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SAY It Proud Awards on March 3rd!

Please join us to recognize the March 2012 winners of the S.A.Y. It Proud Awards at the Youth Performance Showcase at Barrington Stage Co, 30 Union Street, on Saturday, March 3rd at 7 pm.  Tickets for the show are $5 for children under 13, $10 for high school students, and $15 for adults.  The Pittsfield Prevention Partnership (PPP) believes that our community values the good choices our teens make and how hard our teens work.  By recognizing the achievements of our youth, we help to create the kind of healthy and positive community that prevents kids from turning to substance use.  Winners will receive a teen membership to the Pittsfield Family YMCA, and gift cards courtesy of Berkshire Bank and Greylock Federal Credit Union. 

Please consider nominating a young person for a S.A.Y. It Proud Award.  We accept nominations on a rolling basis.  We want to especially focus on kids who are making healthy choices and are engaged in positive activities in their communities.  Do you know someone who deserves some community recognition?  We really want to recognize that great kid next door who is helpful and involved in the community, but perhaps isn’t recognized as a top student or athlete. Please email in a nomination form today!  SAY_It_Proud-nomination-form_(7).doc

PPP Sponsors Former Celtics Basketball Player, Chris Herren, at 6:30 pm on April 12th at the Boys and Girls Club

The PPP will join the Pittsfield Public Schools Athletic Department and the Pittsfield Hoop Club in sponsoring a series of presentations by Chris Herren, a former high school basketball standout from Fall River, MA, and author of the new book “Basketball Junkie”.  Following high school, Chris went on to play at Boston College, Fresno State, and eventually the NBA - where he realized his childhood dream of playing for the Celtics.  Over the course of his young life, he battled a 10-year long spiral of addiction.  His path of alcohol and heavy drug addiction eventually destroyed a promising basketball career and nearly killed him.

Now in his mid-30’s, Chris has been sober since 2008. Married with 3 young children, he hit rock bottom earlier that year - found in Fall River slumped over the wheel of his car due to a heroin overdose.  Since that time, he has rejoined his family and now mentors young players and speaks to students about his experience.In addition to the recently published book, his remarkable story was turned into a 90-minute documentary broadcasted on ESPN in early November.  The ESPN film, titled “Unguarded”, aired on November 1st, 2011, spotlighting Chris Herren’s career, path of addiction, and eventual redemption and personal fulfillment.

Chris will be speaking to students at Taconic and Pittsfield High Schools during the day, and to parents and members of the general public at 6:30 pm on April 12th at the Boys and Girls Club.  The Chair of the PPP, Ann Marie Carpenter, will also be speaking at the evening presentation.  She will offer a short presentation of the PPP and tell parents what they can do to support their teens in making healthy decisions and avoiding alcohol and drug use.

Berkshire Youth Development Project’s 6th Annual 411 in the 413 Youth Conference on April 12th at YMCA Becket Chimney Corners!

Also on April 12, the Berkshire Youth Development Project will host the 6th annual 411 in the 413 Youth Conference at the YMCA Becket Chimney Corners:  “Health and Wellness for the Mind, Body and Spirit”.  This conference has been organized by high school student interns, including Berkshire United Way Miss Hall’s Horizons Intern, Rachel Bell.  The conference is open to high school students in Berkshire County.  Facilitators are all volunteering their time to guide the students in a wide variety of workshops, including Hot Topics with Senator Ben Downing, Lessons Learned from Occupy Wall Street, Yoga, Arts and Crafts, and Healthy Cooking.  This is a terrific opportunity for high school students to unwind, re-charge and re-engage! 

Dispose of Unwanted, Unused or Expired Medications in the new Drop Box in the Pittsfield Police Department Lobby, 39 Allen Street!

Teens are abusing some prescription and over-the-counter drugs to get high.  Every day, 2,500 youth age 12 to 17 abuse a pain reliever for the very first time.  Because these drugs are so readily available, teens who wouldn’t otherwise touch illicit drugs might abuse prescription drugs.  Many of these drugs can be addicting.  Help prevent prescription drug abuse by clearing out your medicine cabinets.  Get rid of any drgus that you are no longer using.  They can now be dropped off anytime, day or night, in the drop box in the lobby of the Pittsfield Police Department at 39 Allen Street.  This is the safest way to get rid of unused medications; flushing them down the toilet or sink could harm the water supply. 

Back to School With Your Best Foot Forward

Check out the positive messages that will be posted on the walls of Pittsfield and Taconic High Schools this year.  These messages were gathered from the data collected by the Students Against Destructive Decisions and the PPP last year.

See more of the ads by clicking the student social norms link under Latest News.

SAY It Proud Nominations for Youth Ages 11 - 19

We’re Berkshires community members and youth who are committed to helping young people make healthy choices.

Learn more about the PPP by watching members interviewed on Pittsfield Community Television’s Community Matters show with Berkshire United Way President and CEO, Kristine Hazzard: 

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