ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Shaneil Nelson from the SkillsUSA team asks a question during the tour of the State House. She is surrounded by team members Marissa Colon, Lucia Gonzalez Keoni Gaskin, Jose Najera and Noelani Garcia.
By THOMAS GRILLO
BOSTON — For a dozen Lynn Vocational Technical Institute students, it was their first time under the golden dome on Beacon Hill, but it may not be their last.
Some of these participants of SkillsUSA, a national program to improve the nation’s workforce through leadership and employability training, might return as members of the Legislature someday.
Dressed in bold red jackets, white shirts and black pants, the teens toured the State House with legislators. But not before they talked about the work they’ve done.
Jose Najera, 17, said they raised more than $7,500 for My Brother’s Table, one of the largest soup kitchens on the North Shore. They also helped victims of the New Year’s Day fire on West Baltimore Street that left 65 people homeless by organizing the massive clothing donations.
David Barrios, 16, said the group, which has more than six dozen members, devised the idea to honor the first responders of 9/11.
“We solicited food items and made more than 100 bags and distributed them to police and fire departments as well as emergency rooms,” he said.
Marissa Colon, 17, said the close-knit group honored veterans with a sit-down dinner at the school.
“We thanked them for their service,” she said. “To see grown men crying was really something. I think we made a difference.”
Jason McCuish, the group’s leader and a teacher at Lynn Tech for more than a decade, said SkillsUSA is an after-school program whose focus is community service.
“That’s what we pride ourselves on,” he said.
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Hosted by state Sen. Thomas McGee (D-Lynn), Reps. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn), Daniel Cahill (D-Lynn) and Donald Wong (R-Saugus), the legislators provided them with a glimpse into the work they do.
McGee explained how he was inspired to do public service by his father, the late Rep. Thomas McGee, the former speaker of the house, and his grandmother, who helped unionize factory workers during the Roosevelt administration.
“You’re doing the same thing, by making a difference in your community,” he said.
Wong, whose family owns Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus, said he never imagined a career in politics. But in 2005 friends pulled nomination papers for him to run as a Town Meeting member. He’s been an elected official ever since.
Cahill said it was an honor to have the students visit the State House.
“These future leaders continue to make positive contributions to the city of Lynn and we are proud of them,” he said.
Crighton said he got interested in public service because he wanted to give back. He worked for McGee and focused his energy on constituent services.
“That’s how I saw how one person can impact people’s lives in a positive way,” he said. “You’ve presented yourselves so well today … I hope some of you decide to run for office.”
Thomas Grillo can be reached at [email protected].
