 Melissa Safford is the Program Director for Uplift Irondequoit (UI). UI is the primary community advocate for prevention and reduction of youth substance use in Irondequoit. Their vision is to create a safe and healthy environment for all. Their mission is to establish and strengthen collaboration among many community partners in order to support programs and activities related to the prevention, education, and reduction of youth substance use. UI was founded in 2016 by town resident Ginny Nacy who lost her son to a drug overdose. Working with the town leaders at the time, a coalition was formed among community leaders in government, police, religious, business, civic, and education organizations along with community volunteers. The organization has 4 staff members. Focus is on PREVENTION of youth substance use. They have had success engaging youth in the community. Recently sent several youth to a conference and then had the youth advocated within their schools. Vaping is a key focus as it has been rising in youth populations. A recent youth engagement was creating a mural at the town community center. Recent media campaigns target youth and parents of youth. One key message is to educate youth on the fact that substances impact them more than adults because their brains are not yet fully developed. An undeveloped brain is more easily trained to create a dependence on drugs later in life. In addition to media, UI works with the schools and attends community events. A "Hidden in Plain Sight" display at events shows parents ways youth can disguise everyday looking products that are really concealing drug paraphernalia. Melissa passed around a Safe Storage bag that parents can use to store their legal substances and keep them away from their children. Most funding comes from NYS and Federal grants. One grant is focused on Special Populations (LGBTQ+) due to higher incidence of substance use in this community. Another grant focuses on addressing nicotine/tobacco and marijuana use, especially in how they are used through vape devices. Volunteers are needed to attend community tabling events, help in school focus groups, collect retail data on substance marketing, and serve on the board. Donations are also greatly appreciated to pay for many things outside of the focused grant money. Please see website for more info. |
Lily Lynch and Steve Schwock are engaged! They are sorry that Ray Holla was not here tonight to hear the news as he inspects Lily's hand every meeting for the last year... 
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