CityNews - Winter 2009 - City of Meridian

CityNews Mayor’s Anti-Drug Coalition receivesNational Exemplary AwardThe Meridian Mayor’s Anti-DrugCoalition (MADC) recently received a2009 National Exemplary Award forInnovative Substance AbusePrevention Programs, Practices, &Policies from the National Associationof State Alcohol and Drug AbuseDirectors. The MADC was one of onlyseven organizations nationwide to bepresented with this award.The Exemplary Award honorsevidence-based, state-of-the-artsubstance abuse preventionprograms and was presented at theNational Prevention Network’s annualResearch Conference in Anaheim,California, on September 17, 2009.Along with the award, members ofthe coalition had the opportunity toexhibit aspects of their programduring the conference and receivedan unrestricted, mini-grant in theamount of $1,500.The MADC was awarded this nationalhonor due to its innovative andunique approach to involvingcommunity members and buildingpartnerships. Meridian Mayor Tammyde Weerd, the founder and an activeparticipant in the coalition, hasworked had to build a strongpartnerships between the MeridianPolice Department and MeridianSchool District through the MADC.This relationship is very unique forcoalitions in the field of substanceabuse prevention.Mayor De Weerd explains,“Maintaining a safe, healthy, anddrug-free atmosphere is a toppriority for our city which prides itselfon having a heavy focus on youthand families. We look for inspirationand participation from all walks ofour community to find innovativeand effective ways to send themessage that illegal drug and alcoholuse are not welcome in Meridian.”“It is nice for the members of thecoalition to be recognized for theirefforts by our peers, but as a coalitionwe don’t do this work for therecognition. Our true rewards come inthe form of success stories – storiesabout youth who resist thetemptations of drugs; adults whobreak the cycle by seeking help fortheir addictions; and criminals whoknow their drug crimes won’t betolerated in our city and decide tomove on,” she emphasized.The coalition works closely with JointSchool District No. 2 to provideprograms and funding for substanceabuse prevention education directed atstudents and parents, including RedRibbon Week activities, anti-drug videocontests, Reach Out Now alcoholprevention education, and substanceabuse education classes.MADC Chair Judy Herman said "TheCoalition offers concerned communitymembers an opportunity to becomeactively involved in efforts to preventsubstance abuse in our community ona grassroots level.”The MADC hosts the annualcommunity Celebrate RecoveryBreakfast, co-hosts with the policedepartment breathalyzer educationevents, and presents drug and alcoholinformation to local businesses, civicorganizations, and community groups.For questions about MADC programsor to becoming a member of theMADC, please contact MADCcoordinator Brenda Murdock of theMeridian Police Department at 846-7395 or via e-mail to:bmurdock@meridiancity.org.The Meridian Police Department’s Elisha Figueroa and Brenda Murdock sit front andcenter in this group photo of the national winners of 2009 Exemplary Awardspresented in California earlier this fall.7