university, vocational training, or certificate program or
• Present involvement in community service and a strong commitment to continue community service throughout college.
• Affiliation with MPDC (i.e., resident, partnership, past youth worker)
• Must have GED, Hi-Set, or high school diploma

Get Involved!