As RYiA enters a period of organizational reflection and realignment, we’ve been holding a series of youth-centered listening sessions throughout the year. These gatherings are part of our commitment to grounding our future programming in the real experiences, needs, and dreams of Revere youth.
Each session invites a different group of young people into the conversation, from high school students to those in their 20s and beyond, to share what matters most to them. These insights are essential to helping us reimagine RYiA’s offerings and ensure they stay relevant, and rooted in our community.
Our most recent session, Spring Into Action, focused on young adults (ages 20–30) who currently live in or grew up in Revere. In addition to rich conversations about identity, support, and belonging, participants also enjoyed a relaxing bouquet-making activity to welcome the Spring season.
We plan to continue these listening sessions throughout the year as we build toward a refreshed and community-informed vision for RYiA. Whether you’ve been part of RYiA in the past or you’re just getting to know us, we invite you to join us, share your perspective, and help shape what comes next.
Listening Sessions:
Shaping the Future of RYiA With Our Community
June 2025 - Written by Sor TiengOn Friday, April 25, 2025, we opened our doors for something brand new, our very first Free Store event!
We created the Free Store to celebrate Earth Day and to show what’s possible when we come together as a community. In a time when many of us are feeling the weight of national decisions that don’t reflect our values, this event was our way of pushing back with care, dignity, and collective action.
Over 500 items were donated by our community: clothing, shoes, accessories, and books for all ages, sizes, seasons, and genders. With every item that was rehomed, preloved goods were given a second life. But this wasn’t just about giving things away, it was about reminding our community of our endless abundance. When we share what we already have, we reduce waste, challenge consumerism, and build something powerful: community care in action.
There were so many meaningful moments throughout the day. Someone found the perfect dress for their birthday. A parent left with clothes for their whole family to get ready for summer. These were clear reminders that we already have enough when we support one another.
The event was such a success that we decided to keep the Free Store open for an extra week! Word spread quickly, and more community members came by to pick up items, share stories, and connect. With that, we collected a bunch of contacts from folks who are excited to donate in the future.
This was just the beginning. Thank you to everyone who donated, showed up, helped out, or simply spread the word. Together, we proved that care, abundance, and resistance can take shape as a Free Store and we can’t wait to do it again.
A Celebration of Abundance
June 2025 - Written by Sor Tieng