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星期三, 8月 20, 2014

Being the Change: Boston Youth Learn to Help Create Healthier Communities

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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