Our Story

WHO ARE WE?

We are a class of 7th grade students from Josiah Quincy Upper School, and we are part of a program called Generation Citizen. Generation Citizen is a national nonprofit that works to ensure students in the United States receive an effective action civics education, which provides them with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in our democracy as active citizens. Our action project for this semester is working to pass Bill H. 119, an act to end child homelessness. Read below to learn about why we think this bill is so important to Massachusetts.

Learn more about youth homelessness in Boston!

We are trying to convince people to help the homeless people. I think this is important because a lot of people are homeless each year and they need our help. Its sad that families and adults are either out on the streets or are in shelters. One thing I like about Generation Citizen is that we are doing a project that helps people that are out in the streets. One thing I like about the project is that it’s not just helping Boston, we are helping the whole MA. I am excited that this whole project is going to be very great.

SABRINA

We are trying to make it so kids that are under 18 year old, and homeless people to not live on the streets in Massachusetts and hopefully nationwide. It is important because some times when you walk on the street you see many homeless people so we want to help there be very little homeless people in Massachusetts. I like that Generation Citizen is helping us learn about real life situations and that it helps the community by doing all kinds of things. I like that we can help the homeless people so we can make Massachusetts have less homeless people. I am excited about Lobby Day so we can probably meet some big names that made the Bill H.119.

JIMMY

We are trying to spread awareness to people who didn’t know the bill was there or what Bill H.119 really does to help low-income family. Bill H.119 is a prevention to end homelessness by preventing low-income families with a child eighteen or younger from being evicted. It will decrease the number of homeless children. I think it is important because it will give children, like me, will get a home to call home. It will reduce the number of homeless families getting evicted. I want Bill H.119 out of committee and to the Senate. I like Generation Citizen because we can impact our community by creating or changing the way we look at something. We can do hands on projects and learn more about politics and how some people in the world do this all day long.I like this project because we could pass this Bill H.119, and it is a statewide bill.

KEVIN

We are trying to convince people that we should help the homeless people. We trying to help the homeless by trying to convince rich people to help donate and pass Bill H.119. Bill H.119 is a bill that help families who are getting evicted. They can’t be evicted if they have a child that is younger than 18 and the government has to find a new place to live in first before families get evicted. I think it is important because there are a lot of people that are homeless out there and needs help from others. I like Generation Citizen because we get to learn and have fun at the same time. I like this project because I am a person that like to help others. I feel bad for them and I want to help them have a good life. I am excited about learning about the homeless and Lobby Day.

COREY

What my class is trying to do is to pass Bill H.119. I believe this is important because the bill is an act to end the increasing child homelessness in Massachusetts. It’s also important because child homelessness is decreasing in the country while here in Massachusetts it gets higher and higher. You’ll like this project because it helps prevent child homelessness. I like Generation Citizen because it lets young people feel like they matter. I’m really excited for this project because it’s for a good cause.

KAKO

We are trying to help the homeless and try to pass Bill H.119 to stop eviction and stop people getting on the streets. I think this is important because homeless is a huge problem in the Boston area and passing this bill would stop any eviction and homelessness. That is why passing this bill is very important. I like Generation Citizen because it tells us what we should do to change anything in the Boston area, or where we live. I like this project about homelessness because we can learn a lot and help a lot.

ETHAN

Our project is on child homelessness and how to prevent it with Bill H.119 so parents won’t be easily evicted from homes in MA, which has the highest homeless population. I think it is important because people shouldn’t have to live on the streets, surrounded around so much people and loud sounds of the city rather than relaxed and safe at their home. It’s important for children to think about rather than a job. What I like about Generation Citizen is it has my initials. What I love about our project getting homeless people jobs & homes. I am excited about getting a bill passed.

GEORGE

We are trying to get Bill H.119 passed. The reason why we are trying to get Bill H.119 passed is because of the effect it will have on Massachusetts. The meaning of Bill H.119 is to slow the eviction process to make sure the family has a place that is up to code to stay in before they get evicted. The reason why this important is because if passed it can prevent child homelessness. What I liked about Generation Citizen is in all honesty what we did at Tech Day.

DELANEY

My class is trying to pass Bill H.119. This bill is important because it can stop or end homelessness. Massachusetts is one of the highest states homelessness population and this bill can stop this. I like Generation Citizen class because I feel like I matter. I like this project because it’s for a good cause. HENRY

We are trying to pass Bill H.119 from the State House (right now it is sitting in committee), and convince Representative Kahn and Senator Flannigan it should become law. I think this topic is important because we can make a difference for homeless or becoming homelessness kids by passing the bill to give them a privilege to keep there home and not suffer as much. What I like about GC is that I got to zoom in more and get a better look at what is homelessness, and what are the different things that they do when they lose their house. What I like about this project is everything because I am learning alot about what is homelessness is really is. I am excited about being a representative to Civics Day.

NAYELISSE

We are trying to convince the State representatives to help homelessness. We want to stop low income families from getting evicted. Families are breaking apart in the shelter system, and they are being separated. It’s unhealthy for homeless to stay outside in the winter. It is important because the amount of homelessness is increasing. Bill H119 says that families with kids under 18 have to find a new home before they can get evicted. I like how we created infographics to show the amount of homeless being evicted. I also like how we are trying to decrease the amount of homelessness in Massachusetts. I’m excited about helping the homelessness and doing surveys. I am also very excited about “Lobby Day”.
QUEENIE

Our project is about homelessness,and we at trying to pull Bill H.119 out of the committee.We are making a day call “Lobby Day”. Lobby Day is when we invite people from all around Boston to come to the State House and agree to pull Bill 119 out of committee. We will also invite Rep. Kahn and Sen. Flanagan to the Lobby Day,because they are the one who are in charge of the committee with Bill H.119. It is important because this can stop homelessness and stop child from getting evicted by their landlord and it can stop homeless from rising. What I like about G.C is the Tech Day, because we learned how to handshake. I like the project because it can help people from starving to death. I am excited about the Lobby Day and Civic Day.
HOITING

We are trying to help the homelessness by convincing people to pass Bill H.119. I think it is important because it prevents people who are being evicted from being homeless. It gives people a chance to find a new place before getting kicked out. Something I like about Generation Citizen is that they can try to convince the government to help the people of Boston. I am excited to help convince people pass Bill H.119. I like that we are trying to help with something.

LAWRENCE

We are trying to pass Bill 119 to stop homelessness.Homelessness is a big problem because a whole family is statistically counted as 1 unit and 68% of the homeless are families. I like Generation Citizen because they help people in need.

BINTAO

We are trying to get the Bill H.119 out there so people can help us out with the homelessness by stopping families with children under the age of 18 from getting evicted.We are also trying to have a Lobby Day and go to the State House with a bunch people from around the state. I think this is important because we can change people’s lives and we are doing stuff that some people won’t do or can’t do. I am excited about Lobby Day because I will get to go to the State House and I never been there before, but also we will have that big meeting in the hall with all the people and our matching shirts. I just find it fun.

ZILLAH

We are trying to pass Bill H.119. This is important because bill 119 could prevent the growth of homelessness. The bill makes sure you find a new home before getting evicted and not ending up on the streets. I’m excited about Lobby Day and see if we could catch any attention or get any help.

HONGHUI

We are trying to pass Bill H.119 in Generation Citizen. If we pass Bill H.119 it can improve the percentage of homeless families and homeless individuals. The bill says no family with children under 18 shall not be evicted. One thing I like about Generation citizen is that when we focus one task we stick to it. I like that were helping homeless people find homes. I’m excited about Lobby Day and when we're going.

TANVIR

We are trying to pass Bill H.119 by going to a State House and present it to the people. We are trying to convince the government to pass Bill H.119. Bill H.119 is when someone is being evicted from their hotel or motel and the government help them by moving them to a new hotel. One thing I like about this project is that we are going to the State House to present the project about passing Bill H.119. One thing I like about Generation Citizen is that we are helping the homeless families to live homes not outside and passing the Bill H.119. One thing I am excited about is that we are supporting the homeless families so they won’t end up living outside.

AMANDA

We are trying to end child homelessness. To do that we have to convince the government to pass Bill H. 119. This is important because individual children aren’t even counted as homelessness. I liked that we went to Tech Day. I liked the project because we have a chance to help. I excited about going to Civics Day.

MATTHEW

We are trying to get Bill H.119 approve by the representatives.The bill is about children that are homeless.It is important because kids that are 18 and under and homeless are counted as one unit not as individuals. Another reason is that it isn’t safe or healthy for kids to be homeless. It also can cause physical, mental, and emotional problems for the children.One thing I like about GC is the project my class is working on.Also I like Tech Day. I like the presentations that my groups made on Tech Day because it showed how homelessness increased by 40% in MA and decrease -11% nationwide.

PAIGE

We're trying to get these decision makers, Representative Kahn and Senator Flanagan to pass Bill H.119. I think this is important because there are too many families being evicted and with this bill they won’t have to just pack up and leave. They can get a new safe home before they leave the house they were in. One thing I like about Generation Citizen is that they are actually trying to help the problem. One thing I like about this project is that we can actually help to make a difference. One thing I’m excited about is lessening the amount of homeless people and getting them into nice safe home.

LISANJI