In 1997, a mother named Barbara Dattilo was approached by a friend who was in need of saving her troubled teenage son. The young boy appeared to be heading down the wrong path in life. Barbara, feeling the need to help him, took action. With that decision, Our Lady of Grace’s Teen Group was formed. Teen Group is a non-profit organization geared on assisting adolescents through their middle and high school lives. Over the past twelve years, Barbara has reached out to over HUNDREDS of teens, not only in the parish and nearby community, but the entire Southern Brooklyn region in which we are located. Particularly unique about the group is that any teen can be a member, accepting teens of all religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds and collecting them to share ideas and perspectives. The group holds a meeting every Friday night for three hours. Teen Group discusses topics pertaining to teenage life, including self-esteem, peer pressure, depression, decision making, abusive relationships. We engage teens in community service projects including serving food to the homeless and underprivileged, creating greeting cards for people in nursing homes, hospitals, and soldiers overseas, aiding the elderly, sick, and disabled at their homes, collecting food, clothes, and necessities for the poor, performing in plays and shows to raise money for the unfortunate, and helping the parish prepare for important religious services. However, the organization not only teaches teens the proper way of dealing with important issues and the value of hard work and dedication, but allows the members to interact with one another during the meetings, socializing and connecting on a personal level. The teens also join each other to trips out to dinner, baseball games, bowling alleys, movie theatres, and Broadway shows. Barbara, who is still the director, organizes and plans the meetings, events, and outings. However, she serves as a second mother to all of us, for our love for her is like no other. She is caring, compassionate, and generous, constantly putting others before herself. She offers us advice and support for all that we do, including matters outside of the group. Her happiness is infectious, she always has a smile on her face and her heart filled with joy. She will do anything to ensure we are successful. Her attitude is nothing less than optimistic, bright, and hopeful. However, last year we suffered a great tragedy when Barbara was diagnosed with breast cancer. She began treatment immediately, and while she is recovering, her battle is far from being won. She has not let the disease detach her from Teen Group, refusing to step down from her position and continuing to take on all responsibilities. She is a true hero and inspiration. She lives everyday like it could be her last. She has touched the lives of many teens, changing them forever. While Barbara may grant us positions as “Leaders” within Teen Group, she is the true leader among us, setting an example we can all learn from.