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Teens & Drugs event - Resources & Recap

Miss our last community event, Getting Real about Teen Drug Use? No problem!

Here are some key resources and details about the extraordinary speakers from that evening, folks who are on the frontlines of the teen substance scene. We’re SO grateful to them for taking the time to share their stories and insight with us.

Simply put, the info below can save lives - please save this link and share widely with friends and family, far and wide. Because it really does take a village.

 

SPEAKER BIOS & RESOURCES

 

MVPD law enforcement officers:

RYAN SMITH (rsmith@cityofmillvalley.org ) has worked in Law Enforcement for 23 years, and has been a Sergeant with the MVPD for 14 years as a patrol officer, investigator, and Juvenile/School Resource Officer (SRO). Born and raised in Marin County, Ryan holds degrees in Administration of Justice and Criminal Justice as well as completing the Sherman Block SLI leadership academy—an 8-month program promoting/teaching quality leadership to fellow officers. Ryan joined us thanks to a California Department of Justice grant providing education to the community regarding tobacco and related drugs.

NICK NEISIUS (nneisius@cityofmillvalley.org) has been a Police Officer with the MVPD for 6 years. He’s currently serving as a Detective and School Resource Officer (SRO), spending time on the campuses of Mill Valley Middle School and Tam High, and developing relationships with the students. He serves as a resource to the administrations, teachers and parents on issues related to juvenile use of alcohol, tobacco and other illicit drugs. Nick was the staff liaison for the 2019/2020 Mill Valley Youth Advisory Committee.

 * * *

KORI STEVENSON ( reidkori@hotmail.com ) is a Marin mother and a recovering alcoholic and addict. She works as an educator for Being Adept, which teaches science-based drug prevention to teens at the local middle schools. Kori pairs her experience and understanding with humor and candid feedback about the reality of addiction and the ways we as a community can prevent it.

Besides the robust Being Adept website, here’s more recommended reading from Kori:

MICHELLE LEOPOLD ( mich.leopold@comcast.net ) is a NorCal native, a 21-year Marinite, and a mom in all she does. When Michelle’s son Trevor started spiraling out of control from his drug use, she offered a lifeline to many families also suffering from the disease of addiction. After Trevor passed away in November 2019, Michelle became his voice, hoping to stop other young adults from following his path, and helping other families experiencing the catastrophic loss of a child. Since then, she has advocated against retail cannabis in Marin County, she founded the Nar-Anon Group Hope After Loss, and uses her social media platform to try to save other young adults from dying from addiction and/or fentapills.

Michelle’s contact info. Please feel free to call or email Michelle to discuss other resources. You are not alone. 

  • email: mich.leopold@comcast.net

  • Cell 415.302.4055

  • Facebook: Michelle Saevke Leopold

  • Coming soon: WeAreNotAlone.community website & Facebook group

Michelle’s Resources:

  • DrugFree website and toll-free helpline 1-855-DRUGFREE - a great spot to start looking for answers and next steps

  • Marin4PublicHealth.org - created by a grassroots collection of Marin County residents including local health care professionals, public health advocates, educators, parents (incl. me), and teens. We are united by our concern over the commercialization of cannabis, high potency products and the consequences on youth.

MARIJUANA

My Kid Smokes Pot (Marin Specific) This is the website Michelle created when Trevor started using pot regularly, sharing all her own research about Trevor’s marijuana use, and Marin resources. Looking back, it’s still pretty accurate 5 years later.

Johnny’s Ambassadors was created by Laura & John Stack to save our kids from the harms of marijuana. Their son Johnny died by suicide after becoming psychotic from high-potency dabs jumping off a building, thinking the mob was after him. Excellent educational resources for teens, parents, educators. Coincidentally, their son Johnny died 3 days after Trevor died.

FENTANYL (& other opiates)

RXSAFEMarin - information about opiates including getting Narcan (naloxone)

Song For Charlie was started by Charlie Ternan’s parents Ed & Mary, after Charlie died from taking one Fentapill at Santa Clara University, which he thought was percoset. Great videos & resources around fentapills, targeting 13-24 year olds

Facebook: The Fentanyl Awareness Coalition New group started this month to raise awareness of the rapidly increasing dangers of fentanyl

Articles:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/23/us/fentanyl-overdoses-san-francisco.html

https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Overdoses-keep-piling-up-in-S-F-putting-city-in-16048227.php

ADDICTION – Support for Parents

Nar-Anon Help for loved ones of addicts. The Novato meeting literally saved Michelle’s life for the past 5 years. They meet Tuesdays at 7pm

Marin Al-Anon - The Mill Valley Parents’ Meeting is Saturday mornings at 10:00 am

 

 

 

 

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Real Talk: Teens & Drugs - May 19 Event

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Getting Real about Teen Drug Use

HOTV PRESENTS:
A village learning and sharing event

Navigating the drug and alcohol scene is always a challenge for teens, but as they return to school and social activities, our kids are shouldering even more extreme academic and peer pressures.


Drugs are easier than ever to access, and with stronger concentrations and the explosion of synthetics like fentanyl, accidental overdoses are on the rise — often in youth trying for the first time or “just” experimenting.

We families and caregivers are in the best position to support our kids, but we need to know the facts and the realities.

Please join us May 19 from 7-8PM for a virtual event, to hear real-time stories, get more resources and meet these folks on the frontlines:

  • MVPD law enforcement officers sharing what they are seeing in the community, and their efforts to keep teens safe.

  • Michelle Leopold, a Marin parent who lost her son to a fentanyl overdose and now works around the clock in community outreach.

  • Kori Stevenson, a recovering addict and Marin parent and educator with Being Adept, an organization that equips parents and teens with cutting-edge drug prevention tools.



This talk is appropriate for parents and caregivers of 5th graders and up.
As with all HOTV events, our goal is to raise awareness around pressing issues, share stories and resources, and support each other through challenges.

Because it really does take a village.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER and receive your ZOOM LINK

April 21 DEI Speaker event - recap & resources

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Dear Friends,

Thanks to those who joined our second HOTV “5 for 5” DEI Speaker Event and gratitude to the extraordinary speakers who shared with us.

Let’s all connect and keep the momentum rolling for local DEI efforts. So many ways to get involved — feel free to reach out to our fearless leaders and their organizations to learn more. 

  • LISA JIMINEZ  is CEO and Founder of OLAS Equity and Belonging Strategists, and serves on many racial task forces and organizations including Tam District Task Force and the Fairfax Racial Justice Task Force. Lisa is an organizational developer, executive coach, and engagement strategist supporting people to operationalize diversity, inclusion, and belonging founded on anti-racism, anti-oppression, and social justice values.  She works with leaders and organizations working for equity-centered transformation through daily practice and implementation. lisajimcam@gmail.com

  • LESHAWN HOLCOMB (leshawn@griottheatercompany.org) is an educator, advocate, and artist who teaches Humanities at Bayside Academy and is the Director of the Griot Theatre Company. GTC is a collective of artists, educators, and entrepreneurs committed to exploring, embracing, and amplifying brown and black culture through the arts. GTC work with Marin City and Sausalito students through theater-making and mentorship opportunities. Support Griot by volunteering, wearing their merch, and coming to the fantastic productions. And check out their last show Oratorical: Who is James Baldwin?

  • HILARY HEAVEN (hilroms@yahoo.com) is a third generation resident of Mill Valley. Her grandparents Dr. Daniel and DeReath Collins were one of the first black families to integrate MV in the early 1950s. In addition to serving on the Tam District Racial Task Force Hilary was a member of the former MV DEI Task Force and is now a member of MVFREE (Mill Valley Force For Racial Equity and Empowerment). For more info about the Tam Racial Task Force, contact Dr. Kimberlee Armstrong karmstrong@tamdistrict.org. To connect with MVFREE, send an email to action@mvfree.org

  • SARA MATSON (saram@canalalliance.org) oversees fundraising, grants management, marketing, communications, and volunteer engagement at Canal Alliance. Canal Alliance offers immigration legal services, education and career programs, and social services to help Latino immigrants and their families overcome the barriers to success. Sign up for their newsletter and follow them on social media to stay informed about the challenges facing the Latino immigrant community and they collaborate with partners and community members to provide direct services and advocate for the community: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn. Current volunteer opportunities are limited because of Covid, but check back again soon.

     

Please share this info with friends and family, far and wide. Because it really does take a village.

And together we can create a community where everyone belongs.

With gratitude and friendship,

The Heart of the Village Team

 

 

Join the 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge

Creating effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of power, privilege, supremacy and leadership, is like any lifestyle change. Setting our intentions and adjusting what we spend our time doing is essential. It’s all about building new habits. Sometimes the hardest part is just getting started.

~ Dr. Eddie Moore Jr., Diversity Education, Research & Consulting

And we are ready to start OUR daily racial equity practice with Eddie Moore Jr’s 21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge.

Every day, we’ll be choosing an action item from Dr. Moore’s list of things to read, watch, listen to, take action on, and more.

Please join us in spirit by using this list to create your own daily practice. Let us know how you’re doing, or what action items you’ve found most valuable. The Challenge is ON!