The Seward Prevention Coalition would like to thank everyone who attended the January 24^th Town Hall Meeting on Community Solutions to Prevent Underage Drinking /Drug Use; the community turn-out was amazing—148 people!   The Native Youth Olympic Teams did an outstanding job with preparing and serving spaghetti, salad and bread (and thank you parents for your behind the scenes help!).  Who doesn’t love Judy Odhner’s cakes and these tasty desserts were made by her high school cooking class who did a stellar job!   The Seahawk’s Voice provided childcare upstairs in the Library’s new children’s room so parents and youth could attend the meeting.   We would also like to thank the Seward Community Library Museum for hosting the event and Shoreside Petroleum, Adventure 60 North, City of Seward, Safeway, AVTEC, Abby Wentworth, Sandy Stolle, Larry Unrein, and Mark Techenbrock for their help with the great door prizes.  For the Youths who won door prizes, be sure to arrange for your trip or workshop—before March 31^st!

Adults and youth worked together in groups during the meeting; first brainstorming ideas and then narrowing them down to projects and solutions that were feasible to put into action.  Projects were prioritized, voted on, and then community members signed up to bring them to fruition.  Right now, we have eight Community Action Teams ready to begin on projects—way to go Sewardites!

The first projects are:  Weekend and after hours coffee shop; Paint Ball, Laser Tag & Hunting Safety (looking for more volunteers); Unplugged/ Technology Free Day; Community/Family Center; Youth Fire, EMT and Police Academies (looking for more volunteers); Crisis Line for Teens; Affordable Transportation for Youth; Juvenile Justice/Probation Officer in Seward; and Tip line to report underage drinking, hosting or supplying alcohol/drugs.

Enough people have signed on to begin these first community projects supporting youth and a healthy community.  Other projects that received a lot of interest were:  after hours mechanics shop, mentoring program, weekly newspaper column about real-life parent and youth situations, outdoor club, central spot for advertising youth activities, and affordable activities for youth such as self-defense, music, art, archery, mini AVTEC classes, Young Life, Sea Scouts, Explorers, mechanics and babysitting.  If you would like to join one of the Community Action Teams, put together a team for one of the other projects, or join the Seward Prevention Coalition, please contact us at:  prevention@seaviewseward.org or call Joanie at 422-1051.

Seward Prevention Coalition is a group of community volunteers from a variety of backgrounds advocating wellness and positive change in Seward.  The Coalition was formed in 2005 and now consists of over 40 members from 18 different organizations in Seward and the surrounding area.  The mission of the Seward Prevention Coalition is “Partnering to promote all dimensions of wellness through education, advocacy and support.”

Our next monthly meeting will be held at the Seward Community Library Museum community room on March 20^th from noon-2pm.   Please join us!