Student Leadership & Civic Engagement

Watertown students have been actively building leadership and civic engagement skills this spring. Wayside Multi-Service Center Program Director, Sophia Suarez-Friedman was invited to speak on a panel and hold circle discussions on March 16th for a group of Watertown High School students participating in Harvard’s Emerging Leaders Program: Leadership in Community. Sophia shared about her leadership journey

and answered questions to support the students' civic action projects. Several Watertown students will present their work at Harvard on May 5th.

Watertown middle school students also showcased their civic learning at the Watertown Middle School Civic Action Project Fair on March 26th. Thank you to all the 8th graders who stopped by to learn more about Wayside Multi. For more information, contact Christina_Lupica@waysideyouth.org

Students at the State House: Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) Day on the Hill

Watertown Youth Coalition members accompanied 8 Watertown High School (WHS) students to the state house on March 30th for the MASC Day on the Hill, an event full of learning, advocacy, and engagement on current issues shaping public education.

Students spent the morning learning about school budget updates and future plans for districts across the state. Lunch was prepared for attendees by a variety of high school vocational and culinary programs. Despite meeting only once a week in a non-commercial kitchen, Watertown Culinary Program rose to meet the same standards as programs that meet daily in commercial kitchens, to be invited to cater the event. Students from Watertown Podcast club also attended, filming the event and interviewing school committee members, state representatives, and chefs.

Helping Teens Prepare for Employment

On April 1st, Watertown Youth Coalition partnered with the Watertown Public Schools (WPS) Teen Advisory Board and Watertown Free Public Library to host a Teen Employment Workshop. Participants self-selected into four stations: mock interviews, resume support, LinkedIn skills, and completing job applications to local businesses hiring teens.

Students who visited all stations were entered into a Dunkin' gift card raffle. Due to the strong turn out, WYC is exploring the idea of hosting another workshop. 


Interested in planning events like this?

Wayside's Navigating to Emotional Wellness Program (NEW) continues to make a meaningful impact on youth and families through accessible, trauma-focused care. Our evaluation partner, Brandeis University, reports that youth participating in the program have demonstrated improvements in overall mental health and functioning, along with decreases in severe mental health symptoms over time.

To date, NEW has screened 270 youth for trauma and provided direct therapeutic services to 160 youth across Watertown and Waltham.

In addition to supporting individual youth and families, the program has delivered trainings to over 300 professionals and community members, strengthening community organizations' capacity to understand the effects of trauma and implement trauma-informed approaches.

Want to Refer a Youth?

The Navigating Emotional Wellness (NEW) Program increases access to mental health services for youth and families who have experienced a traumatic event (defined as a difficult or upsetting experience that affects daily life) to bridge the gap between referral and service delivery.


Services are available for youth ages 6-22 in Watertown or Waltham.


Cost of Services = FREE

In March, Belmont Wellness Coalition (BWC)'s Student Mental Health Advocates (SMHA) hung out with the Therapy Dogs at Belmont High School, who visit on Fridays, during lunch periods. They enrolled their peers to answer the question: “How do you cope with stress?” and received an impressive number of responses.

This month, they will ask: “Who is your trusted adult at BHS?”

For more information about SMHA, please email Tom_Colucci@waysideyouth.org

New Tip Sheet: Substance Misuse Strategies for Student Athletes & Their Parents



Check out the latest Belmont Wellness Coalition tip sheet with tools and advice to help student athletes avoid substance misuse and understand the risks. This tip sheet also provides parents of athletes with conversation starters, warning signs, and more ways to encourage their teen to make healthy choices.

Need Support? We're Here For You

If you’re a Watertown resident between the ages of 18–59, our Social Services Resource Program is here to help. We can assist you in accessing a wide range of local resources, including: