Dorchester, MA (April 18, 2008)- Continually bombarded by both smoking and anti-smoking advertisements, teens from the DotWell Teen Center are taking a fresh approach to the anti-smoking campaign.  Members of The 84, which represents the percentage of Massachusetts’ teens who do not use tobacco, will create art projects at the Dorchester House during April vacation to demonstrate why they refrain from tobacco use.  Eighty-four art projects will be on display at The 84 Art Exhibit to be held Saturday, May 10^th from 10-1pm in the Dorchester House gym. 

By engaging their peers in thinking about the things they are able to do because they do not smoke, Teen Center participants hope that they will convince other teens that smoking is not a worthwhile habit.  During vacation art supplies will be available in the Teen Tutoring Center for members of the community, ages 13-19 to make collages, sculptures, paintings, and drawings representing why they are a part of The 84.  Eighty-four projects created by DotWell program participants and other members of the community May 10^th in the Dorchester House gym and eighty-four dollars will be awarded to the first prize-winner.

The DotWell Teen Center is a drop-in after school program for 13-to-18-year-olds at Dorchester House, a community health center in the Field’s Corner area of Dorchester. An average of 20 teens attend the drop-in program each day, and it serves an approximately 150 teens each school year.  The diverse group includes teens from various ethnic backgrounds, including African American, Vietnamese, Cape Verdean, and Latino students. Teens in the program participate in a regular schedule of recreational healthy activities, including sports, swimming, cooking lessons, and workshops on mental and physical wellness. The main initiative of the program is to promote health and wellness among teens in the Dorchester community, and relate the importance of good health to success in all areas, including education.

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On Wednesday, April 2nd the DotWell Teen Tutoring Center participants conducted health education outreach and advocacy in Fields Corner.  Armed with 84 branded products that they received from the MA Department of Public Health they visited local schools, community organizations, and stopped strangers on the street to spread the message that 84% of MA teens choose not to use tobacco.  Teens enjoyed handing out premiums and convincing other teens to visit the84.org to learn more about the 84 crew. 

The TTC will be open during April vacation for teens to make art projects representing why they don't smoke tobacco.  An art exhibit focused on spreading awareness of the 84 will take place at the Dorchester House on Saturday, May 10th from 10am-1pm.  The TTC is hoping to acquire 84 art projects for the art exhibit and plans on awarding $84 to the first prize winner.  Come join the 84 and spread the word that most teens choose not to smoke.

Seven teens from the DotWell Teen Tutoring Center visited the Museum of Science on Monday, March 17th.  Maria Cabrera, a Tax Clinic volunteer, graciously helped the Teen Center obtain free admitance tickets for the teens.  All of the teens said that the electricity show was the highlight of the trip, and some even asked thier chaperones if they could watch the show a second time before leaving for the day.  Thank you to Maria Cabrera for helping the Teen Center participants visit one of Boston's most interesting museums.

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
February 21, 2007

For More Information, contact:
Grace Ejiwale, Youth Program Coordinator
617-822-2897, GEjiwale@scidorchester.org

Teens Show “Tony” They Know What Domestic Violence Means and How to Help a Friend Get Out of an Abusive Relationship

On Saturday, February 9^th a room full of teenagers, mostly girls, criticized “Tony” for controlling, hitting, and intimidating his girlfriend. The teens were able to define physical, verbal, and sexual abuse, identified reasons why Tony might be harming his girlfriend, and made coherent arguments for why she should leave him. The scene could have easily been an episode of Jerry Springer, but it actually took place at during a workshop at the Fourth Annual Safe Love Event.

Over 150 teens and 40 volunteers from the Boston-area gathered for an interactive and educational evening despite the inclement weather. Teens were greeted by 18 community organizations including DotWell’s Teen Tutoring Center, Nutritionist, and HIV Testing Van. The Testing Van received eight clients in an hour and half, a huge success according to its operator.  LaWanda Jones, a Safe Love volunteer for the last two years, noted that “there was a lot of new information this year and the participants were of more diverse backgrounds” than in years past.

Safe Love was a free event open to teens ages 14 to 18 years old.  After the resource fair, a dance featuring a performance by Power Fam from the Dorchester Youth Collaborative and DJed by DotWell’s Greg Bellamy kept teens entertained and engaged for the remainder of the evening. Power Fam’s presence could not be ignored as the group’s members took turns krumping and moving around the gym to engage all attendees in celebrating Safe Love, fitness, and healthy choices.

Thank you for all the donations from local business such as Nikisha’s Roti shop and D’ Benny’s; JayCee Business and JayCee DJ & Bartending Business; Artist For Humanity and Apple Bee’s; Jimmy & Sons and Billy’s Texas BBQ for bringing a greater light to Safe Love.

The SCI Dorchester Youth Council is a group of young leaders that meet once a week to discuss new and exciting activities for youth to better their community.  Council members encourage other youth to become community leaders and help solve the problems of today’s youth.

SCI Dorchester is coordinated through a partnership between Social Capital Inc. (SCI) and DotWell. Major funding for SCI Dorchester comes from the Boston Globe Foundation and the Lenny Zakim Fund. The Massachusetts Service Alliance and Sovereign Bank also fund the Dorchester Youth Council.

For more information about Safe Love please visit our website at www.mydorchester.org

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