Tracy Kolsin is October’s Coalition Member of the Month
Tracy Kolsin is October’s Coalition Member of the Month, representing our Youth-Serving Sector since 2012.
Tracy is the Assistant Director of the Southampton Town Youth Bureau. He has a BA degree from Southampton College of LIU as well as an MSW degree from Adelphi University. Tracy’s past experience includes assisting homebound seniors with support services and counseling, as well as life transitions. He also previously supervised Podell Haven, a homeless and runaway youth shelter. Tracy says his greatest accomplishment in life and the core of his being are his two children, Jordan and Sophia, and his wife Barri, who has been his greatest teacher and partner.
EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE
Tracy is proud to have worked at the Southampton Town Youth Bureau for last 16 years. The Youth Bureau offers programs across Southampton Town including a drop in youth center in Flanders. The center serves the communities of Flanders, Riverside, and Northampton in the Riverhead Central School District. The Youth Bureau’s primary focus is Youth Development: empowering young people to achieve higher goals, make positive choices, and become productive community members. This is done through a variety of programs that appeal to a broad range of interests and ages.
Youth bureau programs are offered for middle and high school youth. They include juvenile justice, a teen drama troupe, employment services and training, as well as leadership development programs, counseling and support services, and community education initiatives. The Youth Bureau also provides after-school activities for kindergarten through sixth grade. Activities include tutoring, skill building, and recreation. These initiatives empower youth and families, which ultimately promotes community health and well-being.
Tracy is instrumental in promoting and participating in many coalition initiatives. He plays a key role in sustaining involvement from our youth sector. Tracy participates in Sticker Shock campaigns, Medication Take Back events, and our annual Meet and Greet. He also substantially helps the coalition collect data through youth focus groups and environmental scans.
Riverhead Community Coalition Coordinator Kelly Miloski sat down with Tracy Kolsin to talk about his experience with the coalition.
Here are the highlights:
- Why did you become involved in the coalition?
“I became involved in the coalition as a community partner and concerned citizen. Youth in Flanders, Riverside, and Northampton are linked directly to what happens in Riverhead and there are limited opportunities for positive social gathering places in these communities. By educating young people to the hazards of alcohol and implementing other initiatives to reduce substance use, we are benefiting everyone in our communities.” - What is your favorite coalition activity?
“I have a couple of favorite coalition activities. I enjoy the Medication Take Back events since it is clear evidence of how many people are reached. In a single event, we can take in anywhere from 50-150 pounds of unused, unwanted, and/or expired medication off the streets. These events are important because many young people begin abusing medication by taking it from a friend or family member’s medicine cabinet. I also enjoy Sticker Shock and the Public Service Announcements (PSAs) because these activities directly involve our youth. They demonstrate how youth have learned what the issues are. It also provides them with a voice back to the community in their own words.” - Name three words that best describe you.
“Problem solver, mentor, activist.” - Besides coalition work, what else do you like to do?
“I enjoy staying busy, either constructing something that my imagination has run away with or participating in outdoor activities such as hiking or kayaking.”
Interested in learning more about coalition membership?
To learn more about joining the Riverhead Community Coalition for Safe and Drug-Free Youth , contact Kelly Miloski at (631) 727-3722 ext. 106 or Kelly.Miloski@RiverheadCAP.org.
