January 15, 2026
By: Aaron Halls
We changed the name of F.Y.R.E: Here’s why.
A new year invites reflection, renewal, and the courage to evolve—and at YW Boston, that evolution is always rooted in purpose. We recently updated the name of our F.Y.R.E. program to more clearly reflect the mission and values of YW Boston, and the lived experiences of the young people we serve in F.Y.RE. This change is not cosmetic; it is intentional, affirming, and aligned with our commitment to equity and youth voices. Hear from F.Y.R.E. Director Jay Boss on why this shift matters, what it represents, and how it strengthens our work alongside F.Y.R.E. students as they continue to lead, learn, and thrive.
F.Y.R.E. once stood for Fierce Youth Reigniting Excellence, but you recently made a change—replacing “reigniting” with “reimagining.” Can you talk about why you decided to make this change?
Jay: For me, the phrase “reigniting excellence” unintentionally implies a deficit narrative… the idea that girls and gender-expansive youth of color were once excellent and at some point lost motivation or direction and now they need our support to “get back on track,” while the phrase “reimagining excellence” can acknowledge that girls of color have always been excellent even though the system was not built for them and creates barriers that make it difficult to stay motivated or on track.
Can you share more about what reimagining excellence looks like to you?
Jay: Reimagining excellence for our girls and gender-expansive youth of color is about redefining and challenging traditional standards and systems that have historically attached excellence to productivity and achievements. It’s about creating a space for girls and gender-expansive youth of color to be seen, heard, and valued for who they are… EXCELLENT… and make space for multiple ways of seeing themselves as excellent as they are taking steps to identify barriers and dismantle systems that have told them they are not.
As we begin 2026, what are some aspects of the F.Y.R.E. program you’re excited about?
Jay: We are excited to bring more wellness-focused programming to FYRE this year, which beautifully ties into our existing curriculum on change and advocacy. This year we have introduced a wellness framework, The 8 Dimensions of Wellness, which offers a wholistic view of well-being. The goal of this is to affirm for participants that they deserve wellness, joy, and liberation in every dimension of their lives.
As we move into 2026, we get to dive deeper into some of the most rewarding aspects of the program. We spend a lot of the first half of the school year building rapport, creating safe and brave spaces, and becoming a community. Now we get into the “meat” (or “tofu” for the vegans and vegetarians) of our program: conversations about their identities, examining how systems of power, privilege and oppression impact their wellness, and this is where we really begin to “reimagine excellence.” To reimagine themselves, their schools, their relationships, and their communities as spaces where their full humanity is seen and valued, and their power to create change is realized.
About F.Y.R.E.
F.Y.R.E (Fierce Youth Reimagining Excellence) is a weekly in-school empowerment and leadership program for middle school girls and gender-expansive youth of color in the Greater Boston area. Learn more here.
