Turn It Around was formed in 2012 by a group of dedicated Charlestown youth with a strong desire to better their community. The group’s initial mission was to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and educate about how everyday pressures can lead to substance use and other high risk behaviors.
While Turn it Around members continue to be focused on educating the Charlestown community, the group also uses their platform to increase key protective factors. (To learn more about youth protective factors, click here.)
We offer academic support, provide caring and consistent adult figures, and keep members engaged in positive community activities.
Staff members support their youth by holding regular check-ins and connecting them to academic and social support services. Members gather every Thursday evening and organize a number of community events.
Mission Statement
TURN IT AROUND aims to educate and empower Charlestown’s youth to find their passions and reach their full potential - using community service, art, sports, civic engagement, social justice, poetry, music, film, theatre, and even the outdoors as vehicles for engagement and discovery.
Who We Are:
Our annual community events include:
- Youth basketball tournaments
- Prevention assemblies
- Peace walks
- Neighborhood revitalization projects
- Prescription drug take-back events
- BBQ and resource fairs
- Holiday parade & strolls
- Clothing drive give-backs
- Volunteering at the BHA Family Fun Day
- Teaching LifeSkills to youth at the Boys and Girls Club
- Lessons about MLK and Civil Rights and more!
Additional events and workshops are focused solely on building up member protective factors and include:
- Spoken word poetry workshops
- Nutrition lessons
- Personal finance presentations
- Trips to RMV to get MA IDs
- Therapeutic painting
- Resume and job search assistance
- Stress reduction techniques
- Prevention month photo contest
Turn It Around Junior
We are overjoyed to promote the expansion of TURN IT AROUND into TIA JR, programming for youth in 5th-8th grade. This started in Fall of 2022, and currently has about 30 youth members. Visit our Instagram for updates on what TIA JR has been up to!
