The Y and Nashua Prevention Coalition: A Nashua Teen Leadership Development Partnership

“We love partnering with the Y. The Y does a fantastic job providing leadership opportunities for youth, giving them resources to grow into successful adults. It’s fantastic to go to the Y and provide further prevention opportunities and educational opportunities, aligning with our vision of a positive environment for youth to grow up healthy, confident, and substance free. We are a coalition of multiple sectors within the community, including youth serving organizations such as the Y,” Kameo Chasse, Director of Programming for the Nashua Prevention Coalition, said.

The YMCA Leaders Club is one of seven SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) clubs, supported by the Nashua Prevention Coalition. The mission of the Nashua Prevention Coalition is to prevent and reduce substance use in youth by increasing awareness, education, and community involvement. A few times a year, all local SADD clubs get together. This includes the YMCA Leaders Club, Boys and Girls Club, Police Athletic League, the two public high schools and three middle schools in Nashua. “It’s a great way to break down silos and get our youth together,” Kameo said.

The Leaders Club participated in the Coalition’s Youth Video Project by producing a video on promoting positive, healthy messages to our entire community. The theme is “Connections: the anti-drug – who or what encourages you to live a substance free life.” Winners of this local competition will have the honor of having their 60-second video shown at Chunky’s Cinema for a month. “It’s important to have youth engaged and let their voices be heard,” Kameo said. In addition to creating a video, Leaders Club members made ribbons for community members distributed during Red Ribbon Week, the most visible prevention awareness campaign observed annually in the United States.

The Coalition has sponsored anti-vaping workshops for Y staff, as well as presentations to our teens and YMCA Power Scholars Academy. They have also sponsored workshops for Leaders Club to attend the NH Teen Leadership Institute whose mission is to empower teens to lead healthy lifestyles and create stronger communities through community-focused prevention and leadership workshops.

Thank you Nashua Prevention Coalition for educating our youth and helping them make good decisions and lead healthy lives.

About the YMCA of Greater Nashua:
The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. In 2019, the YMCA of Greater Nashua celebrated 132 years of service. Its facilities which are located in Nashua and Merrimack engage over 35,000 men, women and children annually – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Last year, the Y provided $760,000 in scholarships for more than 3,000 children, youth and families to participate in Y programs and membership. For more information about the Y visit www.nmymca.org.

About Nashua Prevention Coalition:
The mission of the Nashua Prevention Coalition is to prevent and reduce substance use in youth by increasing awareness, education, and community involvement. The organization has been successful in to creating a community that will support a positive environment for youth to grow up healthy, confident, and substance free. The Y has partnered with them in their leadership role locally with SADD, a nationally recognized organization with a mission to empower young people to successfully confront the risks and pressures that challenge them throughout their daily lives. SADD works to create, equip, and sustain a network of student-run chapters in schools and communities focused on peer-to-peer education. SADD fosters a sense of belonging and promotes resiliency, leadership, and advocacy skills so that young people make positive life decisions that will carry them throughout life. Learn more here: https://www.nashuacares.org/about