Mayoral candidates face school students at Roxbury forum

The 2013 mayoral candidates offer a thunderous applause following the end of the forum. Candidates discussed the state of Boston Public Schools and high school dropouts. (Photo: Bobby Shakes)

During last week’s forum at Roxbury Community College, the 12 candidates running to replace Mayor Thomas Menino were asked how they would reduce the number of high school dropouts and increase the number of jobs for those Boston Public Schools students with high school degrees.

As it is now, about 12,000 youth between 16 and 24 fall into that category, and while the number of dropouts has declined over the last six years, those numbers are starting to creep back up.

The answers from the candidates ranged from former state Rep. Charlotte Golar-Ritchie’s pledge to appoint a cabinet-level position dedicated to youth to City Councilor Mike Ross’ promise to improve school lunch.

Quite naturally, Ross received one of the loudest ovations of the night.

If everything was so simple. The problems surrounding the issues of high school dropout rates and underemployed youth are complicated and each of the candidates expressed their desire to close the achievement gaps and increase access to job training for the knowledge-based economy now growing in Boston. Partnering with private corporations was an oft-repeated goal, as was streamlining what was characterized as a bloated Boston Public Schools bureaucracy.

City Councilor Charles Yancey said the city needs to build a new high school while radio talk show host Charles Clemons urged all young people to become involved, register to vote and participate in politics.

But leave it to Bill Walczak, the co-founder of both the Codman Square Community Health Center and the Codman Academy Charter Public School, to hit a metaphysical note. “We have to give young people hope,” he said. “Without hope, young people tend to drop out. We need to create pathways to careers.”

City Councilor Arroyo knows first-hand what happens when a teenager loses hope. One of his brothers had lost hope and dropped out of high school, Arroyo told the crowd of about 200 people. But within a few years, Arroyo’s brother obtained his GED, went to college and is now a third-year student at Loyola Law School. For some students, Arroyo said, “Traditional schools don’t work. … But it doesn’t mean you can’t succeed if you don’t get a high school diploma.”

State Rep. Marty Walsh told his own story about losing hope. He said that his high school grades were not where they needed to be. As a result, he said, he attended a community college, improved his grades, and graduated from Boston College in 2009. “I was not a traditional student,” Walsh said.

John Barros grew up in Roxbury, the son of Cape Verdean immigrants. He excelled in school, attended Dartmouth and worked in Manhattan. But he came back to Roxbury in 2000 to run the Dudley Street Initiative Project as its executive director. Three years ago, he became the first Cape Verdean to serve on the Boston School Committee. “Youth leadership is my priority,” Barros said. “We have an antiquated system of public education so we need to change the system. Students need more voice and they should have a vote on the school committee.”

City Councilor Rob Consalvo’s answers were short and to the point. “The reason that I decided to run for mayor is to help people that need it the most,” Consalvo said. “I am about empowering young people.”

Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley also wasted few words. “We must grow the middle class,” he said. “We cannot be a city of the rich and poor. … We must improve instruction in math and sciences in order to create a real pipeline to jobs in the knowledge-based economy.”

The program was sponsored by Boston Opportunity Youth Collaborative, Multicultural Dropout Outreach Collaborative, Youth Transitions Task Force, Boston Opportunity Agenda, Freedom House and Boston Private Industry Council.

For young people like Charlestown High School student Ryan Gunter, 18, of Dorchester, this forum gives perspective and insight for a very big decision he and countless others will make come Sept. 24, 2013 — election day.

“I’m voting for the first time so I want to have a basic understanding of who these people are, what it is they stand for and what they’re trying to do in our city,” Gunter said.

Most interviewed by The Banner after the forum said they found it necessary and enlightening.

“I came to see what the mayoral candidates had to say and what they thought about youth and my future,” said Hawa Yusuf, 17, of Jamaica Plain. “There are so many things the Boston public school system lacks and they need to make better. I just want change, good change. We’re like a minority — the Somali community — and our voices are not being heard. We have ESL students who fall back in the system and it’s not their fault that they don’t know English.”

Youth advocate Eleanor Guilford, 26, said she too found the forum informative. “Now I know where the candidates’ heads are pertaining to the youth and what they’re going to do,” she said. “I’m not sure if everyone will follow through but it was good to hear what they think.”