The Churchill Community Coaliton recently received national recognition. From left are retired Army Maj. Gen. Arthur Dean, CADCA chairman and CEO; Mary Beth Chamberlain, projects coordinator, Churchill Community Coalition; Andrea Zeller, executive director, Churchill Community Coalition; Kareemah Abdullah, director National Coalition Institute; and an unidentified woman.
The Churchill Community Coalition staff along with two community members and a representative from Elko recently returned from a week-long Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) Forum-Community Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.
Churchill Coalition Executive Director Andrea Zeller and Projects Coordinator Mary Beth Chamberlain accepted an award from CADCA Chairman and CEO Arthur Dean, a retired U.S. Army major general, and Kareemah Abdullah, director of the National Coalition Institute, for successfully completing the National Coalition Academy, recognizing their efforts in Community Outreach and Substance Abuse Prevention efforts in Nevada.
The seven coalition representatives from Northern Nevada met with staff members of Nevada Sen. Harry Reid’s office in the Capitol Building to discuss the current marijuana initiative, as well as the prescription drug and heroin epidemic combating our state. The Churchill Community Coalition was able to deliver local data and current trends from our areas to the staff members and express to them the severity of these issues in Nevada.
Along with Capitol Hill Day, the Coalition representatives attended numerous forum training sessions learning about new approaches to prevention efforts in communities as well as current national drug and alcohol trends.
Another highlight of the week was hearing from Michael Botticelli, director of National Drug Control Policy for the White House.
The Churchill Community Coalition has secured more than $400,000 in federal funds to support the community in substance abuse and suicide prevention, as well as health and wellness efforts.