Monday night, North End Against Drugs held a Family Dinner / Talk with guest speaker Steven Siciliano, a product of the North End and now the Chief Probation Officer for the South Boston District Court. NEAD works to educate kids in the community about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol abuse while promoting youth to stay involved in community groups, organizations, and sports. The dinner was sponsored by a grant from the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority.
South Boston District Court Chief Probation Officer Steven Siciliano grew up in the North End playing sports and hanging around the Nazzaro Center. Continuing with sports into the collegiate level while attending Curry College, Siciliano talked about the importance of places like the Nazzaro Center. After a nice meal of pasta, salad, and meatballs, all in attendance listened to Siciliano talk about his 21 years of working with juveniles and adults in the criminal justice system. “Structure is huge, at home and in the community, the criminal justice system is not good for you,” said Siciliano. “The decisions you make today, shape who you are tomorrow.” He spoke about being involved with sports and stressed the importance of surrounding yourself with good people, recalling his mother always saying, “you tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are.”
Siciliano estimated that 75 percent of his cases in South Boston involve drug use, “I’m not an expert, I’m here to tell you what I’ve seen over my career. Drugs are rampant, they’re everywhere across the country. Most of the kids I see, started drugs at a young age.”
Some signs for parents to look for to see if kids may be involved with drugs:
- School attendance declining
- Grades slipping
- Losing interest in various hobbies and activities
- Friends who come and go that parents may not be familiar with
- Turbulent family relationships
- Breaking house rules
- Stealing from close friends and family
The next NEAD family dinner / talk is set to take place on May 19th.
Photos by Conor Finley.
It is wonderful that NEAD has a “family dinner night”. They always have great speakers too!
Steven Siciliano did a great job! Again, this is why I will not move from the North End. Yes, it has changed alot, but the people that do these kinds of things make the North End what is has been and what it still is….The Best Place To Live!
Thanks NEAD and the Nazzaro Center!