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Residents, lawmakers and families urge council to renew contract for youth mentor Alex Snow
Summary
Multiple residents, a state representative and families testified in support of renewing a contract for youth mentor Alex Snow, who described his work with at‑risk youth and his partnership with police. Council members and the town manager praised the program and said they intend to consider a contract renewal.
Residents, parents, the town’s police and state and local officials urged the North Kingstown Town Council to continue supporting youth-mentoring work led by Alex Snow, who presented the program and described outreach to at-risk middle- and high-school students.
Around a dozen speakers gave personal testimony during the public-comment portion of the meeting, telling the council they had seen direct benefits from Snow’s mentoring and intervention work. State Representative Julie Casimiro described Snow as having “a profound impact” on students; several families credited Snow with helping children through behavioral crises, connecting them to services and persuading agencies such as DCYF to consider long‑term placements when appropriate.
Snow, who identified his organization as Instinctive Choices, told the council the program focuses on crisis intervention, outreach in neighborhoods, mentoring and bridging relationships between youth and police. He described efforts to provide recreational opportunities, job pathways and direct contact with public-safety personnel in non-crisis settings. Detective Andrew Taube of the North Kingstown Police Department was repeatedly cited by parents for follow-up and partnership.
Multiple speakers described individual cases in which Snow’s involvement helped a young person access treatment or stabilize behavior. Jay David said Snow’s work helped his daughter enter a long-term residential therapeutic program; Colin Hogan and Rachel Reed gave personal accounts of mentoring relationships. Several speakers emphasized that Snow’s presence in the community and the trust he built with youth made a measurable difference in families’ ability to access services.
Town officials voiced support. Town Manager Ralph praised Snow’s long-term involvement and signaled a desire for the contracting relationship to continue; council members thanked Snow and described plans to keep the matter moving. The town also noted that existing opioid-response funds were being used to support intervention work and that Snow’s activities include education about recreational drugs and risks such as fentanyl contamination.
No formal, recorded contract renewal vote was held at the meeting. Councilors and the town manager said they expect to address a renewal on a forthcoming agenda; town staff are expected to return with contract details and any required municipal approvals.
