Staff Blog Week 2

By Serge Ganthier – Teaching Artist Assistant, Music

 

Week 2 of City Spotlights was truly one for the books. The Teen Leaders had an incredibly successful week filled with learning, collaboration, and big moments of growth.

They finally found out who their workshop group members are, learned the group song written by the Music Specialty, met with state legislators during our annual visit to the Massachusetts State House, and perhaps most excitingly, began their flashmob training!

Compared to last week, there was noticeable growth. The Teen Leaders have become more comfortable with one another and are collaborating more than ever. With many returning participants this year, they brought valuable experience knowing how to navigate the program and make the most of the resources available. They also stepped up to support new Teen Leaders who are just beginning their journey with the Boch Center and its programs.

This week also included their first big performance, which meant it was time to “lock in” and bring their best. They learned the Music Specialty’s original alt-pop song “Way Up”, and rehearsed scripts they had written during their Advocacy block with Mama Che, Jasmine, Nini, and K’Danse. On July 16, 2025, they visited the Massachusetts State House, where they met with legislators, spoke about their theme of Immigration, and advocated for their rights, specifically in relation to the political climate in Boston, the association of President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill Act, and ICE. After their performance, they had a Q&A session and snapped a photo together to mark the occasion.

Another major highlight: Flashmob is back! Tayla returned to teach the teens brand-new choreography for the summer...and they were all in. Watching them dance with excitement to KATSEYE, Lady Gaga, and the Black Eyed Peas was truly heartwarming.

To top it all off, the teens had their first opportunity to share the work they’ve been creating in their Specialty blocks. Seeing each other’s progress sparked inspiration across the group and deepened their commitment to growing together as a team.

Here’s to another successful week and many more to come this summer!