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.

40 Years–40 Stories of InnerAct Alliance | Story #21: Stop Bullying Behavior By Teaching Empathy & Kindness

 

40 Years-40 Stories | Story #21: Stop Bullying Behavior By Teaching Empathy & Kindness

Back in Story #5, we introduced one of IAA's newest prevention efforts. The Red Rover Humane Education Program is an evidence-based program that promotes empathy, kindness, and critical thinking in young children and plants seeds of how together we can stop bullying behavior.

In this empowering program, IAA's Red Rover Humane Educator, Michelle Bachmeier, uses engaging age-appropriate literature, critical thinking skills, and creative activities to teach PreK-3rd grade students about healthy ways to interact with peers, animals, and nature.

It's inspiring to see photos of Ms. Michelle teaching in elementary classrooms and hear stories about the children's enthusiastic responses as they learn to be kinder to everyone they meet. One look at the happy little smiles in the photos defines the joy of learning!

Michelle embraces her role helping young children learn to make positive choices:

"I enjoy reading stories, creating arts & crafts, and sharing real-life strategies that infuse animals and nature to teach kindness. It gives me great pride when I see a lightbulb moment occur within this special age group. It can't help but give us all hope for the future to see how kids and teachers respond so positively to this effort to reduce bullying behaviors."

If you believe every child deserves a safe, healing, drug-free future - without fear of being bullied by others - please donate to support prevention programs. 

Donate: https://www.inneractalliance.org/#donate or text IAA to 26989. 

#40Years40Stories #InnerActAlliance #StopBullying #RedRoverProgram #EmpathyEducation #KindnessMatters #HumaneEducation #AntiBullying #PolkCountySchools #TeachKindness

Polk County’s Permanent Medication Drop-Off Sites

 

Last week, we shared that the Spring DEA National Rx Take Back Day will be held on Saturday, April 25, from 10am to 2pm, at participating Polk County Police Department locations. But, if you're not able to make it out that day, did you know that there are permanent drop-off sites located at several law enforcement locations throughout our area for citizens to turn in expired or unneeded medication? 💊

StandUP Polk and the partners in the Coalition for a Drug-Free Polk remind our community that unwanted medications may also be taken to the Polk County PERMANENT DROP SITES, funded by GiveWell Community Foundation, at police department locations listed below. Please note: Permanent Drop Boxes can only accept medication in solid form - no liquids or syringes, please.

Auburndale - 2 Bobby Green Plaza - weekdays 8am-5pm
Haines City - 35400 Highway 27 - 24 hours, 7days
Lake Alfred - 190 N. Seminole Ave. - 24 hours, 7days

Lake Hamilton - 100 Smith Ave. - weekdays 8am-5pm
Lakeland - 219 N. Massachusetts Ave. - 24 hours, 7days

Winter Haven - 125 N. Lake Silver Dr. NW - weekdays 8am-5pm

Medications may also be safely disposed of at home by dissolving them in water or mixing with coffee grounds or cat litter. Please do not dump medications into the toilet to avoid harming lakes and ground water.