Thursday, May 19, 2011

Family InnerActions - A New Group for Families with Babies!


InnerAct Alliance is proud to introduce Family InnerActions – Prevention’s First Steps, an exciting new interactive group specially designed for families with babies age newborn through 3 years to come together to enjoy adult conversation, learn, and bond with their babies, and watch them grow in a friendly, supportive environment.

The Family InnerActions group meets on Tuesday mornings from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at tba Church, located at 1815 County Road 540A, in Lakeland. Admission is free and pre-registration is not required. Participants need only to bring their baby, a blanket, and baby toys to play with.

For additional information, please call Juli Davis, Community Outreach, InnerAct Aliance, at (863) 802-0777 or find us on Facebook at Family InnerActions – Non-Profit Organization.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Congratulations Winter Haven/Haines City Area Winners of Red Ribbon Rally Poster, Poetry & Essay Contests

InnerAct Alliance is proud to announce the winners of its Poster, Poetry and Essay Contests for Fifth Grade Students in the greater Winter Haven/Haines City area schools. Contest participants will be recognized during the Red Ribbon Rally this morning at 10:00 a.m. at Polk State College Gym in Winter Haven.

The anti-drug rally focuses on reinforcing critical substance abuse resistance skills before students enter middle school in the fall. Students were challenged to use their creative talents to compose essays, write poems, or draw posters to illustrate topical messages about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Overall winners in each category will receive cash prizes of $100 (first place), $50 (second place), and $25 (third place) in each contest category.

Guest speaker for the Rally is Patrick T. Grady, a former middle and high school educator who travels throughout North America inspiring and encouraging individuals to do their best in all of their endeavors. Grady is the author of the book titled, “Who Packs the Parachute,” and co-author of “Teen Power Too,” and the book, “Teen Power and Beyond.” Community leaders will also be on hand to encourage the choice of a positive, healthy lifestyle without the use of drugs.

Similar rallies for Lakeland area schools took place last week on May 4th at The Lakeland Center.

The mission of InnerAct Alliance is to reduce the abuse and underage use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs through: Community Awareness and Involvement; Prevention Education; Economic Support; and Leadership Development. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency is proud to offer substance abuse prevention to the Hardee, Highlands and Polk County communities with services including science-based education in elementary and middle schools, drug-free puppet shows, informative presentations and family-oriented awareness events that touch the lives of youth, parents, families, businesses, faith-based organizations, community groups and others in need with an important substance abuse message.

Winter Haven/Haines City Winners of Red Ribbon Rallies Poster, Essay & Poetry Contest

Poster Winners
Auburndale Central – Bethany Aguillon
Berkley Charter – Bryanna Rials
Bethune Academy – Marialys Cirilo
Caldwell – Zach Torres
Chain of Lakes – Sara Avellaneda
Davenport School of the Arts – Vanessa Franco
Dundee – Claudio Estrada
Eastside – Ruby Estrada
Elbert – Alyssa Anderson
Garden Grove – Katherine Corrales
Hartridge Academy – Dezarae Maldonado
Horizons – Sophia Campanello
Inwood – Chardonnay Webster
Janie Howard Wilson – Lexi Schmidt
Lake Alfred – Nicholas McClure
Lake Marion Creek – Angelia Rosario
Lake Shipp – Caleb Gilileo
Laurel – Elijah Paz
Lena Vista – Jadon Gore
Loughman Oaks – Yairaberth Vazquez
Palmetto – Keish Marie Valles
Pinewood – Johnna Hunter
Polk City – Deseray Woods
Snively – Shadae Arnold

Poetry Winners
Auburndale Central – Jenica Louis
Berkley Charter - Deyawna Northern
Bethune Academy – Nylah Knight
Caldwell – Cameron Gainey
Davenport School of the Arts – Priscilla Mandujano
Dundee – Amanda Parker
Eastside – Chela Legros
Elbert – Lauren Azurin
Garden Grove – Trevor Crank
Inwood – Gaven Barley
Janie Howard Wilson – Katy Hadden
Lake Alfred – Karla Hoffman
Lake Marion Creek – Cheyenne Cottingham
Lake Shipp – Martine Mitchell
Laurel – Keyannie Pineiro
Lena Vista – Cassie Johnson
Loughman Oaks – Sharon Barahona
Palmetto – Elizabeth Myrick
Pinewood – Conner Tibbetts
Snively – Yereli Mejia

Essay Winners

Auburndale Central - Courtney Reyes
Berkley Charter – Sarah Jeppeson
Caldwell – Jalen Gaskins
Chain of Lakes – Martin Farhangmehr
Davenport School of the Arts – Sophie Leniz
Dundee – Meagan Tomlin
Eastside – Felicity Jo Hufstetler
Elbert – Jaxson Trotti
Horizons – Rachel Marti
Inwood – Equilla Earle
Janie Howard Wilson – Eva Atkinson
Lake Alfred – Gabrielle Figueroa
Lake Shipp – Olivia Joy Thompson
Laurel – Jonathan Garcia
Lena Vista – Hailey Auterson
Loughman Oaks – Zoe Hernandez Carrijo
Palmetto – Char-D’Nea Peters
Pinewood – Tiahna Braddy

Winter Haven/Haines City – Red Ribbon Rally Contest Overall Prize Winners
Poster Contest
1st Place - $100.00 - Vanessa Franco, Davenport School of the Arts
2nd Place - $ 50.00 - Ruby Estrada, Eastside Elementary
3rd Place - $ 25.00 - Yairaberth Vazquez, Loughman Oaks Elementary

Poetry Contest
1st Place - $100.00 - Keyannie Pineiro, Laurel Elementary
2nd Place - $ 50.00 - Deyawna Northern, Berkley Charter
3rd Place - $ 25.00 - Priscilla Mandujano, Davenport School of the Arts

Essay Contest
1st Place - $100.00 - Jalen Gaskins, Caldwell Elementary
2nd Place - $ 50.00 - Gabrielle Figueroa, Lake Alfred Elementary
3rd Place - $ 25.00 - Jonathan Garcia, Laurel Elementary

School with the Most Contest Participants Overall - Berkley Charter School

Monday, May 9, 2011

Prescription Drug Take Back Nets Over 1000 lbs. of Pharmaceuticals



StandUP Polk, the Coalition for a Drug-Free Polk, and local law enforcement agencies were proud to participate in the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back event on Saturday, April 30, 2011, and host our community’s Purge Your Pills Rx Drop Off at 11 locations in Hardee and Polk Counties in Central Florida for citizens to turn in unused, expired, or unwanted Human and Pet Medications for safe and proper disposal.

An estimated 1,022.4 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals were collected and safely disposed of via incineration. Drop-off sites hosted by participating partners included Auburndale Police Department, City of Zolfo Springs Sheriff Substation, Davenport Police Department, Florida Dept. of Transportation hosted by the Bartow Police Department, Haines City Police Department, Hardee County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Alfred Police Department, Lake Wales Police Department, Lakeland Police Department, Winter Haven Police Department, and Wauchula Police Department.

For those unable to make it on April 30th, Home Instead Senior Care and Hawthorne Inn of Lakeland also served as collection sites on Friday, April 29, 2011 from 9 AM to 1 PM.

Two countywide prescription medication collections held previously in Polk County, FL in spring and fall 2010 resulted in an estimated 650 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals. StandUP Polk partners plan to host future pill drop events and hope to establish a permanent pill drop off venue in the county soon to assist residents in proper disposal of unused prescription medications in an environmentally safe manner, and help decrease the availability of expired or unwanted medications to reduce prescription drugs abuse.

StandUP Polk, the Coalition for a Drug-Free Polk, is a group of concerned citizens, law enforcement, community and business leaders working together to take a stand against drugs and bring about positive change for Polk County.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Congratulations Lakeland Area Winners of Red Ribbon Rallies Poster, Poetry & Essay Contests

InnerAct Alliance is proud to announce the winners of its Poster, Poetry and Essay Contests for Fifth Grade Students in the greater Lakeland area schools. Contest participants will be recognized during the Red Ribbon Rallies, which take place this morning at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at The Lakeland Center.

The anti-drug rallies focus on reinforcing critical substance abuse resistance skills before students enter middle school in the fall. Students were challenged to use their creative talents to compose essays, write poems, or draw posters to illustrate topical messages about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Overall winners in each category will be awarded cash prizes of $100 (first place), $50 (second place), and $25 (third place) in each contest category.

Guest speaker for the Rallies is Patrick T. Grady, a former middle and high school educator who travels throughout North America inspiring and encouraging individuals to do their best in all of their endeavors. Grady is the author of the book titled, “Who Packs the Parachute,” and co-author of “Teen Power Too,” and the book, “Teen Power and Beyond.” Community leaders will also be on hand to encourage the choice of a positive, healthy lifestyle without the use of drugs.

Another rally for Winter Haven and Haines City area schools will be held next Thursday, May 12, at 10:00 a.m. in the Polk State College Gym. Contest winners for those schools will be announced next week.

The mission of InnerAct Alliance is to reduce the abuse and underage use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs through: Community Awareness and Involvement; Prevention Education; Economic Support; and Leadership Development. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency is proud to offer substance abuse prevention to the Hardee, Highlands and Polk County communities with services including science-based education in elementary and middle schools, drug-free puppet shows, informative presentations and family-oriented awareness events that touch the lives of youth, parents, families, businesses, faith-based organizations, community groups and others in need with an important substance abuse message.

For further information on the Fifth Grade Rallies on May 3rd and 12th, please call InnerAct Alliance at (863) 802-0777.

Congratulations to the Lakeland Area Winners of 2011 Red Ribbon Rallies Poster, Essay & Poetry Contest

Blake Academy
Poster - Jaime Lara
Poetry - Parris Chaloux
Essay - Zack Nabinger

Carlton Palmore
Poster - Ixchel Collazo
Poetry - Caitlin Wizda
Essay - Francisco Feliu

Churchwell
Poster - Alyssa Seda
Poetry - Alexa Estremera
Essay - Tiana Jones

Cleveland Court
Poetry - Sydney Braggs

Combee
Poster - Kaylee Martin
Poetry - Kaley May
Essay - Peyton Carter

Crystal Lake
Poster - Hailey Nicolodi
Poetry - Deion Sheffield
Essay - Rashell Fernandez

Dixieland
Poster - Gabrela Vazquez
Poetry - Shawn Saddler
Essay - Zari Bouie

Griffin
Poetry - Tracey Seeden

Highlands Grove
Poster - April Gore
Poetry - Christian Walsted
Essay - Madison McDaniel

Jesse Keen
Poster - Lizeth Miranda

Kathleen
Poster - Danielle Hall
Poetry - Kori Love

Kingsford
Poster - Jaelee Lynn Bridgehan

Lincoln
Poster - Alana Jones
Poetry - Cody Dasher
Essay - Jackson Jeffares

McKeel Academy
Poster - Levi Combee and Emily Battle
Poetry - Adam Burse
Essay - Madison Smith

Medulla
Poster - Kara Stephenson
Poetry - Abbilene Fauteux
Essay - Leann Burge

N.E. Roberts
Poetry - Logan Gutierrez
Essay - Tyler Alderman

North Lakeland
Poster - Chi-Chi Nevarez
Poetry - Steven Little
Essay - Mahogani Palmore

Oscar J. Pope
Poster - Cassidy Boardman
Poetry - John Whittle
Essay - Michele Trejo

Padgett
Poster - Bradley Kuell
Poetry - Lorena Gomez
Essay - Kadija Abualteen

Purcell
Poster - Luisa Morin
Poetry - Jordyn Edgell
Essay - Elizabeth Kelly

R. Bruce Wagner
Poster - Didi Corbett

Rochelle School of the Arts
Poster - Aljeron Sanders
Poetry - Emily Reynolds
Essay - Jocelin McGrath

S.McKeel Academy
Poster - Sydney Rivera
Poetry - Ashley Lento
Essay - Brooke Drawdy

Scott Lake
Poster - Landon Press

Sleepy Hill
Poetry - Tanyia Hayes
Essay - Kailiyah Williams

Socrum
Poster - Autumn Jackson
Essay - Haley Burns

Southwest
Poster - Hannah Townley
Poetry - Nicole Castro

Spessard Holland
Poster - Tashelle Barrow
Poetry - Kelsey Rickey
Essay - Taylor Dye

St. Anthony
Poster - David Homuth
Poetry - Rysse McCleave

St. Joseph
Poster - Claire Gill
Poetry - Alexandria McCullum
Essay - Audrey Fisher

St. Paul
Poster - Jessalyn Ready
Poetry - Alee Judge
Essay - Devin Moore

Wendall Watson
Poster - Katie Harwell
Poetry - Nathan Lawwell
Essay - Ayeilie Mel

Lakeland Area Rallies Contest Overall Prize Winners

Poster Category:

1st Place - $100.00 - Levi Combee, McKeel Elementary Academy
2nd Place - $ 50.00 - Chi-Chi Nevarez, North Lakeland Elementary
3rd Place - $ 25.00 - Aljeron Sanders, Rochelle School of the Arts

Poetry Category:

1st Place - $100.00 - Ashley Lento, South McKeel Academy
2nd Place - $ 50.00 - Caitlin Wizda, Carlton Palmore
3rd Place - $ 25.00 - Adam Burse, McKeel Elementary Academy

Essay Category:

1st Place - $100.00 - Brooke Drawdy, South McKeel Academy
2nd Place - $ 50.00 - Madison Smith, McKeel Elementary Academy
3rd Place - $ 25.00 - Zack Nabinger, Blake Academy

School with the Most Contest Participants Overall – Highlands Grove