August 2023

Registration is Open for the 2023 Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference! 

Registration is open for the 10th annual Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference (YLC)! This free conference is open to rising 9th through 12th graders residing in the City of Alexandria. This year’s conference theme is Find Your Voice, Find Your Strength, Find Your Future. Click here to register.

The conference will be held August 8 and 9, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., and August 10, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., at First Baptist Church of Alexandria (2932 King St.) and youth who attend the conference in its entirety are eligible to receive a $20 gift card. Click here to view and share the flyer for this event. If you have any questions, please contact Felicia Parks at felicia.parks@alexandriava.gov.

The YLC empowers emerging young leaders by providing training opportunities and connecting them to resources in their community. This event is hosted by SAPCA, the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP), the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center, and the Alexandria Library.

Dear Community Leaders,

The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA) and the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP) cordially invite you to an in-person Networking Event with some of Alexandria's rising youth leaders on Thursday, August 10, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church (2932 King St.) Please register here by August 3.

In partnership with the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center and the Alexandria Library, SAPCA and ACAP are sponsoring the 10th annual Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference, an event to teach youth how to engage, lead, and advocate for issues in our community. We anticipate between 25 and 30 young leaders will participate in the leadership conference this year.

In addition to skill-building, the Youth Leadership Conference helps to strengthen essential building blocks for young people, or Developmental Assets, including a sense of feeling valued by their community, self-esteem, recognizing themselves as a resource to others and planning and decision-making.

The Youth Leadership Conference is excited to continue our annual Networking Event to encourage youth civic engagement in Alexandria. Our goal is to facilitate youth-adult partnerships by providing a forum in which organizations can connect directly with Alexandria's youth leaders. Your participation as a leader in the Alexandria community is invaluable. Youth will have an opportunity to talk with you and other adult community leaders and learn about volunteer and leadership opportunities available in Alexandria. Youth have much to learn from your experience and are deeply connected to the work you are doing in our City.

This is also your opportunity to recruit youth who have the necessary skills to participate in your organization in a leadership position such as a member of your Board of Directors, Commission member or Committee Chair. Many Alexandria boards, commissions and community groups have space reserved for youth representatives or could be stronger if youth voices were included in the group. Unfortunately, many youth spaces remain consistently unfilled, or organizations do not think of including youth leaders on their boards. Our aim is to help build a network of youth leaders who can serve effectively and to help boards, commissions and community groups understand how to benefit from youth voices. We believe the first step is to have community leaders talk with youth to learn about their abilities and interests and to see where their voices and skills could fit within our community. To accomplish this, SAPCA and ACAP will work with you to:

• Meet Alexandria's youth leaders at this Networking Event and throughout the year.
• Help orient you as to why it is important or beneficial to have youth leaders on Alexandria's boards, commissions and work groups, and
• Work with you to make sure that our city's boards and commissions know how to engage youth who serve with your adult leadership.

We hope you can join us for this important event. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact one of us listed below.

Sincerely,

Meet SAPCA's New STOP Grant Coordinator!

Please join us in welcoming Alina Selnick-Escobar, Grant Coordinator for the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP) grant. Awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), this grant supports the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA) to enhance and expand efforts to reduce underage drinking by focusing on prevention among Latino students, middle school students and older adolescents, ages 18-20, attending the Northern Virginia Community College Alexandria Campus.

Alina joins us with a background in curriculum development and training. From developing programs as a personal trainer, designing curriculums for at-risk youth to, most recently, managing the training program for Fairfax County’s Office of Elections, she has worked with diverse populations in a variety of settings.

Alina’s journey in health promotion first began while pursuing her undergraduate degree in psychology, where she witnessed the impact that community support and education can have on addressing public health challenges. Her passion for prevention developed while working at a non-profit in Williamsburg, Virginia whose mission is to develop healthier and more resilient youth and families through evidence-based substance use services.

Alina is excited to merge her passion of community-based prevention with her skills in program development to serve the Alexandria community and support efforts to reduce underage alcohol use. Welcome, Alina!

SAPCA Celebrates National Night Out

On August 1, Alexandria will join communities across the country in celebration of National Night Out, a fun evening where neighborhoods around the City host events, block parties, barbeques, etc. with the goal of preventing crime by building a sense of community.

SAPCA volunteers will be visiting neighborhoods this evening to "cover the city" with information about our work. In addition to promoting the 10th annual Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference, volunteers will also distribute free parent handbooks, a resource guide created by Operation Parent that raises awareness about the latest trends, warning signs, and tips for effective parent/child communication. The Elementary School Parent Handbook and the Middle & High School Parent Handbook are both available in English and Spanish.

Can't make it to National Night Out? Contact Emma Beall at emma.beall@alexandriava.gov to learn how to pick up a free parent handbook.

Help SAPCA Celebrate 15 Years of Prevention!

Next month, SAPCA will be hosting a special celebration to recognize our prevention efforts throughout the past 15 years on September 27 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center (2701 Commonwealth Avenue).

In addition to saving the date on your calendar, we need your help to highlight our accomplishments. You can help by:

• Finding photos from past SAPCA events and activities
• Answering one (or more) of the following questions:
• What is one of SAPCA's most important accomplishments?
• How has SAPCA supported Alexandria youth and families?
• How can SAPCA continue to be successful in preventing youth substance use and misuse?
• What has SAPCA taught you?

Please send photos and question responses by September 6 to Emma Beall at emma.beall@alexandriava.gov or 571.302.1022 so they can be featured at our celebration. Stay tuned for a flyer that will include additional information about this event!

Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Recognizes Community Leaders

On July 20, the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce celebrated its seventh class of 40 Under 40 Honorees, a program that recognizes adults age 40 and under who are shaping Alexandria for the future. This event is a celebration of incredible individuals, their successes in various industries, and their impact on the thriving Alexandria community. Through this program, the Chamber also recognized Alexandria's youth with the selection of two additional student honorees. These youth honorees are:



• Chloe Yokitis, a junior at ACHS, SAPCA Board Member and Keep It 360 Peer Advocate
• Emily Milton, a senior at ACHS

Please join us in congratulating Chloe and Emily for receiving this extraordinary honor and thanking them for the positive impact they have made for our community.

The Keep It 360 Peer Advocates are a group of Alexandria youth that work closely with SAPCA, the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP) and the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center to support prevention and outreach efforts.

Fact of the Month: Navigating the Digital World Safely

Each month, SAPCA will be highlighting a key fact to support our community to prevent youth substance use. This month, we will be highlighting ways to empower your children to safely navigate the digital world. Check out these tips from Informed Families to help support your child to stay safe and make informed choices:

Set Clear Boundaries

Establish clear guidelines regarding screen time, app usage, and online platforms. Set age-appropriate restrictions and ensure your children understand the boundaries. Regularly revisit and revise these rules as your child grows older and gains more independence.

Be a Positive Digital Role Model

Children often emulate their parents' behavior, both offline and online. Practice responsible digital habits yourself by maintaining a healthy balance between online and offline activities. Show respect and empathy in your online interactions. Model good digital citizenship by treating others kindly, refraining from cyberbullying, and adhering to ethical behavior.

Encourage Media Literacy

Media literacy involves understanding the influence of media and its impact on our lives. Teach your children to analyze and evaluate media messages critically. Help them recognize biases, understand advertising techniques, and develop a healthy skepticism towards media content. Encourage them to seek diverse perspectives and engage in thoughtful discussions.

Monitor Online Activities

Regularly monitor your children's online activities without invading their privacy. Familiarize yourself with the platforms and apps they use, including their privacy settings. Encourage them to share their social media profiles and online friends with you. Utilize parental control tools and software to limit access to age-inappropriate content.

Explore more tips to support online safety and well-being here.

Sign Up for the Alexandria Library's SummerQuest 2023

From June through August, visit Alexandria Library locations in person and online to participate in SummerQuest. Through this free reading program, participants of all ages, including teens and adults, can earn prizes for reading and completing activities, including free books and tickets to a Washington Nationals game.

Click here to view the full brochure, available in English, Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, and Dari/Farsi.

Supercharge Your Summer: Free Planet Fitness High School Summer Pass '23

Now through August 31, teens between the ages of 14-19 can work out at Planet Fitness for free all summer long! Follow these easy steps to register for your free High School Summer Pass membership and get started supercharging your summer.

• Register here.
• Download the Planet Fitness App to get your digital club pass.
• Visit your home club now through August 31 for free!

Teens who register can also help win a grant for their school and participate in a video contest for a chance to win a scholarship. Learn more here.

Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria 2023 Call for Grant Proposals

The Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria is seeking grant proposals from qualified nonprofit organizations to improve the health and well-being of youth and adults who live, work and play in the City of Alexandria. Proposals must advance specific goals, strategies and tactics in the Alexandria Community Health Improvement Plan in one of the Plan's three priority areas:

• Housing
• Mental Health
• Poverty

Grant proposals must identify the specific strategy or strategies and tactic or tactics within the selected priority area the proposal focuses on. The strategies and tactics within each priority area are identified in the Community Health Improvement Plan. New and innovative tactics, not included in the Plan, will be considered as long as there is a written narrative showing the direct connection between the innovative tactic and its contribution to achieving the strategy or strategies identified in the proposal.

In addition, proposals should describe how funding will be used to promote equity or address inequities or disparities.

Important Dates

Grant Proposals Due: By 11:59 p.m., August 14, 2023

Awards Announced: September 21, 2023

Grant Period Begins: October 1, 2023

Grant Ends: September 30, 2024

Final Grant Report Due: October 30, 2024

Applicants must be nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS or be sponsored by a fiscal agent with a 501(c)(3) status. Proposals must demonstrate that funding will be used to benefit adults and/or youth who live, work and play in the City of Alexandria. Successful applicants will be required to submit a final report using the report template provided by the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria. The minimum funding request is $2,500 and the maximum funding request is $10,000.  Funds must be spent by grantees by September 30, 2024.

Click here to access the grant application. Learn more at the Partnership's website.

Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria 

4850 Mark Center Drive

Alexandria, VA 22311