In high school I served as my neighborhood representative on the Mayor’s Youth Council.  My two years were the second and third years of Mayor Menino’s youth council.  It was such an awesome experience.  Our group problem solved problems we felt teens faced and made a real tangible difference.  During my tenure we successfully had the hours of student T passes extended and created what is now the Mayor’s Youth Line- a resource of youth service that is now online (then a call in service).  I met lots of great people I still connect with, and learned a lot about how city government works.  I saw first hand Mayor Menino’s love for Boston.  I truly believe one of the reasons we still live in the city- and our kids go to public school- is because of what I learned then.

With Mayor Menino leaving office soon, there have been lots of tributes.  Our group was amongst them.  There was a reunion held and it was such a great time.  I reconnected with old friends and was reminded again of why this experience made such an impact on my life.  The Mayor was clearly moved by the tributes, and those of us on the older end, were moved by his words telling us that it was us- not him- who made the changes Boston needed for youth.  He seemed to not want to leave, and stayed to take pictures with all of us.