Rossie Reps Youth Council

The group began in April of 1998 to engage youth from all around Roslindale in planning social and recreational activities for themselves. The group quickly became involved in community service projects. Now, they are a welcome presence in Roslindale, assisting at every promotional event of Roslindale Village Main Street. Rossie Reps assist Santa and the Easter Bunny, paint the faces of young children, assist them with arts and crafts projects, serve refreshments and set up and clean up.

Another community activity is the Senior/Teen Sharing Days. The youth enjoy the time they spend with the elderly residents of Roslindale House, playing board games, having good conversation and sharing stories.  They learn a lot from the seniors and to show their appreciation, they have a Christmas party for them.  They cook and serve a full dinner, sing carols, decorate, play trivia and make wreaths together. These are just some of the service projects; they are involved in all programs of Healthy Roslindale.

Every year since the beginning of Rossie Reps, professional youth and health specialists have trained members on many health topics such as tobacco, alcohol and drug education, healthy relationships, conflict resolution, violence prevention and environmental concerns. Part of the training always includes presentation and advocacy skills. Many have become quite adept and comfortable speaking in public.

With their newly acquired knowledge, members develop workshops and conduct them to other after school and youth groups in the neighborhood, and make presentations at community forums.  Further, they reach out to the community by conducting art contests, writing letters to the editors of local newspapers, making PowerPoint presentations, conducting surveys, leading small group discussions and distributing important information at community events.

Social and recreational events continue to be a key ingredient in the success of the Rossie Reps Youth Council.  Two special highlights of the year are the ski trip with the Youth Enrichment Program and the trip to an amusement/water park provided by the Boston Police Department.  The Reps also go bowling, to arcades, to the movies, and out to dinner.

Young people wishing to join the Rossie Reps Youth Council should call (617) 325-9022 to express their interest.  The group meets Wednesdays on school days from 4 – 6 pm at the Bethany First United Church, 100 Cummins Highway.

Special Highlights

The Rossie Reps…

Hosted the Boston Public Health Commission’s Roslindale Neighborhood Youth Health Meeting – a Speak Out on issues impacting the lives of teenagers.

Developed and produced a PSA on Teens and Tobacco with five other city youth groups, as part of a joint Health Disparities Project of the Boston Alliance for Community Health.

Testified before the Boston City Council on the need to set guidelines on Tobacco Advertising.

Surveyed tobacco advertising on storefronts in Roslindale.

Developed skits about domestic violence for presentation at the Annual Meeting and the Candlelight Vigil.

Presented workshops to youth on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Spoke at the Massachusetts Organizing for Addiction Recovery (MOAR) Public Policy Forum.

Presented a PowerPoint presentation they developed at the Massachusetts Banding Together on Alcohol Advertising (MBTAA) Conference.

Rossie Reps Will Romain was presented a Community Service Award by Youth Enrichment Services (YES).

Special guests of Senator Marian Walsh at her Annual Harvest Breakfast.

Awards

Boston Police Department District 5 Community Service Awards were presented to two members at National Night Out 2008

• Julie Romain, a college student, remains active with Rossie Reps serving as a key leader and mentor to the youth.
• Will Romain, a high school senior, is considered the “Most Dedicated” Rossie Rep.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program, presented the Greater Boston Youth Leadership Award to:

• Anthony White, a high school junior, is very active in the tobacco control movement in Roslindale and Boston, conducting strategies to reduce tobacco advertising targeting youth.

Full four-year scholarship was awarded by Suffolk University to:

• Aniela Petani, graduate of Boston Latin Academy

National Honor Society at English High School:

• Will Romain