YW Boston

Jay Boss (they/them/theirs), is the F.Y.R.E Initiative Program Director at YW Boston. The F.Y.R.E Initiative (Fierce Youth Reigniting Excellence) is an empowerment and leadership program for middle school girls of color and gender-expansive youth in Greater Boston. It uses dialogue and experiential learning to focus on positive self-identity and social-emotional skills, as well as social justice and civic engagement. Through the development of their sense of self, the understanding of their own agency and autonomy, and their increased capacity for advocacy, participants create a community action project that addresses the disparities and inequities that directly impact them at the intersections of their race and gender.

Before YW Boston, Jay served as the Program Director for Girls Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas. They also held roles in education and outreach, teaching, and coaching. Jay has a degree in Early Childhood Education and Teaching.