2019 NPW Outcomes Report NPW2019_OutcomesReport_FINAL | Page 14

COMMUNITY EVENT FORM NARRATIVES (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER) Community Events and Activities Make NPW Shine This year, organizations, governments, and individuals across 26 states inspired action and changed lives in their own communities, strengthening substance use prevention efforts and promoting positive mental health. Communities shared more than 90 creative events and activities they held to join the NPW 2019 movement (with some communities conducting more than one event or activity)—a much larger number than were submitted in 2018! Activities ranged from musical performances to community fairs to poster contests and more. ORGANIZATION NAME CITY, STATE ACTIVITY AHM Youth and Family Services Hebron, CT Each day during NPW 2019, AHM Youth and Family Services provided information and conducted activities in the lunchroom relating to a different substance. Some activities included applying floor adhesives that detailed vaping harms and holding Q&A sessions with students. Aliviane, Inc. El Paso, TX Prevention and intervention staff at Aliviane, Inc., hosted a health fair with interactive activities on Monday, May 13. The health fair included the greater community, clients, and staff to promote prevention and intervention strategies in the region. B.E.S.T.-4-BRISTOL Bristol, CT B.E.S.T.-4-Bristol partnered with Bristol Central High School and Bristol Eastern High School to promote NPW. They staged a mock car accident to give students a visual of the dangers of drinking and driving; hosted an interactive resource table during lunches; and created a large “Dear Future Me” banner where students wrote messages of hope for the future. At the end of the week, everyone wore purple to signify unity as a drug-free community (including purple bracelets that were handed out earlier in the week). Be the Influence Coalition Windham, NY On the Sunday before NPW, Be the Influence Coalition hosted its community-wide “Day of Abundant Hope” at local faith-based organizations and churches. Faith leaders addressed the opioid crisis and substance misuse and spread messages of hope during morning services; created and distributed pocket-size resource cards with local and national prevention and recovery resources; and collected donations for a recovery scholarship. Churches rang their bells simultaneously to signify the sound of hope and unity community- wide. PHOTO: The Carroll County’s (MD) First Responders Appreciation Dinner and Training was held in May as part of NPW. 14 2019 OUTCOMES REPORT 2019 OUTCOMES REPORT 15