Being the Change: Boston Youth Learn to Help
Create Healthier Communities
148 teens graduate from health careers &
education summer courses
BOSTON—
For
many teens, the summer months are an opportunity to relax and unwind away from
the classroom atmosphere. However, for 148 teens that participated in summer
enrichment programs at the Boston Public Health Commission, the learning never
stopped.
For
teens throughout Boston, the last six weeks have provided an opportunity to
learn about a variety of health careers, public health topics and how to make
positive changes in their communities. Participants were recognized for their
hard work at a graduation ceremony last Thursday, August 14, at the Prince Hall
Grand Lodge in Dorchester.
“We view young
people as valuable partners in creating a healthier city,” said Dr. Barbara
Ferrer, the Commission’s executive director. “Our summer programs offer a
chance to share and reinforce important health information, but also show teens
how rewarding health careers can be. The programs also offer leadership skills
and support to help keep teens motivated for the coming school year,’’ added
Dr. Ferrer.
Supported by the Boston Youth Fund, the summer enrichment programs
work with teens entering grades 9 through 12. The initiative focuses on
empowerment and education through different training programs: the Boston Area
Health Education Center’s Youth 2 Health Careers program (Y2HC), the Peer
Leadership Institute, Start Strong, and the Violence Intervention &
Prevention program. The motivational theme for this summer was based on Mahatma
Gandhi’s quote “Be the Change that you wish to see in the world.”
BAHEC’s
Youth to Health Careers (Y2HC) program aims to increase the diversity of youth
pursuing careers in health. This summer, 75 Boston teens learned about a broad
range of health occupations through coursework and job shadowing at Boston
Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), Brigham and
Women’s Hospital, Tufts School of Dental Medicine, as well as a number of
programs within the Commission.
The
Peer Leadership Institute trained teens as expert peer health educators, and
emphasized their responsibility as role models in the community. Forty students
participated in workshops and discussions on substance abuse prevention, sexual
health education, and health equity. In partnership with Emerson College, the
40 students also developed and designed health education materials on a range
of topics.
Another
25 students worked as part of the Start Strong Initiative to develop tools and
organize events, including the annual Break-Up Summit,
that empowers young people to build healthy relationships and develop conflict
resolution skills.
“The
young men and women who have given their summer to advancing themselves and
their community should be proud of all they’ve accomplished,” said Dr.
Philomena Asante, a pediatrician and newly-appointed Director of the Child and
Adolescent Health Division of BPHC. “They are leaders and role models now, and
we believe they will make great contributions to the health of their
communities in the future.”
The
Commission’s summer enrichment programs have served more than 10,000 teens over
35 years by helping young people become local health leaders, serve their
communities through activism, and enter college.
For
more information on the Commission’s various youth programs, visit bphc.org/bahec.
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