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Registration is Open for the 2024 Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference!
Registration is open for the annual Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference! This free event is open to rising 9th through 12th graders residing in the City of Alexandria. This year’s conference will be held August 6 and 7, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., and August 8, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Dr.) Participants who attend the conference in its entirety are eligible to receive a $20 gift card! This event is free and youth must register by August 2. Register here.
The Youth Leadership Conference empowers emerging young leaders by providing training opportunities and connecting them to resources in their community.
Click here to view and share the event flyer.
This event is hosted by SAPCA, the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP), the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center, and the Alexandria Library.
Questions? Contact felicia.parks@alexandriava.gov or call 703.851.6163.
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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 8, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Dr.) Please register here by August 1.
In partnership with the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center and the Alexandria Library, SAPCA and ACAP are sponsoring the 11th 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,
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Call for Volunteers: National Night Out
Alexandria will join communities across the country in celebration of National Night Out on Tuesday, August 6. For those who have not experienced this event, it is 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 is seeking volunteers of all ages to visit neighborhoods and provide outreach about our work. No previous experience is required to volunteer.
Volunteers will:
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Meet at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center, 4850 Mark Center Drive, on August 6 at 5:30 p.m. to join a team and receive neighborhood assignments.
- Drive or walk to assigned neighborhood events to connect with community members, distribute prevention resources, and "cover the city" with information about our work.
- Have fun, eat good food, and snap some pictures!
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The total time commitment will be from approximately 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Please contact Emma Beall at emma.beall@alexandriava.gov or 571.302.1022 by August 2 if you want to join us for this fun community event!
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Support Youth to Navigate the Digital World Safely
In today's interconnected world, digital technology has become an integral part of our daily lives. From education and entertainment to social interactions, the digital landscape offers countless opportunities for learning and growth. However, with these opportunities come potential risks, especially for children who are navigating the digital world.
Explore 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.
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Recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day
On August 31, the City of Alexandria will join communities around the world in support of International Overdose Awareness Day. The goal of this annual campaign is to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind, and raise awareness that substance use disorders can be successfully managed with treatment.
This year's awareness campaign theme is "Together We Can." Here are some ways our community can come together this month and year-round to support efforts to prevent overdoses:
Store medication safely
The Lock & Talk statewide suicide prevention initiative strives to promote safe care of lethal means and encourages community conversation around mental wellness. Residents can access free locking medication boxes at the following locations and times, except holidays:
- Alexandria Health Department, 4850 Mark Center Dr. 4th fl., Mon - Fri: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Department of Community and Human Services, 4850 Mark Center Dr. 5th fl., Mon - Fri: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, 2003 Mill Road, Visitor Center, 24 hours a day.
Dispose of medication safely
In Alexandria, you can dispose of unwanted or unused pills, liquids or other medication at one of three permanent medication drop boxes that provide year-round access to safe drug disposal:
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Neighborhood Pharmacy: 2204 Mt Vernon Ave.; open Mon - Fri: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sat: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Sun: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Inova Alexandria Hospital: Visitor's Center Lobby (near cashier's window), 4320 Seminary Road; open daily from 8 a.m. - 11 p.m.
- Alexandria Police Department Headquarters (just inside front entrance, ring bell for access): 3600 Wheeler Ave.; available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
Needles are not accepted at permanent medication drop box locations. Dispose of needles and syringes at a separate permanent drop box specifically for these items located inside the visitor's entrance at Inova Alexandria Hospital. The box is located near the permanent medication drop box next to the cashier's window.
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Learn about harm reduction resources
If given in time, Narcan® (also known as Naloxone) can save the life of someone who is overdosing from opioids. It can stop an overdose and restore normal breathing until emergency response can arrive. Narcan is available for free from the Alexandria Health Department by calling 703.746.4888.
Fentanyl test strips detect the presence of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 100 times more potent than morphine, in unregulated injectable drugs, powders and pills. Fentanyl test strips are available for walk-in clients at the Alexandria Health Department on the fourth floor. Learn more about fentanyl.
Learn more about Alexandria's efforts to eliminate opioid misuse and its harmful effects at alexandriava.gov/opioids.
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Call for Grant Proposals to Improve Community Health and Well-Being
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 (a) strategy or strategies and (b) 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 a 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: August 23, 2024 (by 11:59 p.m.)
- Awards Announced: September 24, 2024
- Grant Period Begins: October 1, 2024
- Grant Ends: September 30, 2025
- Final Grant Report due: October 30, 2025
Eligibility & Funding Availability
- 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. Please note that successful applicants under the Mental Health priority area may have additional expenditure reporting requirements and will have record retention requirements. These requirements are discussed at the end of the grant application.
- The minimum funding request is $2,500, and the maximum funding request is $10,000. Funds must be spent by grantees by September 30, 2025.
To apply, please review the 2024 Grant Application.
For more information, please visit the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria website.
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Planet Fitness Offers Free High School Summer Pass
Between June 1 and 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 pre-register for your free High School Summer Pass membership and get ready for your most energized summer yet!
- Pre-register here.
- Download the Planet Fitness App to get your digital club pass.
- Work out at your home club for free from June 1 to August 31!
Learn more here.
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SummerQuest 2024
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, gift card drawing entries, and tickets to a Washington Nationals game. Learn more at alexlibraryva.org/summerquest.
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Emma Beall, MPH
SAPCA Coordinator
O: 703.746.3670
C: 571.302.1022
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Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria
4850 Mark Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22311
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