justCommunity, Inc.
provides leadership in youth development, community mobilization
and restorative justice to schools, government agencies and other
organizations.
Founded and incorporated in 1999, justCommunity, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Quakertown, Pennsylvania.
Upper Bucks Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Coalition supports
Parents Who Host Lose the Most Campaign
For the third year, the Upper Bucks Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Coalition is sponsoring the Parents Who Host Lose the Most campaign in Upper Bucks County. During the month of June 2010, letters were mailed to parents of high school students from Palisades, Pennridge and Quakertown high schools informing them about the campaign. This national program was started by the Ohio Drug-Free Action Alliance and helps to ensure parents are knowledgable about state and local laws in regards to alcohol possession, consumption and purchasing--especially in regards to hosting private parties where teenagers are present. A tip sheet for parents who may be hosting a party for graduation or another summer event was included in the mailing.
Upper Bucks Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Coalition hosts Town Hall Meeting and Press Conference on March 23, 2010 at the James Michener Library in Quakertown, PA
On Tuesday, March 23rd, more than 150 community leaders and youth came together at the James Michener LIbrary to learn the results of the recent 2010 youth survey conducted with almost 3,000 teenagers in Upper Bucks County. This event was one of over 1,700 town hall meetings being held throughout the United States on the issue of reducing underage drinking. Speaking at the opening of the event was Ms. Shannon Weatherly, Policy Analyst from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Ms. Weatherly highlighted the fact that the country's alcohol and other drug problems must be solved at the local level through the support of programs such as the national Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program. The Upper Bucks Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Coalition (UBHCHY) is one of 746 communities throughout the United States that is partially funded through the DFC program.
At the conclusion of the morning town hall meeting, UBHCHY Coalition Chair Ray Fox presented the 2010 Asset Ambassodor Award to Strayer Middle School Principal Cindy Lapinski and Teacher Tracey Holland. Cindy and Tracey were cited for their exceptional leadership during 2009-2010 in establishing a social norms marketing campaign in their building to change student behavior.
Standing (L to R)- Strayer Middle School Students
Cameron Delisle, Chandler Gottshall, Monica Gawronski, Alannah Ross. Kneeling (L to R)- Principal Cindy Lapinski and Teacher Tracey Holland
justCommunity, Inc. names Karen S. Richter as the new Community Mobilizer for the Palisades Community
Lee Rush, justCommunity Executive Director, announced on January 20th the appointment of Karen S. Richter as the new Community Mobilizer for the Palisades community, (defined by the geographic boundaries of the school district). "Karen is perfect for this position," Lee remarked at a recent gathering of potential key leaders for the newly formed coalition. "Her background in corporate human resources with an emphasis on coaching individuals and convening work teams will greatly benefit this new coalition as it evolves in Palisades." Karen will be coordinating a year long planning process, (along with key leaders and steering committee members from throughout the community) to develop and support a positive youth development plan for Palisades.
justCommunity, Inc. receives grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to hire Community Mobilizer
On December 8, 2009, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) awarded a grant through June 2012 to justCommunity, Inc. to support implementing the Communities That Care (CTC) community mobilzation process in the Palisades community (as defined by the geographic boundaries of the Palisades School District in Bucks County, PA). CTC includes a systematic process to gather local data on the risk factors and protective factors (developmental assets) that impact youth during their formative years. A locally created coalition representing education, business, parents, youth, faith communities, health care and youth serving organizations will then select an evidence-based program and strategy to support postive youth development.
In order to qualify for this grant, the PCCD required that succesful applicants secure 50% matching dollars to support the salary of the Community Mobilizer from January 2011 to June 2012. Thanks to the committment of the Palisades School District, the Palisades Community Education Foundation and justCommunity, Inc., this requirement was met.
The Upper Bucks Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Coalition (UBHCHY) has received a five-year grant through 2014 for a total of $625,000 to continue its work towards increasing the level of developmental assets in youth and reducing all forms of substance abuse. This grant is awarded through the federal Drug Free Communities (DFC) Support Program. In order to be considered for the grant, our coalition had to secure a local "match" of IN KIND contributions from the following organizations: Bucks County Community College, Bucks County Intermediate Unit, Bucks County United Way, Family Service Association, Palisades School District, Penn Foundation, Pennridge School District, Pyramid Healthcare Center, Quakertown School District, RE/MAX 440 Realty, Inc., St. Luke's Quakertown Hospital, and the Upper Bucks YMCA. We are extremely grateful for this level of community support.
Congressman Patrick Murphy (PA-8th) held a press conference on September 1, 2009 at his Bristol, PA to announce that two Bucks County youth development coalitions received federal Drug Free Communities Support grants. Each grant is for a total of $125,000 a year for five years to support each coalition's infrastructure with paid staff and general operating expenses in order to execute an action plan to reduce substance abuse among youth. Along with the UBHCHY coalition, the Council Rock Coalition for Healthy Youth (CRCFY) based in Newtown, PA also received a five-year grant. UBHCHY was mentoring the CRCFY over the past year in strengthening their coalition.
Above--(l to r), Matt Frederickson, CRCFY Chair, Lois Dodson, UBHCHY Chair, Lee Rush UBHCHY Community Organizer, Congressman Patrick Murphy, Debbie Moskovitz, CRCFY Project Director
Above--(l to r), Lois Dodson, UBHCHY Chair, Congressman Patrick Murphy, Lee Rush UBHCHY Community Organizer
Click on above link to view recent Webinar on Social Norms Marketing sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Project Officer Mike Koscinski. Webinar features Lee Rush and Ray Fox from the Upper Bucks Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Coalition and Jim Campain and Scoot Crandall, from Actuality, Team Fort Collins, trainers for the UBHCHY campaign. The conference number is PW5778821 and the passcode is STAND ALONE
justCommunity News:
justCommunity awarded $5000 from Best Buy Best Buy opens a new store in Quakertown, PA and presents justCommunity a contribution of $5,000! On behalf of the new Best Buy store opening on August 28th, Manager Todd Kooker presents a check to justCommunity Executive Director Lee Rush. Thank you Best Buy and welcome to Upper Bucks County!
Below--(l to r), Lee Rush, Alex Londino, Emily Shollenberger, (justCommunity board members) and Ray Fox, long-time HCHY coalition member
2008 Town Hall Meeting and Press Conference Highlights New Trending Data on Adolescent Behavioral Health in Upper Bucks County, PA Mr. Ken Shapiro, Deputy Administrator of the Federal Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program and Mr. Mike Pennington, Director of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinqunecy's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention were among the presenters who gave talks on a variety of topics, including the results of the 2008 Student Support Card, the bi-annual youth survey conducted with 3000 teenagers living in Upper Bucks County, PA. Mr. Lee Rush, Community Organizer and Executive Director of justCommunity reported on results of last year's acclaimed the Upper Bucks Healthy Communities Healthy Youth Coalition's Social Norming Campaign to prevent underage drinking. The announcements were made on April 1, 2008, at James A. Michener Library, 401 West Mill Street in Quakertown. For a complete report and an Executive Summary of the recent student survey click here.
Upper Bucks HCHY Coalition Highlighted In White House Office of National Drug Control Policy's 2007 National Strategy to Reduce Substance Abuse In its annual report on the strategies used in national substance abuse prevention, the White House put a spotlight on the Upper Bucks HCHY Coalition and their efforts in the past year with a one page article.The article detailed the coalition's recent activities, particularly the "2outta3" Social Norms marketing campaign. Take a look at page 13 of the official report here highlighting our work. (The full 2007 National Drug Control Strategy is here)
Drug Prevention News Wire Current prevention news from the Office of National Drug Control Poilicy's PushingBack blog.
A member agency of the United Way of Bucks County, justCommunity is the coordinating agency for the Healthy Communities/ Healthy Youth initiatives in Upper Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
