On a Monday night in Cohasset, while many teenagers are finishing homework, heading to sports practice, or winding down, a group of students gathers to talk openly about mental health, substance use and the pressures facing their peers. Known as the Cohasset Youth Ambassadors, the youth-led program empowers middle and high school students to take an active role in prevention, education, and community leadership.
“If we’re going to do effective prevention work, we need to get youth involved,” said Emily Ludwig, Program Coordinator.
Through school programs, partnerships with local businesses, and townwide events, the group works to foster a strong and inclusive community that encourages educated and responsible choices about drug and alcohol use.
These Cohasset students have good reason to continue their work and feel hopeful for the future. According to the 2025 findings from the Monitoring the Future study at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, “alcohol use continued a long-term decline in all three grades for lifetime and past 12-month use.” The study looks at adolescents in 8th, 10th, and 12th grade. Here’s what the Cohasset Youth Ambassadors have to say about the program and its impact.
What is the Cohasset Youth Ambassadors program?
“Cohasset Youth Ambassadors is a town-led, youth-led coalition that focuses on three main things, mainly mental health, substance abuse, and alcohol use,” said Sari Reyes. “Our mission statement has to do with raising awareness and spreading knowledge about substance abuse and mental health strategies to help the youth.”
Why do students choose to be involved?
“We can see the issue in our community,” said Quinn Kearney. “It’s more personal for us. And so I guess it just feels rewarding to be doing something like this because we can see the effects that we’re having on the community with our projects.”
What does youth led actually look like in practice?
“When it comes to running the meetings, it’s really the people here talking and interacting with our members who are all high school youth,” said Jack Kearney. “When we’re brainstorming for new ideas, it’s all coming from the think tank of the youth.”
What is the Sticker Shock campaign?
“We create these stickers and then we’ll put these stickers on the cartons of alcoholic beverages in the liquor store,” said Eren Tiryaki. “We’re hoping that when people see that they think before they provide alcohol to minors.”
How do peers and the broader community react to the program?
“I think it’s really positive,” said Dominique Vecchiolla. “There is a lot of support. There is a lot of engagement.”
What other programs do Youth Ambassadors run?
“We have annual performances at the elementary school including the Samantha Skunk play,” said Sari Reyes. “We also do Minds Matter events which are a hit between the middle schoolers and high schoolers.”
Why introduce these hard topics at a young age?
“I think it’s better to introduce them at a younger age so that they’re more aware when they get older,” Reyes said.
What keeps students coming back?
“There’s just a real sense of community,” said Gabby Madden. “It’s just a really cool program.”
Cohasset residents interested in learning more about Safe Harbor Cohasset and the Youth Ambassadors program will have an opportunity to get involved at the 2026 Kick Start Coalition Breakfast, scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 8, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Cohasset Lightkeepers, 15 Lighthouse Lane. The annual event brings together youth, families, educators and community leaders to support collaborative efforts aimed at reducing and preventing underage substance use while promoting mental health awareness. More information and registration details are available here.