(Boston–5/16/2024) On Tuesday, State Senator Paul Feeney was honored to receive the "Community Pillar Award" from Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc. (MPY) at their hybrid conference on violence risk assessment and diversity considerations for working with youth.  

This award is in recognition of Senator Feeney’s distinguished service and commitment to empowering education and law enforcement professionals to protect the health and safety of students, in particular with his work on suicide prevention in the Commonwealth. Senator Feeney is the author of legislation he filed to prevent suicide deaths by addressing the disturbing trend of suicide deaths at parking garages. The bill requires parking garages and public transportation facilities to place signs with information on suicide prevention, including the 988 behavioral health emergency line and the words “You Are Not Alone” in garages over 3 stories high in Massachusetts. 

"It is an honor to receive the Community Pillar Award from the Massachusetts Partnership for Youth, Inc., an organization committed to leading the way in promoting mental and behavioral health in schools and other entities across the Commonwealth. I am blessed to have the opportunity to support the work of MPY and grateful to Executive Director Margie Daniels, MPY staff, Directors, officers and members for their work in increasing the health, safety, and wellbeing of students throughout the Commonwealth,” said Senator Paul Feeney (D-Foxborough).  

“At Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc. we are very committed to our mission – prevention and intervention in matters of health and safety for youth. Through his work in the field of suicide prevention, it is clear that Senator Feeney shares in our mission, and we applaud him for his leadership on behalf of the citizens of the Commonwealth,” said Margie Daniels, Executive Director of MPY.  

About Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc.: 

MPY is governed by a Board of Directors made up of school superintendents, police and fire chiefs, and other community leaders. Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides training, fosters collaboration, and develops programming to increase the health and safety of students. MPY is committed to bringing cutting-edge information and high-quality trainings to our constituents and endeavors to provide solution-oriented, community-based, multi-disciplinary approaches to foster mental and behavioral health, social and emotional learning, trauma sensitive classrooms and building a school culture that supports anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion. 

Pictured from left to right: Margie Daniels, MPY Executive Director; Senator Paul Feeney; John Oteri, School Safety Coordinator for MPY and Former Superintendent of Malden Public Schools.  

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