Mattapan Food + Fitness Coalition
The Vigorous Youth Program has long been a vital part of Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition (MFFC); empowering young people to lead, advocate, and make a difference in their community. From workshops and civic engagement activities to hands-on initiatives like Mattapan on Wheels and the farm stand, the program blends personal growth, leadership development, and community activism. Our work together focused on strengthening and clarifying the program’s framework, structure, and materials—making it easier for youth, staff, partners, and funders to understand, support, and help grow the program moving forward.
Through a review of program documents, conversations with staff and partners, and a youth-driven engagement process, we helped define the key tenets that make the Vigorous Youth Program so powerful. We also developed tools to better support youth leadership over time, from clearer role descriptions to a refined outcomes framework. With these updates, MFFC is well-positioned to continue nurturing a generation of leaders equipped with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to create lasting change in Mattapan and beyond.
Clarified and strengthened the program’s framework and materials to ensure youth, staff, partners, and funders can more easily understand, support, and scale the Vigorous Youth Program.
Identified and articulated the program’s core strengths through document review, partner input, and a youth-centered engagement process.
Developed practical tools to support sustained youth leadership, including refined role descriptions and an updated outcomes framework aligned with long-term impact.
