Upcoming: Community Coalition Academy

November 29, 2011

It is not too late for community stakeholders to sign up for the inaugural Community Coalition Academy which will take place 1 December through 3 December at the Police Recreation Club in Prospect.

The Academy has culminated from the Bermuda Coalition Advisory Committee which is comprised of representatives from PRIDE Bermuda, in partnership with the Department for National Drug Control (DNDC), the Bermuda Police Service, Prison Fellowship and Bermuda Sports Anti-Doping Authority. The Academy will have a focus on community mobilization and coalition-building.

“Our goal is to help implement and sustain community mobilization efforts through a research-based community coalition model developed specifically for Bermuda by Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, CADCA,” said Judith Burgess, PRIDE Bermuda’s Executive Director.

“The DNDC’s 2007 Youth Survey indicates the prevalence of community disorganization; norms favourable to drug use; low neighbourhood attachment; availability of drugs and firearms are risk factors that significantly contribute to the violence in our community. We are encouraged by our leaders in the Throne Speech to ‘build one another together’. The Advisory Committee believes that no one person or organization can bring the solution to our issues but together we can.”

This week’s Coalition Academy will run with the first of a series of three academies. Part One is entitled CSI – Community Scene Investigators. Academy students will learn how to diagnose a community problem, intervene, and sustain efforts long enough to make a difference.

“Many efforts to bring about change in our community have dwindled. As a means to strategically sustain efforts, we are urging all sectors of the community, those who have a passion and commitment to foster change to participate in the Bermuda Coalition Academy. This includes parents, youth 18 years and older, church leaders, media, health care and drug treatment professionals, community activists and grass roots groups,” continued Mrs. Burgess.

The Academy has space for 40 students. Applications are available at PRIDE Bermuda. For more information about the Bermuda Coalition Academy call PRIDE Bermuda on 295-9970 or email bdacoalition@pride.prevention.bm.

Read More About

Category: All

.