Southington STEPS Coalition Slates Gala Event

SOUTHINGTON, CT – The Southington STEPS Coalition (Southington's Town-wide Effort to Promote

Success) is celebrating 10 years of success as a leader in substance abuse prevention for youth within
the Southington community.

On Friday, Sept. 14, the community coalition will celebrate its first decade of success with a gala
event, from 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., at the Aqua Turf Club, 556 Mulberry St. in Plantsville. Members of
the community are invited to join the STEPS Coalition to celebrate 10 years of success in the
community and to honor John Myers, who was one of the founding members of Southington STEPS
and continues to serve today.

“We need to acknowledge and thank John Myers for his commitment and dedication to our coalition,”
STEPS Advisory Board President Chris Palmieri said. “Under his leadership, as a founding member and
our first Board President, we were able to become a relevant and essential part of our community.”
It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since the Southington community was awakened by a series
of youth suicides in the town that focused the community on the overwhelming pressures faced by
today's youth. That sparked this community movement.

“When a youth within the community came forward seeking advice and help, a group of community
stakeholders came together to form Southington STEPS,” STEPS Gala Chairperson William
Palmieri said. “This coalition reached out to all Community Sectors and ultimately developed a very diverse
and focused coalition. Join us as we reflect on the past 10 years of prevention within the Town of
Southington and prepare for the next decade of Community Prevention within the Town of
Southington.”

Southington STEPS began its prevention efforts by focusing on the 40 Building Blocks of Healthy
Development, known as "Developmental Assets." Southington STEPS also identified the immediate
issues within the community, and the prevailing culture that was endangering our youths. These
immediate issues were; tobacco, cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs.
Over the past decade, STEPS has actively collaborated with partners and organizations throughout the
Southington community to lead the discussion about substance abuse prevention in the schools, in
local government, and at community events.

“I am incredibly proud of the significant changes STEPS has made in Southington to reduce all risky
behaviors especially related to substance abuse,” Palmieri said. “As I have been involved from the
beginning of the coalition, I have seen the positive changes first-hand. Although there is still work to
be done, I am confident that the impact the coalition has made is long-lasting.”

The Gala is cocktail attire and is open to adults 18 and over.

Tickets can be purchased at www.southingtonsteps.org or the Southington STEPS office in the John Weichsel Municipal Center at 196 N. Main St. in Southington. Tickets cost $65 per person ($650 for a table of 10) and includes cocktails, hors d'oevres, food stations, and dancing.

For more information, contact Megan at (860) 276-6272 or albanesem@southington.org.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel