Other Local Coalitions: Part 3

I thought people might be interested in what other local coalitions are doing. Here are a few posts with recent news from other coalitions:

Article published Sep 20, 2007
Breaking the silence through community-wide action planning

I am often asked, "What is the Farmington/Farmington Hills 'Call to Action' Coalition?"

Put simply, the Coalition is a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to breaking the silence and addressing the pain and chaos caused by the abuse and addiction of alcohol and other drugs and domestic violence.

To break the silence, through community-wide action planning, the Coalition commits to facilitate awareness of its mission by serving as a clearinghouse to provide educational resources and referral services for community members in need of intervention and support.

The Coalition's Advisory Board is comprised of representation from city government, judiciary, law enforcement, firefighters/paramedics, business, faith communities, community organizations, mental health, treatment centers, medical, media services and the schools.

This year's October breakfast will include the formal release of four programs, to be cablecast community-wide, on "Drugs in the Workplace;" "Current Drug Trends;" "Education, Rehabilitation and Treatment;" and "Domestic Violence."

Each of these programs is sponsored by Farmington Hills Police Chief William Dwyer and drug forfeiture monies. Additionally, the Coalition will release four brochures, to include the above topics, as well as a legal consequences brochure, created by Farmington's Public Safety Director Charles Nebus and drug forfeiture monies.

Each of these brochures, sponsored by various community sectors, will be placed throughout the community for easy access by community members.

Additionally, police and fire will house these brochures in law enforcement/emergency responder vehicles to be distributed to families on runs relevant to the topics. Our police chiefs, fire chief and our Honorable 47th District Court judges will also share powerful words during the breakfast. Lastly, the Coalition is also designing a new Web site to broaden communication linkages.

I am often saddened and angered by the fact that it continues to take the reoccurrences of tragedies to inevitably force communities to demand change and commit to break the silence.

We cannot ignore a very stark reality. In order to impact change, all community sectors must overcome denial or complacency, examine norms and attitudes, confront behaviors and ultimately take action. We all play a piece "in the action."

We need to make a long-term commitment, without compromise. Perseverance and audacity are necessary to create change. Because when tragedies occur, particularly with our children, the single words that resound the loudest are "blame" and "denial."

My response to these attitudes is that if you are not willing to become involved, your mere blame or denial only perpetuates the cycle of inaction. Therefore, for those readers who are accustomed to only traveling within the blame or excuse lanes, it is time to get out of the way and let those with passion lead the charge.

The key word within this journey is "action," otherwise, we face the inevitable ebb and flow of concern and apathy and time is wasted by efforts to engage a recommitment.

So what should we do as a community to address the pain and chaos surrounding alcohol/drug and domestic violence issues? Are we going to continue to blame one another or engage in pointless dialogues? Or are we going to finally demand more unification and assume community-wide responsibility to protect the health and safety of each and every one of us and particularly our children?

It is time to break the no-talk rule. Help community members, young and old, to reach out to one another for intervention and support. Reinforce community norms and values with logical and clearly stated consequences.

Role model anger management. Educate children if there is a family history of addiction. Do not tolerate the abuse or bullying of children, particularly by adults. For that matter, do not tolerate the abuse, intimidation, harassment or bullying by anyone - adult or child.

Recognize the necessity of vigilance and availability for all of our children and to love and to support one another unconditionally. Ensure and enforce reasonable consequences for behaviors that threaten the safety and security, not only of families but of neighborhoods throughout a community.

It is time for educational leaders to guide schools toward the recognition of their roles and responsibilities within this critical initiative.

It is time for students to no longer tolerate inappropriate behaviors among peers, to set standards among student bodies so that each and every student feels safe and accepted and to no longer keep secrets when fear permeates.

Law enforcement, the judiciary and juvenile justice systems must never forget that a single contact with a juvenile may be a critical opportunity to identify or to intervene with a potential drug or violence problem, either with the juvenile or within the family system.

It is time for faith-based communities to regularly schedule sermons that fuel dialogues, host educational workshops for youth and families and publicize referral and mental health agencies for those in need of support services.

It is time for the media to cease glorifying the negatives. We must utilize the power of the media to continually update and educate the community on trends and research regarding safety and security issues. Highlight agencies and programs eager to provide support. Celebrate fights that don't happen and applaud anger resolution; interview the batterers that have learned to manage anger; applaud citizens in recovery; run regular columns devoted to safety and security issues that are succinct and practical.

Employers in both the public and private sectors must assure that workplaces are drug and violence free. Employee Assistance Programs are critical. Business and service groups must participate in community-based efforts as all systems need education and available support services.

Find your niche; commit to action within your affiliation, organization, newsroom, agency, home, office, classroom, congregation, neighborhood, restaurant, business - wherever you are able to make a difference within a life and ultimately save lives!

For more information or to purchase tickets for the Coalition's breakfast, to be held on Oct. 5 at Vladimir's beginning at 7:15 a.m., call (248) 661-4646. For more information on the "Call to Action" Coalition, call (248) 489-3408.

Estralee Michaelson is executive director of the Farmington/Farmington Hills Call to Action Coalition.