Beacon Communities and The Center for Teen Empowerment Launch Trauma-Informed Youth Leadership Program

For Immediate Release

Date: October 2, 2026
Contact: Marisa Naughton, [email protected]

Beacon Communities and The Center for Teen Empowerment Launch Trauma-Informed Youth Leadership Program

New initiative equips teens with leadership, conflict resolution, and community-building skills

BOSTON, MA - Beacon Communities, in partnership with The Center for Teen Empowerment, is launching the Empowering Youth through Trauma-Informed Leadership pilot program at Georgetowne Homes and the Anne M. Lynch Homes at Old Colony. Supported by a $150,000 Housing Stability grant from MassHousing, the initiative is designed to help teens build confidence, strengthen leadership skills, and develop trauma-informed approaches to communication, conflict resolution, and community engagement. The program will serve residents aged 13 to 18 living in these two Boston communities, which collectively are home to more than 1,300 households. This pilot is intended to serve as a model that could eventually be expanded to additional Beacon communities.

The initiative will combine leadership development, trauma-informed support, and hands-on community engagement. Through group facilitation, creative expression, and collaboration with community members and leaders, youth will strengthen leadership and communication skills while exploring strategies for mental health awareness, conflict resolution, and peer support. The program is designed to help participants process their experiences, build resilience, and channel their perspectives into meaningful action. It will culminate in teen-led community projects that empower participants to identify issues affecting their peers and develop solutions that strengthen their communities.

The program is part of Beacon's approach to community engagement, which focuses on creating opportunities for residents to build connections, strengthen neighborhood relationships, and develop leadership skills that contribute to housing stability and quality of life. Beacon aims to amplify young voices, foster a stronger sense of belonging, and create opportunities for residents to shape the future of their communities.

"Supporting residents means more than providing quality housing -it also means creating opportunities for people to grow, lead, and thrive," said Aviva Rothman-Shore, Senior Vice President of Community Engagement at Beacon Communities. "Young people bring valuable perspectives, creativity, and resilience to their communities. Through this partnership with The Center for Teen Empowerment, we're helping youth build practical leadership skills while creating meaningful opportunities for them to influence the communities they call home."

The initiative builds on The Center for Teen Empowerment's nationally recognized youth development model, which combines leadership training, community organizing, and youth employment opportunities. Early engagement activities for the pilot have begun and included community information sessions, recruitment events, resident outreach, and staff training focused on youth-centered engagement practices.

"At The Center for Teen Empowerment, we don't see young people as problems to be solved; we see them as essential partners in creating solutions to the challenges facing our communities. We are excited to partner with Beacon Communities to bring our approach to youth engagement and empowerment to their housing communities. Together, we will support young people in working alongside their peers and adults to create environments that intentionally expand pathways to stable housing, livable wages, and improved health outcomes for residents living in Beacon-managed properties," said Abrigal Forrester, CEO - Teen Empowerment.

The Empowering Youth through Trauma-Informed Leadership initiative is funded through MassHousing's Housing Stability grant program, which supports innovative projects that advance housing policy, strengthen resident outcomes, and develop promising practices that can be replicated at affordable housing communities across the Commonwealth.

As the pilot progresses, Beacon Communities and The Center for Teen Empowerment will evaluate outcomes. The partners hope the lessons learned will help inform future resident engagement efforts and demonstrate how investing in teen leadership can contribute to stronger, more connected communities.

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About The Center for Teen Empowerment

For the past thirty-five years The Center for Teen Empowerment (TE) has engaged youth to develop and use their voices to tackle critical social issues and create a positive impact. Through innovative programs and initiatives, Teen Empowerment addresses social challenges such as crime, violence, and strained community relationships between youth and adults

By providing platforms for expression, fostering dialogue, and advocating for policy changes, Teen Empowerment empowers youth to develop skills and positive behavior while building safer, more inclusive communities.

About Beacon Communities LLC

Beacon Communities LLC is a privately owned real estate firm that develops, acquires, invests in, and manages a wide range of multi-family housing. Their portfolio includes affordable housing, market-rate housing, and mixed income-housing. Their developments range from new construction to historic adaptive reuse to the renovation of existing housing. Guided by Living Well by Design-a commitment to creating healthy, thriving communities-and Working Well by Design-an intentional, collaborative approach to executing complex work-Beacon takes on challenging developments and makes them succeed while enhancing the neighborhoods in which they are located. For more information about Beacon Communities LLC, please visit www.beaconcommunitiesllc.com.