About the Program
BDYC equips participants with life-skills that matter far beyond the program.
At its heart, BDYC is about taking young people seriously. Rooted in Creative Youth Development principles, the program invites youth into every aspect of dialogue creation and facilitation.
Monthly workshops and interim assignments provide tools to facilitate real community dialogues on topics they care about most.
The program culminates with six co-led community dialogues structured and facilitated to engage people with diverse perspectives.
We enroll 12 students annually, across grades 8-12.
Participants are paid
Participants build confidence to:
- Ask thoughtful questions
- Listen with genuine curiosity
- Stay calm and grounded in difficult conversations
- Create spaces that welcome every voice
- Develop self-awareness
- Feel part of something larger than themselves
- Contribute to a collaborative learning community
Working with the Beverly Dialogue Youth Corps has been nothing short of fulfilling. I never wanted to live a life without purpose or without giving back. Having personally experienced homelessness, food apartheid, and bill insecurity, I know the life-changing impact nonprofits can have.
Through the Beverly Dialogue Youth Corps, I’m able to have important conversations about the inequities in our society while creating space for civil and meaningful dialogue. Being part of this organization fills me with gratitude, not only for the work we do, but for the autonomy to share my perspective and be heard.
— E.L., BDYC Participant
Program Results Speak for Themselves
100% of BDYC members agreed that BDYC taught them how dialogue can bring people together for collaborative and civil conversations and felt prepared to facilitate dialogue on their own.
100% of community dialogue participants agreed that youth led dialogues:
What were you most excited about or proud of in terms of facilitating your community dialogue?
“To come away from the
dialogue with a concrete way
of addressing the issue”
“The ability to bring people
together to talk about topics
that don’t usually get
addressed”
“Creating a space where
different points of view could
be expressed and to be able
to hear from different age-
groups and positions in the
school (students, teachers,
admin, parents)”
“The ability to have heard from
an administrator and being
able to hear from teachers”
BDYC in Action
Anonymous Comments from BDYC Community Dialogue Participants
“I am taking away the power of dialogue to mitigate negative behavior and also establish a culture of respect.”
“The dialogue format created a great atmosphere for listening.”
“Please bring more of these to our school! More staff need to see these peaceful dialogues.”
“I would love to hear more about this training process for youth facilitating dialogues and/or possibly supporting this kind of work in my own classroom.”
“I can understand how dialogue can deepen relationship and a sense of belonging and help to build community.”
“We need a dialogue club at school!”
Join the Beverly Dialogue Youth Corps
Youth receive a stipend for their participation.
