Newton Civic Spotlight is a youth-organized event for local middle school and high school students. The event aims to demystify local government and share information with Newton's young people about many of the people and organizations that support our community.

* Support for this event is provided by City of Newton's Human Services Division.

Scroll down to see photographs and learn more about the 2025 event.

About the 2025 Event

The first Newton Civic Spotlight event took place Newton City Hall on Tuesday, February 25th from 4:30-6:30pm.

The 2025 event focused on the following topics:

• municipal government
• mental health and substance use
• the environment
• local support organizations

2025 Event Schedule

4:30 – Resource Fair

Resource Table Hosts (in alphabetical order)

• 350Mass Newton Node
• Charles River Watershed Association
• Elections - City of Newton
• Green Newton
• Families for Depression Awareness
• Health & Human Services Department - City of Newton
• League of Women Voters of Newton
• Mass Art Advocacy Project (follow on social media using @massartadvocacyproject)
• Newton Conservators
• Newton Cultural Development Department
• Newton Neighbors
• Newton Police Department
• Newton Youth Commission & Advisory Board
• + Many City Councilors (see names & links below under the Government & Environment Panelists)

5:00 – Welcome Speeches

Becky Z. (Newton North High School, '26)
Mayor Ruthanne Fuller
Gassia M. (Newton North High School, '26)

5:15 – Panel Discussions

Government Panel
Moderator: Bethesda Y. (Newton South High School, '27)

Panelists: (in alphabetical order by last name)

• Councilor-at-Large Susan Albright
• Ward Councilor Randy Block
• Elections Supervisor John Doyle
• Ward Councilor Stephen Farrell
• Councilor-at-Large Rena Getz Escudero
• Ward Councilor Bill Humphrey
• Councilor-at-Large Alan Lobovits
• City Council President Marc Laredo
• Councilor-at-Large Tarik Lucas

Environment Panel
Moderators: Jay, Victor L. (Newton South High School, '26)

Panelists: (in alphabetical order by last name)

• Ward Councilor Martha Bixby
• President of Newton Conservators, Alice Ingerson
• Marketing Committee Member & Business Liaison for Green Newton, John Lewis
• Ward Councilor Julia Malakie
• Executive Director of the Charles River Watershed Association, Emily Norton
• 350Mass - Newton Node's Demie Stathoplos

Mental Health & Substance Use Panel

Panelists: (in alphabetical order by last name)

• Director of Newton Human Services, Jenna Bancroft
• Commissioner of Newton Health & Human Services, Shin-Yi La
• Youth and Young Adult Mental Wellness Program Specialist at Families for Depression Awareness, Jada McCray
• Director of School Counseling at Newton South High School, Dan Rubin

6:00 – More Resource Fair and Light Snacks 

Thank you to everyone who made this event a success!

2025 Newton Civic Planning Committee Members: Amelia (Newton North HS, '28), Ana (Newton South HS '28), Ariel (Newton South HS, '28), Armine (Newton South HS, '26), Becky (Newton North HS, '26), Bethesda (Newton South HS, '27), Bomi (Newton South '27), Gassia (Newton North HS '26), Hana (Newton South '26), Victor (Newton South HS, '26), and others!

Click here to read a Fig City News article about the 2025 event written by Theo Younkin. As his article states, Theo is a Fig City News student reporter, a junior at Newton South High School, and Co-Managing Editor of the NSHS Lion’s Roar.

Are you a young person interested in planning the next event?

Are you interested in joining as a panelist or resource table host at our next event?

Email Meri Haas, Assistant Director of Human Services, at mhaas@newtonma.gov