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April 19 • 2018
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teen
mental health
5K planned to help end teen substance abuse.
R
play
tlight o
spo
n
TENNIS
24
jews d
in
the
unners and
walkers
are invited
to “Spring Into
Action” in down-
town Franklin
May 19 at a 5K to
help end teen sub-
stance abuse one
step at a time.
Led by the
Youth Action
Board (YAB) of the
Birmingham Bloomfield
Community Coalition
(BBCC), the YAB’s goal
is to raise awareness of
teen substance use and
abuse.
The Birmingham Bloomfield
Community Coalition is a local non-
profit group founded in 1994 that
works to prevent substance abuse,
mental illness and stress. Cheryl
LaKritz, vice president of the board,
has been volunteering with the orga-
nization for 22 years.
“When we all work together, we
really can make a difference in our
teens’ drug and alcohol use,” said
LaKritz, who lives in Bloomfield
Hills and attends Temple Israel.
“One method is by providing parents
with strategic ways to talk to their
children about drugs and alcohol.
Parents must keep up with the chal-
lenges in prevention. Information
on vaping and opiate abuse are two
issues we currently addressing.”
YAB members meet on a regular
basis to dialogue on substance use
and abuse trends, as well as other
important issues teens face today.
Based on this information, they plan
and organize safe, fun, alternative
community-based and supported
events and leadership opportunities
for teens.
“YAB is a dynamic and diverse
group of students from the pub-
lic and private high schools in
Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills
working together for positive change
in our communities,” says Carol
Mastroianni, executive director of
the BBCC.
“The critical opioid epidemic and
other substance abuse — from alco-
hol to vaping — are devastating. The
YAB students came up with the 5K
to bring greater aware-
ness in Birmingham
and Bloomfield as well
as surrounding com-
munities,” she added.
“Their race/walk is a
positive and inclusive
event where many can
take part, make a dif-
ference and have fun.”
YAB co-president
Kristen Harvey, a
senior at Groves High
School, says the event
and raising awareness are
important because “kids
should live substance-free
lives to give them the best
opportunity to have a great
future, so they do not get stuck with
the consequences of a teenage deci-
sion.”
Volunteer Nanci Michaels, along
with her husband, Jacob, son, Isaac,
and daughter, Hannah, will be tak-
ing part in the walk.
“People think substance abuse
is an urban problem, but it hits
affluent suburbs, too,” said Nanci
Michaels, a social psychologist who
lives with her family in Franklin and
attends Adat Shalom Synagogue. “As
a parent with a mission to keep my
kids drug-free, I want to make sure
the Jewish community is connected
with the resources of the community
at large, such as those at BBCC.
“I want to gather up our Jewish
friends and do the 5K together as a
positive, health-promoting event,”
she added.
The Spring Into Action 5K is a cer-
tified route and timed race through
Franklin Village. Participants receive
T-shirts before and prizes will be
awarded to race winners.
Racers and walkers can check in
at 8 a.m. in the Village of Franklin
on Saturday, May 19, with 9 a.m. the
start time for the event. The cost to
participate is $35 before April 30;
May 1-19 the fee is $40; teams of
six are $20 a person. Ages 11-17 are
$15 and kids 10 and under are free.
All money raised goes directly to
BBCC/YAB prevention programs. To
register, visit app.regwiz.io/register/
yab/367. For questions, contact
kmichaud@bbcoalition.org or call
(248) 203-4615. •