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Hello friends and partners,
Happy Pride Month! June has been a record breaking month here at Thrive for Change with thousands of doses of naloxone distributed and hundreds trained to in overdose response.
If you are looking to get involved, now is the time. Check out our volunteer opportunities and a highlights around recent or upcoming events. We also added a new team member Victoria to the team to help support me in grant writing and reporting.
Our organization recently sustained funding disruptions due to funding delays from the federal government and anticipate more in the coming months. We hope you'll consider donating to Thrive for Change this summer to help us continue this critical work.
Sincerely,
Bethany Roebuck
Executive Director
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We’re excited to share that our first Pride event of the season on June 7th was a huge success! We distributed over 1,200 doses of naloxone and 1,250 fentanyl test strips making a meaningful impact on community health and safety.
This was a record-breaking day for us! We used our wagons as a strategy to cover more ground and connect with more people beyond those who stopped by our booth. It helped us reach folks where they were and we didn’t see anyone else using wagons, so it really made us stand out.
Looking ahead, we are eagerly preparing for our next events this month. We will be participating for Mx. Juneteenth on June 21st. These events provide us with additional opportunities to raise awareness, distribute life-saving supplies, and connect with even more members of our community.
| | | Curious about volunteering? | | |
There’s never been a better time to get involved! Whether you bring lived experience, professional skills, or just a big heart for your community, we’d love to have you on our team. Our work depends on people like you, people who care, who show up, and who want to make a difference.
We have a variety of roles available, and every single one plays a part in building safer, healthier communities. You don’t need to be an expert just willing to learn and connect.
Fill out the interest form below and tell us a little about yourself and what you’re excited to offer. We’re so glad you’re here, and we can’t wait to meet you!
| | | National HIV Testing Day at Walgreens Friday June 27th | | |
Knowing your status is key to protecting yourself and your community. Regular HIV and STI testing can be part of your routine and free or low-cost options are available nationwide.
If you don’t have HIV, PrEP is a highly effective prevention tool. PEP is another option if started within 72 hours of exposure. Condoms also remain a reliable way to prevent HIV and other STIs.
For trusted info and support, visit , Greaterthan.org a national campaign reducing stigma and connecting communities most affected by HIV to helpful resources.
Take the next step. Get informed. Get tested. Get connected.
Get started by stopping by at Walgreens on Madison Avenue on June 27th, 10 AM–2 PM. We will be offering free rapid HIV testing and more throughout the day. Questions? For more details on these services, reach out to Shay, our HIV Outreach Specialist.
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The fundraising event that took place on May 25th that was Hosted by Variegate Design and The A.I.D. Plant Sale was a vibrant success. This high-energy community celebration bought together plant lovers, local vendors, and neighbors from across Northeast Ohio all in support of Thrive for Change and Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio.
Thanks to the incredible turnout and meaningful engagement, several thousand dollars were raised for Thrive for Change, and over 50 doses of Narcan were distributed empowering attendees with life-saving tools and raising awareness about harm reduction.
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Help us welcome Victoria Ma
to the team!
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Grants Administrator
Victoria grew up in the Cleveland suburbs and first got involved in kit-building days at Thrive for Change. She has a background in nonprofit fundraising, public policy, and government consulting, with experience in mental health peer support and life sciences. She always seeks to contribute to health equity, and is passionate about her work to support our mission.
| | | | | Ohio’s Mental Health & Addiction Conference of 2025 | | |
Our Harm Reduction Educator Ash & our partner Sara Szelagowski from Project White Butterfly were panelists in a session at Ohio’s Mental Health & Addiction Conference of 2025 sponsored by Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities on June 9th and 10th in Columbus, Ohio
Supported by funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Opioid Data to Action (OD2A) LOCAL Grant, Well Link Health Alliance (formerly The Center for Health Affairs) created the documentary, Igniting Compassion. A recent Gold Viddy Award Winner, the film was created to shine a light on clinical stigma surrounding substance use disorder and spark conversations about the overdose crisis by sharing the stories of Northeast Ohioans impacted and the clinicians who care for them. The purpose of the film is to dismantle medical stigma associated and encourage the critical conversations and creative solutions needed to mitigate the ongoing epidemic.
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Learn How to Save Lives: Join Us for Harm Reduction 101
Training, June 24th at 6:00pm
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Join us for a virtual education opportunity presented by people with lived experience, overdose survivors, and experts in the field of Harm Reduction. Harm Reduction 101 is a comprehensive webinar about drugs, drug safety, and looking at our society's anti-drug culture from a social justice lens. The goal is for you to walk away with more than what you came with, and the confidence to continue to learn with an open mind.
This webinar also includes training on how to respond to an overdose with naloxone nasal spray.
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About Thrive for Change:
Our mission is to promote health, hope, and healing for individuals at risk of overdose & their loved ones through education, collaboration, advocacy, and direct service.
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