Leadership Team – Youth Community Action Network

Executive Board

Richard Trotta has worked in public education as a teacher and an administrator. Before becoming an administrator, he taught secondary Social Studies. As the Director of Media, Technology, and Fine Arts for the Medford Public Schools., he supervised several district-wide programs: instructional technology, library services, media services, art, and music. In addition, he played an active role in curriculum development, professional development, school-to-career, and gifted and talented programs.

Richard has authored and managed numerous state and federal grants. In 1975, he was the Principal of an Alternative School Program. He has taught courses and workshops at Salem State College, Simmons College, Harvard University, American International College, area school districts, and professional conferences. He served on the Board of Directors for Youth Tech Entrepreneurs, a non-profit that provided school districts with a project-based curriculum incorporating technology and business skills.

In 2012, he created The Center for Citizenship and Social Responsibility (CCSR), an after-school program that develops student leaders who work to make the world a better place. He authored and received over $750,000.00 in grants from the Cummings Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Crystal Campbell Community Fund (Boston Foundation) to fund the CCSR until 2030. He has served as the Director of the CCSR from its inception to the present. Richard received his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree from Northeastern University. He earned a CAGS certificate from Boston University and attended the University of Massachusetts in Lowell as a doctoral candidate

As a daydreaming kid who never quite fit the definition of “good student”, Tony Capozziello’s spark for entrepreneurial endeavors began in grade school when he organized a “carnival” in his driveway to raise money for a neighborhood friend who was suffering from Muscular Dystrophy and was the 8th grade winner of the market simulation in social studies.

These led to an adult version of that mediocre student becoming an independent restaurateur for 13 years and creating 2 non-profit organizations in his personal life.

As a high school teacher of 18 years, he created a culinary arts program that involved major renovations of student space to create a student lounge (The Knight Spot) where students prepared all foods from scratch while others waited eagerly for the best school lunch they’d ever had. In addition, this concept moved to the public library where The Blender Cafe became a public partnership with private donors so students could learn the way a cafe operation runs.

Teaching Entrepreneurship and Personal Finance to high school students for most of the 18 years as an educator has has led to long lasting bonds with students who are permanently ignited to learn!

Advisory Board

Kyle Wagner is the founder and [Co] Learning Experience Designer for Transform Educational Consulting Limited, an organization that empowers forward thinking schools and educators to create globally, socially and emotionally aware citizens through project-based experiences and 12 shifts for student-centered environments. Kyle fell in love with project-based learning as a teacher at High Tech High, where he witnessed students publish best-selling books, create their own social enterprises, and even influence policy change through real- world projects. He has taken this passion global, founding micro-schools, authoring 2 books, and helping over 1,000 educators develop 1000 + transformative learning experiences and the student-centered environments to support them.

Kyle is also the former co-founder of the innovative micro-school ‘Futures Academy’ at the International School of Beijing, a program that uses interdisciplinary project- based learning to connect students to their passions and the world outside of school. A published author, his book, “The power of SIMPLE,” documents this experience and shares how edu-visionaries can create their own vision for learner-centered spaces through simple, research based strategies. His new book, ‘Where is the Teacher? The 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Environments’ provides a roadmap for how teachers can make shifts in their own classrooms. Kyle holds a M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership with a thesis that focuses on developing democratic classrooms and distributed leadership models. When not writing or teaching, he is performing with his original band, participating in karaoke contests and traveling the world with his partner. He currently resides in Hong Kong where he spends time developing learner-centered schools of the future while helping other school leaders build theirs.

Tyler L.

Through my time in the CCSR, I learned that there are so many people who want to make the world a better place and who are motivated to take action. We hear a lot of bad things about people (especially the younger generations) and what I have realized is that kids these days are not lazy, they are not just self-concerned, and they make immense contributions to our community, our society, and our world. I learned that I had the power to make a change, which something I feel a lot of people (including my previous self) think is not possible.

Being a CCSR student leader has shown me that my actions can actually impact people positively and that the service I do is not just done in vain. The CCSR has made me more aware emotionally. It is easy to get caught up and consumed in your own emotions, magnifying them above all else. The CCSR has not only helped me understand those emotions through social connection but it also has allowed me to walk in other people’s shoes. Seeing other people’s struggles helped me put into perspective the importance of my own, and helped me grow emotionally.

It’s an ineffable feeling. I think the one fear of many people is living their lives and not contributing anything to the world. When you make the world a better place, even very minorly, that fear is chipped away. Through your work, you also see its impact and there is nothing better than seeing something you do actually mean something. I think that is why many kids get distraught about schoolwork. A lot of schoolwork does not mean anything to the students that have to do it. However, the work I have done with the CCSR means something to me because I know I am making a contribution and I know the value of my work is not just in turning it in. I will miss the opportunity it gave other students and myself, which is why I think the CCSR is such a great organization. There are a lot of people who genuinely want to do something impactful but they never do because they do not have a platform to take action. The CCSR is that platform and I will miss it. I will also miss Mr. Skorker. He is a very rare leader. He gives you the push to do the work because you know how much he genuinely cares about you.

Joey R.

The CCSR has meant the world to me over these past two years. Prior to joining there was an excessive amount of self-reflection of my life that felt more like self-punishment. I was ashamed to be someone who had nothing to show as their contribution to the world, a crushing feeling, even as a 15-year-old. When I was introduced to the CCSR I realized there was a path to improving the world that was not only accessible within my school, but also provided a sense of community which I craved.

Over my time in my CCSR, I learned that I truly want to help the world and those in need. I learned that fighting for issues that are important to me provides an unmatched sense of emotional pride. I learned that I can make a difference now, not necessarily 10 years down the line. Through collaboration with other students, I learned that I am not alone. There are other students that share my passions for service and improvement. Emotionally, the CCSR has emphasized and improved what I have come to find as a crucial trait: empathy. You gain perspective in your service project by seeing what it is you’re improving, which leads to empathy in the struggles of others.

An example is the Medford Slavery Memorial Project. By commemorating buried slaves in Medford with a marked gravestone memorial and having a celebratory ceremony, this CCSR project showed me the impact of slavery within our community and on black culture firsthand. I had a closer view of their struggles through poetry, speeches, and readings that, had it not been for the CCSR, I may not have experienced. What I’ll miss most about the CCSR is its reliability and community.

Since the moment I joined, I knew this was a place where anyone is accepted with any idea. You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone, all you have to do is show that you care about making the world a better place. This fosters a community of hundreds of students with a basis of kindness and empathy, which is hard to find anywhere else.

David M.

Being a CCSR leader, I think it has really taught me how to communicate and work on real life scenarios in problem solving, but also project managing. Being able to network, but also apply my classroom skills in real life situations. Going into high school, I was an extremely socially awkward and unaware kid. Joining DECA, and CCSR for me are really my true testimonials for me to grow emotionally. I’ve learned about how others live in certain conditions and how others suffer, family problems and other issues that affect my classmates or acquaintances.

Being in CCSR has really helped me understand and be able to have sympathy for others and what they are going through in their lives.

Being in the CCSR has also given me an insight in changing the world into a better place. My project was to plan an entire carnival for the city of Medford. All of the proceeds would go to a non-profit organization called Four Diamonds, that would then distribute the money to pediatric cancer research and funds for patients. I wanted to make this carnival fun for everyone living in Medford but also to help a greater cause, with the money profited. As I enter my senior year, CCSR will be one of my most missed clubs. CSSR has really helped me grow as a person but also given me a chance to make change and show what my hard work will pay off to help others. But out of everything, I will truly miss all of my classmates, friends, and especially my advisors that all have believed in me since day one of everything I have done, from schoolwork to competitions, and my project.

Noelani L.

Through the CCSR, I learned that, contrary to how I used to feel, and how I’m sure many others still do, young people really can make a difference in this world. Maybe it will just start with the community, but it’s a start. Students in the past have done amazing, impactful projects and I have realized I can, and want to, do a project like those. The CCSR doesn’t just benefit our community but also creates an environment among students where we all support each other in projects and elsewhere.

Not only do I myself feel accomplished with participation in a project, by having all my friends in the group I often feel pride and joy because of their projects and success. The environment created by the CCSR is all around positive and one I would recommend to anyone. The feeling created by helping others and making the world a better place is really incomparable. Helping people has always and will always be a passion of mine and a sense of fulfillment and happiness comes with it.

I will definitely miss lots of things in the CCSR. I know I’ll really miss the people but maybe what I will miss most is our fearless leader Mr. Michael Skorker. He is one of the most compassionate and generous people I have ever met. He is always trying to make the world better but he also manages to make all CCSR students feel safe and heard and remembered and special.

Aidan B.

One of the biggest things that I have learned about myself from being in the CCSR is how important being a part of a community is to me. I have always wanted to join an organization such as the CCSR and service has always been an important role in my life, but I did not realize how much the positive community that the CCSR has created would impact me every day. The CCSR has helped me grow emotionally because it has provided me with a support system, and a group of people that will always be there for me, and it has made my weekdays feel much more fulfilling.

The CCSR has also helped me to better understand the feelings of others as well, and to put others before myself. It feels really good to make an impact on my community and to make the world a better place.

When I am working with middle school students, students with disabilities, or the less fortunate, it feels really good to be able to give back to the community and to truly have an impact on someone. I also feel that in many of these relationships, with students of all ages and abilities, they have had an impact on my life as well. This feels really good to know that I have formed a real relationship with these people, and that we are all learning from each other, which is an important part of the CCSR. I think the thing that I will miss the most about the CCSR is the sense of community that is felt in all of the meetings and events. Everyone always brings a positive attitude and a willingness to make the world a better place to live, and I think that I will miss that part the most.

Colin B.

From being in the CCSR for the past 3 years, I learned what it means to truly be a member of the community and what it means to be a good citizen. I learned that although times can be rough, you can always make things better if you look for the silver lining of things. The CCSR helped me grow emotionally by teaching me how to be sympathetic and caring for all. Prior to my entrance to the organization, I thought I had a general understanding of caring for my community, but upon entrance, I realized how much it meant and I find myself wanting to help more now than ever.

In short, it feels humbling yet enabling to make the world a better place via the CCSR. I want to be able to do more for this organization, but at the same time it keeps you level headed and makes you realize how lucky you are to live in such a kind and accepting city with great opportunities like this.

I’ll definitely miss my advisors of the CCSR and I’ll miss the friends I’ve made as a result of my projects. They all mean so much to me and I wouldn’t be here without them.

Liana C.

From the CCSR, I learned that there are several ways I could help my community without it having to be massive projects. The CCSR helped me learn that the little things matter. I learned projects were more enjoyable with others. CCSR helped me grow emotionally by giving me a way to give back to my community. It’s allowed me to connect with more people and learn about new things. Working to make the world a better place to live felt really good. It felt fulfilling helping others, and I loved being able to make a change in their lives.

What I’ll miss most about CCSR is the community and members. I really like being able to work on projects with my peers where we are all working towards the same goal.