Project HOCO Shopping Day Tomorrow – Saturday, Sept. 26

 

It's time for Homecoming and UthMpact's PROJECT HOCO has just the look that will make you feel great on Homecoming Night - for FREE!

Our second Project HOCO Shopping Day is tomorrow, Saturday, September 26, from 11am to 4pm, at the Project Prom Store at Lakeland Square Mall - across from Rack Room Shoes. Bring your Polk High School ID, sign a pledge to celebrate homecoming substance-free, and enjoy wearing your free dress or suit to look and feel your very best!

Project HOCO Shopping Days continue on Saturdays October 10 and October 17. 

For more info, please call the InnerAct Alliance office at (863) 802-0777.

Help Kids Make Smart Choices that Keep Them in the Game

 

Life is full of choices. Some can open doors, while risky choices can close them. This Red Ribbon season, help your kids to make smart choices by choosing themselves - their goals, their health, their future, and those who count on them.

Encourage your teens to make choices today that they'll be proud of tomorrow, such as:

🚫 Skipping the pressure to drink, vape, use drugs or take unnecessary risks

💪 Finding healthy ways to handle stress and have fun

🤝Looking out for their friends - and speaking up when something doesn't feel right

🞋 Staying focused on things they want their future to look like

🎀 Sign your family up to participate in the 2026 Red Ribbon Run on Saturday morning, October 31 at Lake Mirror in Lakeland. Run, walk, connect, and celebrate making healthy choices together!

InnerAct Alliance Highlighted by the Lakeland Tigers for We Care Wednesday

 

Thank you to the Lakeland Flying Tigers baseball team for highlighting InnerAct Alliance at their "We Care Wednesday" game on August 12 at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland. It was a homerun for everyone! ⚾

InnerAct Alliance appreciated this special opportunity to share important substance abuse prevention education information and talk to fans and families about our free programs and services available in the community.😊

Ryan Rogers, President of the InnerAct Alliance Board of Directors and SVPII/West Polk Regional Manager with MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, showed off his athletic skills throwing out the first pitch of the game. 

The Flying Tigers went on to defeat the Bradenton Marauders by a final score of 12-3. Everyone enjoyed the game action and visiting with fans and Tigers' mascot, SouthPaw! 🐾

10 Important Affirmations for Teens

 

Unfortunately, anxiety and depression are on the rise among the teen population. 

Adults tend to forget that being a teen is an emotionally volatile time. It's not uncommon to hear them say, "My life is over" or "What's the use?" Society tends to reject these declarations as being overdramatic but for many teens, sometimes it may actually seem like the end of the world to them. 

If you're searching for a way to improve your child's mental state, consider helping them to practice positive thinking and recite phrases of positive affirmation to help combat negative thoughts and propel growth.

Similar to how exercise can boost physical health, daily affirmations like those suggested in the graphic above empower teens to take charge of their emotions, handle changes, and believe in their unique qualities.

Thoughts and words are powerful. A positive frame of mind can lead to making better decisions. 

Parents and caregivers, please take time to affirm your teens and help boost their overall well-being so they can become happy, confident young adults. 

Happy First Day of Fall 2026

 

After months of heat and humidity, a little relief may be on its way as we usher in the Fall Equinox this evening! 

According to the Farmer's Almanac, the fall equinox is an astronomical event when the sun sits directly above the Earth's equator, marking the official first day of autumn. On this day, daylight and darkness are roughly equal at 12 hours each. 🌞🌛

The Sun crosses the celestial equator moving south in the Northern Hemisphere. Neither the Northern nor Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun. After this day, the Northern Hemisphere tilts farther away from the sun - leading to shorter days, longer nights, and cooler weather.

Be sure to Welcome Fall at 8:04pm this evening! 🍂

UthMpact Class XVI Etiquette Dinner

Kudos to our UthMpact Board for leading the 16th Annual UthMpact Polk Etiquette Dinner held last month on August 26, 2026 at The Club at Eaglebrooke. Students who are participating in the 2026-2027 UthMpact Leadership Class XVI enjoyed an amazing opportunity to network with members of the Leadership Lakeland Alumni Association and savor a fine dining experience. 🍴

At the Etiquette Dinner, our teen leaders learned the importance of proper dining etiquette in a formal setting and discussed informative topics with members of the business community including advice about hiring practices for young people and sharing life and career insights. 

Special thanks to The Club at Eaglebrooke and to the Leadership Lakeland Alumni Association for their continued support!

 

Trick or Treat with Polk Sheriff Grady Judd on October 24

 

Get your best Halloween costume ready for this safe and family-friendly event planned for Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 2:00pm to 6:00pm, at Sun 'n Fun, located at 4175 Medulla Road, in Lakeland, FL. 🧡

Families will be treated to fun entertainment, candy, music, dancing, photos, and characters.👻And best thing is...it's FREE! Contact the Polk Sheriff's Office for more details and info.