HOPE Coalition
Dear Editor: As many of you may know, the Healing Our People and Environment Coalition has been serving the community of Sitka since 2015. The HOPE Coalition focuses on substance misuse prevention for youths and young adults and the community factors which impact that misuse.
Since its inception, the HOPE Coalition has supported a wide range of community programs, organizations, initiatives, etc., such as Indigenous Peoples Day, Native American Heritage Month, teen nights/family fun days, the Cloud Teen Center, student activities, drug free graduation, Sitka PRIDE, just to name a few. We have provided free NARCAN (Opioid Overdose Reversal) kits, medication disposal bags and medication drop boxes.
The coalition has also brought in over $2,750,000 into the community for substance misuse prevention efforts and matched that amount with local monetary and in-kind donations.
We are the only community organization which collects information on youth and young adult substance misuse in order to help develop prevention strategies to support youths and young adults as they navigate through their formative years.
On Thursday, June 13, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the See House (the building behind St. Peter’s Episcopal Church), 611 Lincoln Street, the HOPE Coalition will be hosting its monthly coalition meeting.
This meeting will highlight all the great work the coalition has been doing as well as discuss the future direction of the coalition. All concerned and/or interested community members are invited to attend and to be part of this discussion and the coalition.
Please feel free to contact Loyd Platson at 907 747-3636 or lplatson@scpsak.org for more information or questions. We hope to see you at the meeting and to join us as we help create a healthier community for all of us.
Loyd Platson,
Healing Our People and
Environment Coalition
