Thurgood Marshall Middle School students were honored at the City Council meeting for bringing the app SeeClickFix to the city of Lynn and for the help it’s already had for so many in the community. 

SeeClickFix is an app that can also be downloaded on a web browser. It essentially allows community members to take pictures of any non-emergency situations they witness and are able to add the location and other important details to the issue as well. 

The impact it’s already had in the community is thanks to a group of 8th grade students in the Grade-E Block section by Luke Maus, who did extensive research and gave a presentation explaining its value and the role it could play in Lynn. 

Council member Coco Alinsug reflected on that time and was the first member to honor the students.

“I thought I am good with technology, but apparently not that good, because Sandy (Corneau) and I were so amazed how brilliant these students were, and how helpful the app is to all those who use it,” Alinsug said. “I was blown away…”

Alinsug was so amazed that he was ready to push this idea to other officials as well, but learned to find out soon after that these students would also be presenting to the mayor and City Councilors Brian LaPierre and Brian M. Field.

Field also ended up having a similar reaction to Alinsug, with a known sense that this app would be exactly what the city needs, and even went to the lengths to extend a promise to the students that it would one day happen and get the acknowledgement it deserved.

“I promised that someday you guys would be here,” Field said. “And today, that day, with Councilor Alinsug’s invitation here, the mayor, in front of all our colleagues here, and the work through the mayor’s office with the American Rescue Plan Act money that we supported…it’s a promise that we were able to keep.” 

LaPierre then read off the students’ names. 

These students honored were Francisco Quinilla, Layla Lao, Montserrat Palomares, Edwin Ventura, Janiyah Kerivan, Dataree Brown, and Sahel Qutubzad. 

LaPierre went on to applaud the effects of the app, explaining how “you get to have real action seen in real time based on your efforts…”  And that council members are “really really delighted to be able to bring this full circle now.”

The mayor, Jared Nicholson, was also in attendance and showed his support for this classroom and the importance of putting what they were learning into action. 

“It takes students who are committed to their communities to act to work, and also great faculty, staff, and envisioners that see civics as instrumental,” Nicholson said. “And they (the students) hopefully got a sense of what it’s like to see an idea from the conceptual stage all the way to implementation.” 

And now, this 2022 vision has finally come to life for these students, who have gotten to watch their idea be put to good use by members all over the community, including City Council members.

“It takes time,” recalled Nicholson. “But in the end, that time is worth it, in the ways that it improves the lives of our neighbors and residents in the city.” 

The following names should also to be recognized and acknowledged: Anyelin Chun Garcia, Anderson De Leon Ovando, Marleny Garcia, Yasir Hayward, Diana Hernandez Nolasco, Oliver Jimenez, Nariah Morris, Estiven Pacheco Ortiz, Katie Perez Chavez, Jayden Phantharath, Allen Recio-Reyes, Gerson Sales Chan, Julian Solis Esteban, Kevin Villanueva Hernandez, Tad Virgile, and Rojeiris Cruz Santana.