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Home My WebLink About090524 - Empowered Teens Coalition August 2024 NewsletterALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. It's been too long! Come catch up with all of the Empowered Teens Coalition's summer activities! <https://mcusercontent.com/3961206950e6df0e4b4689479/images/46738f63-a482-49e0-6561-213a0433862e.png> August 2024 Newsletter Contents: * This Summer’s Prevention Pet: Scott Bahlmann’s cat Toby * Member Spotlight- Chimacum’s counselor extraordinaire, Cynthia Langston * Summer Updates- Tabling and attending the Montana Summer Institute * Coalition News- Strategic Planning, Positive Social Norms campaign, Prevention Summit, Guiding Good Choices, Promoting Med Take Back, Quilcene/Brinnon activities * Upcoming September Events and Trainings <https://mcusercontent.com/3961206950e6df0e4b4689479/images/e9dad297-9df4-f878-97ee-d681c012fd16.png> August’s Prevention Pet is… Jefferson County Librarian Scott Bahlmann’s Cat Toby! <https://mcusercontent.com/3961206950e6df0e4b4689479/images/941158b7-7017-7385-c94d-9d302b369025.png> Thanks for sharing, Scott! Got a pet you would like to showcase? Please send in this form <https://google.us22.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3961206950e6df0e4b4689479&id=6012b6b2bf&e=115415dce8> and a picture of your pet to kbillinger-hessom@co.jefferson.wa.us <https://mcusercontent.com/3961206950e6df0e4b4689479/images/067028c8-87f7-a7b1-7d45-40be44c4a3c4.png> <https://mcusercontent.com/3961206950e6df0e4b4689479/images/9b1d66eb-e852-4638-2621-44f6a84d2caf.jpg> Cynthia Langston, MSW, counselor at Chimacum Junior/Senior High School 1. Where did you grow up? Tell us a little bit about your childhood/teenage years. I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. I am the oldest of three children. My mother and father both married as teenagers to escape their families, which resulted in a predictable divorce by the time I was 9 years old. Every year of my childhood, we moved due to the lack of rent money. I attended 7 different schools throughout the city of Cincinnati. Though I felt very insecure and awkward during this time, all these moves helped me develop confidence in my ability to take care of myself. I did not see my father after the age of 9. He never paid child support, so my mother worked three jobs to support us. We rarely saw her, so at the age of 9, I took on the role of “mom”. When I was in my 30’s, my mother asked me, “Why didn’t you get involved with drugs like all your friends?” Well, I did experiment with drugs and alcohol, but only on an occasional weekend. I remembered clearly that during this time, I felt a tremendous duty to be sure my siblings had their emotional and physical needs met. My childhood wasn’t all grim. I had yearly camping, fishing, and boating trips with my grandparents. During the 6th grade, a teacher took interest in me and, with my mother’s blessing, insisted that I join the volleyball team. This teacher recognized I needed to connect more with classmates. After that, I joined sports teams throughout my school years. When I was 16 years old, my classmates and I got arrested for protesting the Viet Nam War during school hours, but we were not expelled from school after we received support from the three Jesuit priests who joined our protest. By the time I was 17 years-old, raising kids had taken a toll on me. My mother had developed rheumatoid arthritis and could no longer work the hours it took to support us. She had to go on Welfare during this time, which helped me release the burden I felt of keeping the family together. I immediately signed up to join the military as it was my only way of attending college during this time. I got into the Air Force and left Cincinnati by my 19th birthday. 2. What do you enjoy doing outside of work? I spend almost every weekend hiking, kayaking, wine tasting, and/ or dancing. I love binge watching movies and mini series and am totally obsessed with playing cards. I have even joined a nerdy bi-weekly card game group. My favorite games are poker, euchre and “cutthroat” canasta. 3. Do you have a favorite cause, or something you’re passionate about? Tell us a little more about it and why you’re passionate about it. I have had many passions regarding social change, but the most passionate part of my life has always been traveling. I love experiencing all forms of travel, from open sky camping to luxury cruises; just getting in my car and driving makes me smile. I have traveled all over the world and plan on visiting Germany, New Zealand and Australia within the next five years. I love taking care of the animals in my neighborhood. I am the cat lady who feeds birds, squirrels, deer, and whatever critter happens upon my yard. When I retire, I plan on volunteering at an animal shelter and becoming a foster parent for various animals (in between my travels of course.) Thank you for sharing your incredible story with us, Cynthia, and thank you for lending your valuable knowledge and experience to our coalition! We appreciate you! <https://mcusercontent.com/3961206950e6df0e4b4689479/images/9883c71e-9861-fbb0-3399-85199539a081.jpg> Summer Updates * Chimacum ETC tabled at the Chimacum Farmer’s Market this summer! * Kara Billinger-Hessom and Laura Tucker distributed naloxone and other prevention materials and introduced Healthy Youth Survey data through a prize wheel trivia game- whee! * Quilcene/Brinnon ETC coordinator Mackenzie Marmol attended a YMCA summer food distribution event in August, raising awareness of coalition activities and prevention! * Kara Billinger-Hessom, Holly Gumm, and other coalition members attended the Montana Summer Institute in July (in-person or virtually) * Attendees listened to great prevention keynotes and attended workshops on the Science of the Positive, and how to strengthen positive norms to create healthier communities <https://mcusercontent.com/3961206950e6df0e4b4689479/images/f4ebedd4-9c79-f51a-f147-3a237c698dd2.png> Coalition News * Strategic Plan: This fall, all three coalitions will be examining our mission, goals, and other aspects of our work as part of updating our Strategic Plan * Port Townsend and Chimacum will be revising their Mission and Vision statements this fall * Port Townsend will be reviewing goals and programs for next fiscal year (2025-2026) * Positive Social Norms Campaign: Chimacum and Port Townsend will be collaborating with Rakers Car Club and the Port Townsend School District to provide a positive social norms photo opportunity at the Rivals Homecoming Football game on October 4th! * Rakers will provide a classic car for students to pose in, while the ETC will provide positive social norms signs * Promoting Medication Take Back Programs: In lieu of our usual in-person DEA Med Take Back event, we will be publicizing our county’s ongoing Med Take Back locations throughout October! * Guiding Good Choices: Beginning in October, we will be running our usual 5 session fall series of Guiding Good Choices, an evidence-based parenting program for parents of children ages 9-14 * Dates TBD, check back for more updates as the series draws closer! * Prevention Summit: Port Townsend SAP Holly McIlvaine hopes to take Port Townsend students to the Prevention Summit this October 30-31 in Seattle! * Chimacum SAP Jerome Stevens, Chimacum coalition coordinator Kara Billinger-Hessom, and Quilcene/Brinnon coalition coordinator Mackenzie Marmol will also be attending * Quilcene/Brinnon working on exciting activities for QB youth: * Quilcene/Brinnon ETC is looking at coordinating with the outdoor education nonprofit Wild Society to offer after-school nature walks to Quilcene students this spring * Quilcene/Brinnon ETC plans on offering Dungeons and Dragons sessions to local youth, either at the school or at the community center, to help increase community connectedness, self-esteem, and a sense of well-being Upcoming Events and Trainings * September 12th 11:00 AM Mindfulness Strategies for Smoking Cessation, training provided by YCCTPP Coordinator Megan Keith * Register HERE <https://google.us22.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3961206950e6df0e4b4689479&id=f67b410475&e=115415dce8> * September 17th 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Quilcene/Brinnon Empowered Teens Coalition Meeting * September 18th 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Chimacum Empowered Teens Coalition Meeting * September 19th 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM ADAI Symposium: Cannabis, Schizophrenia, and Other Psychotic Disorders: Moving Away from Reefer Madness Towards Science * * Free, in-person or virtual attendance, register HERE <https://google.us22.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3961206950e6df0e4b4689479&id=d6e78178d9&e=115415dce8> * September 24th 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Port Townsend Empowered Teens Coalition Meeting Thanks for reading! 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