Today is Earth Day – Our Power, Our Planet

 

Earth Day 2026 takes place today - Wednesday, April 22 - the annual celebration to raise awareness and advocate for change on issues that impact our home on Planet Earth! 

This year's theme, "Our Planet, Our Power," is meant to encourage individuals, organizations, and governments to embrace renewable energy resources to create a sustainable future. Earth Day is a popular time for communities to gather together to clean up litter, plant trees, or simply reflect on the beauty of nature. We appreciate our home planet Mother Earth!

InnerAct Alliance and our coalition partners, StandUP Polk and UthMpact, support Earth Day with local efforts to keep our community safe. This Saturday, April 25, we join the DEA and 8 Polk County law enforcement agencies to host National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, from 10:00am to 2:00pm, at participating law enforcement agencies listed below. Citizens may turn in unused or expired human or pet medications for safe disposal via supervised incineration. This helps keep medication from being misused or winding up in lakes and streams harming the wildlife and water supply.

Unwanted medication may also be taken to one of the Polk County permanent drop sites funded by GiveWell Community Foundation year-round at police department locations in:

Auburndale (weekdays 8am-5pm)

Haines City (weekdays 8am-5pm)

Lake Alfred (24hrs/7days)

Lake Hamilton (weekdays 8am-5pm)

Lakeland (24hrs/7days)

Winter Haven (weekdays 8am-5pm)

40 Years - 40 Stories of InnerAct Alliance | Story #24: InnerAct Alliance Appreciates Our Volunteers!

 

 

40 Years-40 Stories of InnerAct Alliance| Story #24: InnerAct Appreciates Our Volunteers!

InnerAct Alliance hosts one of the largest Red Ribbon Campaigns in the state of Florida, highlighted by the Annual Red Ribbon Run. The event brings together 10,000 participants, volunteers, and spectators every October at Lake Mirror in Lakeland.

Volunteers Needed for 2026 Red Ribbon Run

Saturday, October 31, 2026
Lake Mirror Promenade, Lakeland

Success of the Red Ribbon Run depends on over 300 volunteers

* High School students can earn community service hours
* College students, businesses, individuals and organizations welcome
* FREE breakfast, t-shirt, and snacks provided

Volunteer Sign Up: https://www.inneractalliance.org/volunteering.html

Share Your Talents!

Showcase your unique talents in music, dance, or performance as part of the World Tour celebration during the Red Ribbon Run. Contact: Angie Ellison at (863) 802-0777.

Year-Round Volunteer Opportunities Available!

InnerAct Alliance welcomes of all ages to help with programs that impact youth, parents, families, and those in need with a substance abuse prevention and anti-bullying message. 

Call (863) 802-0777 https://www.inneractalliance.org/volunteering.html

#40Years40Stories #InnerActAlliance #VolunteerAppreciation
#RedRibbonRun #Volunteer Opportunities #LakeMirror #PolkCounty

40 Years–40 Stories of InnerAct Alliance | Story #23: Evolution of Our Agency’s Prevention Education Mission

 

40 Years - 40 Stories | Story #23: Evolution of Our Agency's Prevention Education Mission

Our nonprofit agency began 40 years ago when teacher Kaye McConnell witnessed two students fall ill after taking an accidental overdose on the way to school. She saw a critical need to educate students and parents about substance use risks. Along with concerned citizens, she established PRIDE of Lakeland in the 1980s.

The Evolution

1980s - PRIDE of LAKELAND
Literally passed the hat to collect funds for community awareness and events like the Red Ribbon Campaign and Just Say No Marches in Lakeland.

1990s - Drug Prevention Resource Center
Achieved official Prevention Licensure. State funding supported prevention classes, puppet shows, the Red Ribbon Run, and Fifth Grade Rallies.

2000s - Growth & Expansion
Prevention education grew from 1 teacher in 2 schools to expanding throughout Polk County with Red Ribbon Kickoff Events and law enforcement partnerships.

2009/2010 - InnerAct Alliance is Born
Rebranding brought tremendous expansion opportunities: 10 teachers in 69 schools, StandUP Polk adult and UthMpact youth coalitions formed, Anti-Bullying programs added, and Level II Prevention licensure achieved.

Today
*50,000+ students reached annually
*100 youth in UthMpact Leadership each year
*200+ partners in StandUP Polk coalition
*150,000 citizens reached through social norms campaigns

Please Donate to Support Prevention

https://www.inneractalliance.org/#donate

text IAA to 26989

#40Years40Stories #InnerActAlliance #PRIDEofLakeland #DrugPreventionResourceCenter #40YearsStrong #PolkCounty #PreventionEducation

40 Years–40 Stories of InnerAct Alliance | Story #22: Educating & Empowering Polk County’s Youth

 

40 Years-40 Stories | Story #22: Educating & Empowering Polk County's Youth

Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse occur in all age groups and economic backgrounds. It is an insidious presence in our neighborhoods and schools. Multiple prevention education programs and services have come together under the InnerAct Alliance umbrella to prevent youth, families, neighborhoods, and friends from becoming the next alcohol or drug-related statistic. 

There are 4 Core Strategies
 to Help Youth Win:

Awareness Raising
Science-Based Prevention in Schools
Community-Based Prevention
Coalition Building

Here's a snapshot of our agency's collaborative efforts:

InnerAct Alliance

Formerly the Drug Prevention Resource Center and PRIDE of Lakeland, InnerAct Alliance has worked diligently for the past 4 decades to reduce the abuse and underage use of harmful substances through: Community Awareness and Involvement; Prevention Education; Economic Support; and Leadership Development. The agency serves as the fiscal agent for the StandUP Polk (adult-based) and UthMpact (youth-based) Coalitions for a Drug-Free Polk.

StandUP Polk

StandUP Polk is a group of concerned parents, citizens, law enforcement, faith-based organizations, media, healthcare, businesses, youth-serving agencies, schools, and environmentalists working as the Coalition for a Drug-Free Polk to prevent harm and promote health through education, public awareness, and advocacy using proven evidence-based strategies.

UthMpact

UthMpact is a coalition for teens, by teens, educating and empowering teens to make healthy decisions and take action against alcohol, tobacco, and drug use. Goals include changing community & peer stereotypes about teen drug use through positive community involvement such as Project Prom/Project Homecoming. Students learn valuable advocacy and leadership skills, develop professional relationships, and have created campaigns on anti-tobacco, bullying, marijuana, prescription drugs, distracted driving, and underage drinking prevention. Teens have even created their own podcast to share proactive messaging!

Together we can educate young people
 to learn the facts, think, and act responsibly!

Connect with us

 https://www.inneractalliance.org

Follow us

 
IAA Blog

https://inneractblogtownhallmeeting.blogspot.com

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/InnerActAlliance?

Donate
https://www.inneractalliance.org/#donate

#40Years40Stories #InnerActAlliance #StandUPPolk #UthMpact #YouthEmpowerment #PreventionWorks #CoalitionBuilding #Polk County #DrugFreeCommunity

UthMpact Leadership Class XV Graduation Overview

 

UthMpact hosted its graduation ceremony for high school leaders who successfully completed this year's UthMpact Leadership Class XV program on April 1, 2026 at the Magnolia Building in Lakeland.

Congrats UthMpact Class XV Graduates

Madeline Aranda
Richie Aubert
Eliana Browning
Yamil Cordova

Nightingale Daniel-Richards
Cooper Deeds
Maxwell Deeds
Kayla Ezell
Zoe Gabbard
Jeffrey Lucas Hall
Hope Hallock
Talia Hillsgrove
Benjamin Julich
Wes Lehman
Kadence Lesnett
Tyler Lloren
Jagger Looney
Myla Marcelin
Payton McCormack
Peyton McNab
Thomas Mercado
Sofia Mercado
Audrey Merritt
Kyla Newton
Fiona Nguyen
Audrey Norman
Giulianna Paternes

Congratulations to our 2026 UthMpact Leadership Scholarship Winners

Kendall Castano and Abigail Dowdy

Each of these outstanding UthMpact Leadership graduates exemplify the qualities of leadership with UthMpact and in their respective schools and communities. We were proud to present them with $500 scholarships!

UthMpact is a coalition of teen leaders committed to educating their peers about key substance abuse prevention messages. The group's most prominent projects are Project Prom & Project HOCO, providing formal wear and accessories to high school students and educating about risky behaviors during prom, graduation, and homecoming, as well as the UthMpact Facts social norms program sharing the positives in Polk youth culture that most teens are choosing not to use substances with students in area high schools and in the community. Their futures are bright! 😎

For more information, please contact Samantha Barwig at (863) 802-0777 and follow UthMpact on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UthMpactPolk

Best of luck to UthMpact Graduating Seniors - Class of 2026!

 

Feel Good Friday!

 

Everyone looks forward to Friday - the day that ends a busy school and work week with the freedom of the weekend ahead. Friday can be even sweeter when it comes with an unexpected special surprise that recognizes and supports the dedication and hard work we put forth each day!💪

One of InnerAct Alliance's prevention specialist teachers shared a personal story about the colorful graphic (above) that awaited her as she walked in to teach her fourth class of the day at South McKeel Elementary...

The regular 4th grade classroom teacher at South McKeel, Mrs. Robbin Harbison, had arranged a display of her own creative illustration of the Keep A Clear Mind (KACM) prevention program up in lights on the classroom smartboard as a surprise to welcome our IAA prevention specialist to class and show appreciation for the informative prevention lessons shared with her students each week!

Keep A Clear Mind (KACM) is an evidence-based drug prevention education program for students in grades 4-6 (ages 9-11) designed to help children develop skills to refuse and avoid use of "gateway" drugs such as alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and tools to help avoid drug use. It also encourages parent-child interaction through take home activities to teach skills such as setting reasonable goals, making informed decisions, and communicating effectively.

IAA's prevention teachers are truly the best! Our teacher was touched and said it means so much to her and her fellow IAA prevention professionals to have the support of our host schools, teachers, and students.