Boston and Waltham’s More than Words helping kids with history of homelessness, court issues succeed – WCVB Boston

Students experiencing housing insecurity are more likely to miss time in school as they face challenges that often make it difficult to keep up with their education. More than Words is a Massachusetts organization aimed at helping those young people gain critical life skills and work experience.Empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of the business, two-year employee Luis Carlos Pacheco said. In a nook tucked into a block off the Expressway in Boston's South End, youll find More than Words, where a new chapter for youth who have been homeless or in the court system begins.My mental health was just deteriorating just because of everything that I was going through -- with just being homeless and not knowing where I was going to sleep next, Pacheco said.More than Words is a nonprofit group run by 16- to 24-year-olds who sell books at their retail store that doubles as an event space.The on-site warehouse collects and tracks and catalogs 4 million donated books annually, plus clothing, and sells most of them online. Pacheco's interest in fashion is growing that part of the operation.I feel very proud because it's become such an essential part of the business now, he said.The youths are working on their lives while working for a living.Advocacy Associate Director John DePina has an invaluable role in helping Pacheco and his other young colleagues with court advocacy and housing, where showing up and taking part is a huge piece of finding success for their future.Being able to see young people move forward in their lives and say I have overcome things, now I have a community, now I have a group. I belong. I matter. I know that I can do better. I will do better. It makes me happy to do my job, DePina said. After they helped me with my housing, and they just kept giving me more support with that, More than Words has become an essential part of my life and an essential part of why I am in this spot that I am today, Pacheco said. In the 18 years since More than Words began in Waltham and opened a second location in Boston, they have helped hundreds of young people find their way.WCVB United Way 50 Years Fund: Click here to donateOur 50 Years Fund, powered by The United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley is designed to ensure that youth have the resources to achieve their educational and career goals. Conceived and supported by WCVB employees, the 50 Years Fund will focus on the cause of our generation social and economic justice touching our entire community.Through the generosity of our viewers and your support, we intend to grant at least 5 capacity building gifts of $100,000 each to organizations doing the work in cities and towns in the WCVB viewing area. The 50 Years Fund is committed to making a substantial service impact for the beneficiaries, continuing WCVB Channel 5s legacy as community resource making a positive change in the lives of the people we serve.

Students experiencing housing insecurity are more likely to miss time in school as they face challenges that often make it difficult to keep up with their education.

More than Words is a Massachusetts organization aimed at helping those young people gain critical life skills and work experience.

Empowering youth to take charge of their lives by taking charge of the business, two-year employee Luis Carlos Pacheco said.

In a nook tucked into a block off the Expressway in Boston's South End, youll find More than Words, where a new chapter for youth who have been homeless or in the court system begins.

My mental health was just deteriorating just because of everything that I was going through -- with just being homeless and not knowing where I was going to sleep next, Pacheco said.

More than Words is a nonprofit group run by 16- to 24-year-olds who sell books at their retail store that doubles as an event space.

The on-site warehouse collects and tracks and catalogs 4 million donated books annually, plus clothing, and sells most of them online. Pacheco's interest in fashion is growing that part of the operation.

I feel very proud because it's become such an essential part of the business now, he said.

The youths are working on their lives while working for a living.

Advocacy Associate Director John DePina has an invaluable role in helping Pacheco and his other young colleagues with court advocacy and housing, where showing up and taking part is a huge piece of finding success for their future.

Being able to see young people move forward in their lives and say I have overcome things, now I have a community, now I have a group. I belong. I matter. I know that I can do better. I will do better. It makes me happy to do my job, DePina said.

After they helped me with my housing, and they just kept giving me more support with that, More than Words has become an essential part of my life and an essential part of why I am in this spot that I am today, Pacheco said.

In the 18 years since More than Words began in Waltham and opened a second location in Boston, they have helped hundreds of young people find their way.

WCVB United Way 50 Years Fund: Click here to donate

Our 50 Years Fund, powered by The United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley is designed to ensure that youth have the resources to achieve their educational and career goals. Conceived and supported by WCVB employees, the 50 Years Fund will focus on the cause of our generation social and economic justice touching our entire community.

Through the generosity of our viewers and your support, we intend to grant at least 5 capacity building gifts of $100,000 each to organizations doing the work in cities and towns in the WCVB viewing area. The 50 Years Fund is committed to making a substantial service impact for the beneficiaries, continuing WCVB Channel 5s legacy as community resource making a positive change in the lives of the people we serve.

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Boston and Waltham's More than Words helping kids with history of homelessness, court issues succeed - WCVB Boston