It was an honor for our Youth Action Board’s Co-President, Michelle Bartoshuk, to be chosen as one of the speakers at Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America’s (CADCA) Annual Drug-Free Kids Campaign Dinner on September 23rd in Washington, DC. Michelle is a senior this year at Detroit Country Day. She has been active in the Coalition’s work since her freshman year of high school. “This was well-deserved recognition for Michelle’s hard work with CADCA at their mid-year conference in July and, once again, national recognition for one of our YAB students,” said Kelly Michaud, the Coalition’s Youth Coordinator.
During the program that evening, CADCA presented HBO with the Humanitarian of the Year Award for “The Addiction Project,” an unprecedented multi-media campaign aimed at helping Americans understand addiction as a treatable brain disease, as well as spotlighting new medical advancements. The campaign also awarded the Consumer Healthcare Products Association with the Champion award for their commitment to providing consumers with safe, effective, and convenient therapies for the treatment and prevention of many common ailments and diseases. On behalf of the leading makers of OTC cough medicines, CHPA is spearheading several major campaigns to raise awareness of cough medicine abuse.
Michelle was introduced to the dinner audience by Jon Roberts, head correspondent for CNN. She recalled the events of the evening, “It was an amazing experience!” Here is an excerpt from the speech that Michelle delivered that evening:
“CADCA Coalitions play a major role in all of our communities. Coalitions across the nation are a true collaboration of prevention. In my Coalition, I serve as Co-President of the Youth Action Board. I also have the privilege of serving as the youth voice on the adult Board of Directors along with members from all different sectors of the community.
CADCA has given me the opportunity to participate in the National Youth Leadership Initiative (NYLI) numerous times. NYLI has taught me how to think strategically in order to address specific problems in my community, such as marijuana use. The program has allowed me to spread my knowledge of positive strategies to other teen’s experiencing the same problems of substance abuse in their communities.
CADCA has truly made an impact on my life. I have developed relationships with teens from all over the country as far as Alaska, and have learned the necessary skills needed to address major communal problems.
As supporters, your contributions and presence at this dinner protect our future as youth. Please continue to support CADCA’s Drug-Free Kids Campaign. Together we can prevent youth substance abuse and support the positive strategies that work in communities.”
Michelle has taken a strong stand in our community. “it is important for youth to stay drug and alcohol free because the choices that teens make now in high school are ones that will decide the future and potentially impact lives forever,” she said. That sums up her conviction and belief in the ongoing work of the Youth Action Board and the Coalition as a whole in the Birmingham Bloomfield community. We proudly say “Congratulations, Michelle!”