It was an honor for us to welcome Mayor Wu to CMCB on Wednesday, July 24, for five student performances and a roundtable discussion with five of our youth leaders. 

Enzo, Jayden, Cassandra, Genevieve, and JeanCaleb started our day with five performances, ranging from early childhood songs to Beethoven Sonatas. Mayor Wu, an accomplished pianist herself, joined in cheering the students on.



Then, Mayor Wu gathered with five of our youth leaders for a stirring and heartfelt conversation about youth development, the arts, and the future of our city. Sahomi, Jades, Nate, JeanCaleb, and Henning asked Mayor Wu about the city’s plans for balancing development and gentrification in their neighborhoods, and about her views on leadership and her identity as the city’s first woman and person of color to win the office. They solicited her priorities around equity versus equality in the city, and sought what advice she would have to students and leaders in the city’s under-resourced schools. As Mayor Wu put it: “Oh, I see we’re starting with the easy ones!”



Some of the most striking moments came as Mayor Wu stayed late to ask: “What advice do you have for us in city government?”

“Keep listening to us. I feel like so often youth in America feel unheard, so I think continuing to listen, continuing to have talks like this is a great way to have things change and lead to a future that we all want to see.”
– JeanCaleb



“Having these conversations is a great way to be in touch with what the youth actually see for the future of Boston—but you also have to be supporting the things that youth are already doing, and going to them, and meeting them where they’re at. I think so many youth unfortunately fall through the cracks. People don’t see them. People don’t see their struggle. I think knowing where these pain points are and…addressing those issues is part of what we can do to support youth.”
– Sahomi



“First of all, my heart is so full. It’s a combination of awe and pride and inspiration. I’m so thankful and grateful to all of you for not just all the hard work you put into getting yourselves where you are academically and artistically, but from a community perspective as well. Once you are part of this Community Music Center family and the Boston family, we’re gonna hold on to you. So wherever you’re going know that the city has your back and we can’t wait to see all that you’ll accomplish!”
– Mayor Michelle Wu

Photography provided by the City of Boston Mayor’s Office.