The B.O.L.D. Teens started with four youth in the community that had personally been impacted by tobacco related illnesses within their families. We wanted to prevent others from losing their lives from tobacco use or exposure. We took off as a youth-led group focused on tobacco education and tobacco control.

We were then known as Teens Against Tobacco and we were trained on tobacco education, prevention and advocacy in the community.  The Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program funded us with resources from the Master Settlement Agreement and excise tax on tobacco products. Our first major campaign was a campaign in 1997- 1998 where we convinced the Boston Globe to stop advertising tobacco products.  This initiative included letters to the editor, and publisher and a meeting at their headquarters in Dorchester.  After a petition with over 3,000 signatures and a press conference, the Boston Globe discontinued their Parliament advertisements.

In 2001, we celebrated Fenway Park going smoke free on the field with the players and the Boston Area Youth Tobacco Action Group members.  We also went to the Supreme Court in Washington DC where we hoped to pass the Massachusetts Initiative to no longer allow tobacco advertisements 1,000 feet from schools and playgrounds, where youth congregate.

From 2001 to 2003 we suffered major budget cuts to the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program.  Youth tobacco prevention programs were eliminated across the state and we served as volunteers to keep our program strong.  During this time many youth in our program began to make the connection of secondhand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke to the poor air quality of our community.   We soon began to address environmental concerns like air quality and green space in the community as well.  Our group evolved into Breath of Life Dorchester, BOLD Teens, because we began to broaden our concern to the air we breathe and the health of our community.  As we focused on social and environmental justice, drew special attention to the impact climate change has on our environment and our health.  We work to reduce the health impacts of diesel fuel emissions and educate the community on lead poisoning prevention.  We also promote the importance of green jobs and the need for more energy efficient healthy homes.

During this time, we worked with our legislature on the Restore the Trust Bill to restore tobacco control funds.   We worked to increase community support with the Boston Public Health Commission to make Boston smoke free in May 2003 and we worked with Tobacco Free Massachusetts to ensure Massachusetts followed in July 2004.  We were also very active around the passing or fire safe cigarettes in Massachusetts in 2007. 

We won Youth Advocate of the Year Award from the National Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2009 for our tobacco control efforts.  We have been involved at the national level working on FDA Regulation of Tobacco Products and building relationships with our members on Congress and we are proud to say President Obama has passed the legislation.   We currently have a warning label campaign to educate the community on the dangers of tobacco use and exposure by sharing the toxins found in cigarettes and placing this label on cigarettes.

In 2006, we decided expand our focus to crime and violence in our community.   We work very closely with the Codman Square Neighborhood Council and we have developed relationships with families and law enforcement in our community.  We work to build strong relationships between youth police with youth and police dialogues and engaging activities. 

After a meeting with Governor Deval Patrick in October 2007, we were assigned to develop an effective statewide youth council that properly represents youth throughout the state and develop a model for youth engagement in our society.

Presently, we continue to focus on environmental and social justice by improving health and safety issues we identify in our community.  In 2009 we received the Community Leadership Award from the Environmental Protection Agency, we are very active with the Codman Square Farmers Market and we are ready to expand our youth development and leadership model.