Congratulations 2016 LIT Graduates!

Oh, the places you’ll go!

The end of May brings us another Leaders in Training (LIT) Graduation Ceremony. This year we held our 21

st Annual LIT Graduation at Medaille College on May 26 and bid farewell to 72 graduates from

eleven schools in WNY with their proud parents and siblings. Mymonna Be from School #27 Hillery Park was honored as LIT Leader of the Year. Josh Hutchen, LIT Class of 2001 from BPS #11, was selected as the Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee for 2016. Leaders in Training students participate in two years of conferences, a unique summer program, retreats and dozens of service learning projects, activities and small-scaled fundraising at their schools and within the community. These experiences teach our children to become active agents for positive change in society and positive role models in substance abuse prevention efforts in their high schools.

Volume 21, Issue 1 Promoting Healthy Choices Summer 2016

WNY UNITED Find us on

Digest

#80 Highgate Heights Ikesha Benson Cameron Frazier Arianna Newsome Leanna Quiles Umieka Scott Miriam Smith Sydney Wingard #93 Southside Morgan Beranek Alaynah Bisorek Natalie Boldt Shayla Clarke Anthony Fusara Lauryn Laughlin Stephanie Marvel Marissa Molett Jacob Sciabarrassi Alex Thomas Cleveland Hill Masen Albright Andrew Amos Joseph Lesser Sherilan Lorenz Gabriella Robinson

#95 Waterfront Nawaraj Bastola Ranole Goodwin Akeru Hunter Serene James Nayla Mims-Higgs Owen Pilon Pah Pah Win Lake Shore Jacey Addison Sarah Bove Paige Cornwall Emily Gordon Gretchen Hazzard Justine Kranz Jordan Kranz Mary Kromer Nicole Logan Elizabeth Nau Caleb Potter Dayna Sterner Nathaniel Styles

#18 Dr. Antonia Pantoja Eban Alejandro Anthony Ayala Moolah Bay Keshab Gautam Eh Moo Bigyan Pradhan Nay Say

#19 Native American Joseph Book Kanchee Bu Francis De La Torres Carmel Matewos Phoo Zaw #27 Hillery Park Mymonna Be Hayleigh Bevelock Naomi Burton Shane Gelster Jaylah Johnson Samantha Keefe

#43 Lovejoy Discovery Kayla Carl Carmen Jimenez #67 Discovery School Zachary Bougard Joshua Derwin Zachary Guard Samantha Kane Gabrielle McCrory Ronald Rocklin III Dashiya Sims #72 Lorraine Faith Burnett—Hennings Naiemah Cooper Kasey Dulniak Isabella Russillo Kaleb Thompson Christian Vazquez

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WNY UNITED AGAINST DRUG & ALCOHOL ABUSE, INC.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Gerry Pullano, Chairman

Andrew Neyman, Treasurer

Denise Fulkerson, Secretary

Reginald Burt

Brian Chella

Patrick Fitzgerald

Otis Glover

Sheriff Timothy Howard

Carrie Meyer

Mary Lou Montanari

Mary Ellen Mulvey

Daniel Sarzynski

Assunta Ventresca

Melinda Rich, Chairperson Emeritus

Robert E. Rich, Jr., Chairperson Emeritus

Robert E. Rich III, Emeritus

FOUNDATION BOARD OF

DIRECTORS

Steve Barber, President

Howard Martin, Treasurer

Lisa Poch, Secretary

Alvino Battistoni

Michael Buczkowski

Joseph Ciffa

Bob Gauchat

Otis Glover

Mike Klima

John Lunn

Kim Rich Lupkin

Urmas Lupkin

Jim Mize

Charlie Riley

Melinda Rich, Chairperson Emeritus

Robert E. Rich, Jr., Chairperson Emeritus

STAFF

Linda Flowers, CPP, Executive Director

Beth Anzalone, CPP

Tammy Bennett, CPP

Sue Boyle

Lori Brown

Donald Burch, Accountant

Dale Decker

Sarah Holsopple, CPP

Beth Milks

Mindy Monkarsh

Dawn Murphy

Joseph Olgin

Maddie Oppenheimer

Julie Schaefer

Kristie Schiefer

Timothy Smykowski, CPP

Samantha Zappala, CPP

Class of 2001 Leader inducted into Alumni Hall of Fame Josh Hutchen was a former Leaders in Training (LIT) student who attended BPS 11 until it shut down, then transferred to BPS 38. He went on to graduate from Lafayette High School where he played football and was an active member in Yearbook and Senior Counsel. Leaders in Training was more than just a program to him. Former Prevention Specialist Dennis Wilson left a lasting impression. He listened to Josh and instilled the values that Josh would like to pass on to youth. At first it seemed to be something to do for the summer, but now, LIT has inspired him on his career path. Josh is now 29 and the father of two children. He quit his bank job to follow his passion for working with youth. His personal mission is to make a difference in a young person’s life and if he can keep one troubled youth off of the streets or worse, it is worth it. He’s currently serving with AmeriCorps and running the after school program at BPS 80 Highgate Heights. Josh often asks to work with the “trouble” or “bad” children, feeling that most of these kids are just bored and need someone to talk to. Josh is heavily involved with the church, studying to become a minister, working mainly with the youth, leading Sunday school and bible study. He would like to start a non-profit program for at-risk children.

Josh Hutchen, LIT Alumnus of the Year.

Mymonna Be, LIT Leader of the Year, from School #27 Hillery Park with her Prevention Specialist Tammy Bennett.

Check out the rest of the photos from the graduation ceremony at facebook.com/WNYUnited.

Leaders In Training Students present at Annual Showcase Every year, WNY United holds the Leaders in Training (LIT) Showcase event to allow our seventh grade Leaders the opportunity to present their service learning projects to their peers, staff and administration from Buffalo Public Schools. This year’s two day event was held at Emerson School of Hospitality and included LIT teams from Buffalo Public School #18, #19, #27, #43, #67, #69, #72, #80, #93, #94, #95 and Cleveland Hill. Leaders began each day with a scavenger hunt where they were asked to match questions with answers from their peers. For example, they had to find another peer that rode the roller coaster at Darien Lake when they took that field trip during the summer program. Following this rush of excitement from reconnecting with old friends, our Leaders sat down for an etiquette lesson. Susan Makai, Personal Best, walked the students through a formal dinner including “dabbing” with the napkin instead of “wiping.” She also taught the Leaders how to give a proper handshake and gave them conversation topics for their next formal occasion. Next we asked our Leaders to give their formal presentations on what service learning projects they worked on throughout the school year with their Prevention Specialists. The students made tri-fold boards to go along with their presentation and some groups even made videos. Students from School #93 sold shamrock beads during the month of March with profits benefiting refugee families who have resettled in the Southside Community. Leaders in Training at School #72 hosted a Valentine’s Day Carnation Sale at the school to collect money to benefit the middle school dance. At School #67, Leaders “rented” themselves

out during their lunch periods for a $2.00 fee that they donated to Haven House. This is not the extent of the projects, and the other schools participated in programs like sorting and delivering backpacks to needy students, canned food drives, morning pledge announcements, working at the school book store, creating red ribbon banners and reading to younger peers. Following the presentations the students were served a buffet meal prepared by the staff and students at Emerson.

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Leaders from School #89 presenting their projects.

All smiles from the Leaders at School #80!

The girls from #72 Lorraine Elementary.

Bisons’ host Red Ribbon Game, Friends of Prevention honored On Friday, May 6, the Buffalo Bisons faced the Syracuse Chiefs while hosting the Eleventh Annual “WNY United Red Ribbon Game” at Coca-Cola Field. More than 2,200 students earned free tickets to this game for their participation in “National Red Ribbon Week” in October by coloring an activity page to join Buster Bison and the Bisons’ WCC Racing Mascots “Drug-Free Team.” WNY United hosted the “Take A Stand” Red Ribbon Rally & Banner Contest at South Park High School in October. The banners created by students at local schools for this contest were walked on the field to make a public statement about drug abuse. In addition, Frontier Middle School kicked off National Prevention Week with their “I Choose” banner demonstrating their healthy choice over drugs or alcohol. In conjunction with the Red Ribbon Game, the 2016 Friends of Prevention were also honored. Each year WNY United selects a few outstanding school and community leaders for their commitment and support of the mission, activities and programs of WNY United that are delivered to the youth in our communities. This year we honored eight Friends of Prevention with our one-of-a-kind WiNnY Awards. These awards were created specifically for the agency by Steel Crazy Iron Art. The award represents the agency’s gratitude to the awardees for their dedication to WNY United. The following individuals as pictured left to right were this year’s honorees: Lynne Dixon, Erie County Legislator; Mr. Bill Fremgen, retired, Department of Mental Health; Dr. Bill Wieczorek, Center for Health and Social Research at Buffalo State College; Dr. Will Keresztes, Chief of Intergovernmental Affairs, Planning and Community Engagement (missing); Mrs. Sue Ventresca,

Buffalo Public Schools Director of Health Related Services; Captain Mike Licata, Erie County Sheriff’s Office; Mrs. Lori Szewczyk, Former President of the CRC; Mr. Dave Esis, President of the Evans-Brant Citizens for Responsible Choices (CRC) Following the on-field ceremonies, Lakeshore Middle School Leader in Training Nathaniel Styles threw the first pitch and WNY United hosted a reception at Pettibones Grille for Friends and their families.

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Students proudly displayed their commitment to being drug-free.

Kristie Schiefer, Communications Coordinator, and Beth Anzalone, Program Director, with our Friends and their WiNnYs.

Forum provides education on opiate addiction Adapted from Lucy Lopez, Bee Group Newspapers

WNY United’s environmental strategies team; Kristie Schiefer, Communications Coordinator; Sue Boyle, Community Mobilization Specialist; and Deputy Aaron Naegely, law enforcement, hosted “A Pastoral Response to the Substance Abuse Epidemic” in collaboration with the Diocese of Buffalo and Office of Pro-Life Activities at Christ the King Seminary on Saturday, May 14 for approximately 65 concerned community members. Sue Boyle, emcee for the forum, introduced the presenters: Cheryl Calire, Office of Pro-Life Activities; Deputy Aaron Naegely, Erie County Sheriff’s Office; Maura Beres, Clinical Supervisor of Outpatient Chemical Dependency, Monsignor Carr Institute; the Rev. Marty Moleski; Sister Johnice Rzadkiewicz, Response to Love Center; and Avi Israel, Save the Michaels of the World Inc. Ms. Calire pointed to a drastic increase over the last decade of babies born opiate dependent noting that one baby every hour is suffering from opiate withdrawal. Seventy percent of opiate users will have a baby who is born dependent. This issue for children has tripled nationally over the last decade. Deputy Naegely provided the law enforcement perspective: “Every time I arrest someone on heroin, it’s always, ‘I started with painkillers.’ In America, almost 80 percent of people using heroin for the first time previously abused prescription drugs,” Naegely said. “This is where the problem is.” He went on to encourage the audience to limit access to prescription drugs in the household and get rid of their pills at designated drug drop-off locations. For locations visit http://www2.erie.gov/sheriff/. Deputy Naegely also reported that law enforcement is looking to jump-start the subcommittee program known as REAP, which stands for rapid evaluation appropriate placement as part of the Opiate Task Force. This will help those afraid to get help out of fear of prosecution get the medical attention they need. Based on her experience with inpatient and outpatient treatment, Ms. Beres described and answered questions on how the brain chemistry of an addict changes the individual’s impulse control, thought process and emotional regulation. Rev. Moleski came forward to say that he was an addict, enforcing the idea that addiction does not discriminate. He is now 35 years sober after his battle with alcoholism. He explained how 12-step programs helped him and other addicts he’s been in contact with throughout the years. Two presenters joined the conversation with suggestions on possible action steps. Drawing on her experience with addicts, Sister Johnice suggested treating the person with compassion, love and support they cannot find elsewhere. “My job is to listen. I’m only there to walk beside them on that journey,” she said. Avi Israel, father of Michael Israel, closed the discussion with the story of his son. The Israels lost their son five years ago to suicide after his struggle with painkiller addiction. They have created “Save the Michaels of the World” to raise awareness and help those who have also lost loved ones because of the opiate epidemic. He suggested that the audience become advocates for policy changes, noting their success in helping create a legislation called “I-Stop.” Through this law, prescriptions for controlled substances can be filled only at one pharmacy. The consensus among speakers—the community needs to stay informed and get involved if there is going to be change.

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Bisons’ host Online Auction; Mystery Ball to benefit WNY United During the first week of May, the Buffalo Bisons hosted an Online Auction to benefit WNY United. The lucky recipient won this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that included a signed Roberto Alomar jersey and reserved seats to the ‘Blue Jays’ Weekend games. Thank you Bisons! On Tuesday, August 16 the Bisons are hosting the 9th Annual Mystery Ball Event. Over 500 autographed baseballs from athletes of all sports including celebrities have been collected. Attendees can purchase a Mystery Ball ticket inside Coca-Cola Field and redeem it for a gift-wrapped baseball from any one of the participants. Who you get remains a mystery, for now! Proceeds of this event will go to WNY United. So mark your calendar and come test your luck!

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Drive Against Drugs Golf Tournament Have you or your business registered for our Drive Against Drugs Golf Tournament yet? Hurry, the tournament takes place August 8! Not a golfer? Please support our dinner following the round of golf at Brierwood Country Club. Our steak dinner includes a silent auction and basket raffle plus delicious food for a great cause. Can’t make it to dinner? We’ll gratefully accept donations of any kind including gift cards and items for our silent auction and basket raffle. Our charity golf tournament is the highlight of our summer; let it be the highlight of yours! Contact Kristie Schiefer at 716-821-7722 ext.314 or kschiefe@wnyunited.org with questions.

Who are we? WNY United Against Drug & Alcohol Abuse, Inc. is a grass roots initiative designed to increase awareness,

educate & mobilize area residents to participate actively in proven strategies to prevent substance abuse. We actively promote healthy choices. Funded by the New York State Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services through the Erie

County Department of Mental Health. Additional funds provided by the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, the Rich Family Foundation, the John R. Oishei Foundation, the WNY United Foundation & private contributions.

Member of Px21, the Erie County Prevention Alliance; WNY Chemical Dependency Consortium and EC Opiate Task Force.

WNY United Digest is published electronically tri-annually. We encourage community members to submit important dates and story ideas!

Send to : Kristie Schiefer, Editor, by email at kschiefe@wnyunited.org