Cambridge combines art and social justice to give young people their own space

CAMBRIDGE – A new program combines social justice, art and shade, giving Cambridge teens a place to hang out during the hot summer months.

A place in the shade

“It’s really nice to have a place where we can just sit in the shade and talk. And there’s usually some food there and stuff,” said Cole Shiavo.

In spaces called “Shade” – structures designed by a local youth committee of the same name – teenagers can find hammocks, bean bags and even outdoor movies.

“They are going through the same things we are going through, so they know better what we need than the people who just sit in city hall,” Shiavo said.

The committee spearheads the city’s social program “Shade,” which is funded by grants and support from the city’s health and community development departments.

“We are looking at how we can bring more shade to the city of Cambridge… in collaboration with artists and creatives,” said Claudia Zarazua, planning director for arts and culture for the City of Cambridge.

Supporting teenage mental health

“There are some hotter areas. When you overlay that with historical redlining maps, you can really see the connection where discriminatory policies have led to increased heat stress,” Zarazua said.

Zarazua is working closely with Jeff Goldenson, founder of Cambridge-based nonprofit Buildingsway, who hopes the initiative will benefit teen mental health.

“Teen mental health is in crisis… Creating a space by teens for teens is public health and creates something that teens need. And having the funding to do it has made this project a game-changer,” Goldson said.

Young people manage the project

The organizations give teenagers the responsibility to decide what is best for them.

“I just love working in the community and helping kids,” said Giancarlo, the program’s co-director who helped design and build the structures, including the one at Donnelly Field. “I remember when I was in high school, there was no place to hang out with my friends except on the side of the road. Sometimes people complain about kids loitering. This gives them a place to come. The kids know, OK, Shade, so next year when we do it again, they’ll want to come back.”

There are structures at Jill Brown-Rhone Park, Donnelly Field and Russell Field. The structures will be dismantled in September, but organizers hope to revive the program next summer.