Hello Carol,

As we near the end of July, with August right around the corner, thoughts and plans for the upcoming school year may start to make their way in. It's good to plan ahead, and remember to take a breath, try to relax and enjoy the summer!

Many of you may be getting your graduates ready for their next chapter. This is always a bittersweet time for us as well. A time for transition and new beginnings.... and a time for us all to reflect and appreciate how much each of our Graduates have grown through their years with the YAB and how much of an impact they made.

This year we had 9 YAB seniors graduate. We cannot fully express how proud we are of these graduates, and how blessed we have been to have had them as part of the YAB team. These amazing young people have dedicated countless hours of their time and talents to support BBCC, the YAB, and their schools and community. All to make life better for their peers.

And, the youth in our community need support and we need your help with this.

Every two years we ask people, like you, to take a brief survey that provides us with important information regarding parental and adult community member opinions and attitudes regarding underage substance use and mental health issues in our community.

Your answers to this survey will be used to help us design initiatives and programs to support the community.

This survey is anonymous, and all of the responses will be aggregated.

This survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete if you are a parent, and less than 5 minutes, if you are an adult community member. Click here to take the survey.

Please share this with other adult and parent community members. We need as many responses as possible to guide us in doing our best work on behalf of our youth.

Thank you!

Wishing you a wonderful rest of your summer!

Stay safe, stay healthy,

Carol & Kelly

Carol Mastroianni

executive director

Kelly Michaud

youth program coordinator

Andrew Riordan

Brother Rice High School

Youth Action Board member since 2020

YAB Student Leader Position:

Co-Vice President 2023-2024

Lasting Impressions:

"I have enjoyed the opportunity to help kids in my peer group at other schools. It has been a meaningful place to effect positive change in my community. Bringing kids together who might not otherwise meet for the purpose of improving the adolescent community's health is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. We are from all different faiths and backgrounds but share a purpose to promote positive behaviors among our peer group in the Birmingham Bloomfield area. I have met some great people through the Youth Action Board. Through our discussions, I have learned a lot about my peers and have increased awareness of their problems and struggles. It has made me more conscious of other people’s needs."

"My favorite part about the YAB was the Choices event, where our speaker Kenny had a great speech about drug use and how to confront personal issues."

Future Plans:

After spending the summer as a sailing Instructor in Northern Michigan, Andrew will be attending Wayne State University in the Fall, where he hopes to pursue Dentistry.

Elizabeth (Libby) Harst

Bloomfield Hills High School

Youth Action Board member since 2022

Lasting Impressions:

“The Youth Action Board is a meaningful place to me because it provides a space where high school students can discuss issues that are not brought up nearly enough in schools, in an environment where everyone there truly cares. The YAB allows students to put their thoughts and worries into words. Sharing how we think and feel with others in a safe way can help us to find others who may feel the same so we can make friends we relate to. In my life before YAB, I did not talk with my friends very often when I felt like I was struggling or simply had a bad day. Those thoughts were often kept to myself. Joining YAB has been very helpful to me in opening up to others just by listening to others as they open up in group discussions. This makes YAB a special part of my life."

"My favorite part about YAB is the people I have met or brought with me to meetings. I think it's really special that you can go from laughing and joking with someone right before having an important conversation about teen mental health. That shows that we as teens and students can both have mature discussions and joke around in conversation, and it's always good to have this kind of balance."

Future Plans: 

After babysitting, coaching, playing softball, and spending time with friends for much of this summer, Libby will attend the University of Michigan in the fall where she plans to major in Psychology, where she hopes one day to do research related to child development.

Lana Dixson

Groves High School

Youth Action Board member since 2020

Lasting Impressions:

“The Youth Action Board has been a place for me to connect with people my age and make new relationships within the community while all having the same goals - save the youth from alcohol and other substances. The YAB is special because every time I have stepped in the meeting room, I instantly felt welcomed. This is a place where all voices are heard and respected. It has impacted me in the best way. I use my voice way more."

"My favorite memory was Choices 2023. It was my first Choices as well as the first one back since Covid. This day stands out because it was a room full of students who were being touched in a positive way. "

Future Plans:

Lana will be attending Parsons School of Design in New York City, where she will be studying interior design. "In New York there are endless opportunities to be involved with the community, so I hope to find a club like YAB and more! "

BBCC is able to offer programs, such as, the YAB and CHOICES,

because of caring individuals and local businesses.

Thank you for your support!