InnerAct Alliance’s Annual Fifth Grade Red Ribbon Rallies Today & Next Tuesday!

 

Congratulations to the students who are participating in InnerAct Alliance’s Fifth Grade Rally in Lakeland today – a similar event will take place next week for students in Winter Haven schools! 

InnerAct Alliance hosts Red Ribbon Rallies for nearly 6,000 Fifth Grade students in the greater Lakeland, Polk City, Auburndale, Mulberry, Haines City and Winter Haven areas each year to reinforce critical substance abuse resistance skills before students enter middle school. 

A national motivational speaker and community leaders present an enthusiastic program that encourages students to make healthy, positive life choices without the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other harmful substances. 

Students are challenged to compete in a “Rally for the Facts Contest” to create original Posters, Poetry, and Essays that illustrate how to live your life drug free and celebrate the truth that most young people do not use drugs or alcohol. Contest participants receive certificates and overall winners are awarded cash prizes of $100, $50 and $25 in each contest category.

Please Consider Supporting InnerAct Alliance on Giving Tuesday!

 

TODAY - Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Today is the National Day of Giving a/k/a GIVING TUESDAY which provides an opportunity for people around the world to come together by performing acts of kindness and sharing of time, money, goods, and advocacy to support worthwhile causes. Each act of generosity has the power to transform our communities and our world.

 

Researchers have observed increases in substance abuse, drug overdoses, and mental health issues in the United States since the COVID-19 pandemic and, as a result, our kids may potentially suffer adverse effects for years to come.

 

To help meet these health challenges, InnerAct Alliance and our coalition partners, StandUP Polk and UthMpact, share a common goal to expand prevention initiatives in the Lakeland and Polk County community. Our services include science-based education classes taught to nearly 15,000 students in 70 elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as outreach to over 100,000 citizens via informative presentations and positive social norms messaging, a premier youth leadership program, and family-oriented awareness events such as the Annual Red Ribbon Campaign and motivational rallies for fifth-grade students countywide.

 

We greatly appreciate the time and talents you may share throughout the year and respectfully request that if a monetary donation is within your means at this time, please consider making a Giving Tuesday or Holiday Donation to InnerAct Alliance to help cover the cost of materials to expand our programs and services.

 

Please visit https://donorbox.org/giving-tuesday-fundraiser-1 (this link also appears on the InnerAct Alliance website at https://www.inneractalliance.org) to make a tax deductible donation. Acknowledgement of your tax-deductible donation will be sent to you upon receipt of your gift. Additional funding will go a long way to further our efforts to inform and educate hundreds more students about the harmful effects of alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, vaping, narcotics, bullying, mental health, and other risky behaviors.

 

Thank you for all you do to help promote the prevention education mission of InnerAct Alliance in our community!

Laughter Is The Best Medicine 🤣

It's fun to share a good laugh, but did you know that it can actually improve your health? 

It's true! Laughter can draw people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in your body. Laughter can strengthen your immune system, boost mood, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back to balance than a good laugh. 

How can you bring more laughter into your life?

* Watch a funny movie, TV show, or YouTube video

* Read the comics

* Share a good joke or funny story

* Play with your children or your pet

* Plan a game night, go bowling, play miniature golf, sing karaoke

Thanks to our friends at @Positively Present for reminding us that Laughter is strong medicine. Whatever your day brings, we hope you find a moment or two of laughter today!🤣

Happy Thanksgiving from the Board & Staff at InnerAct Alliance

 

🦃 Happy Thanksgiving 🍂

from the Board & Staff at InnerAct Alliance

We appreciate your support of the prevention mission
to help kids grow up safe, healthy, and drug free.

Parents Have the Power to Prevent Addiction

 

Parents, YOU play an important role in prevention by acting as a powerful influence in your child’s life. Other close adults such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, neighbors, teachers and coaches can also provide support to help guide youth toward healthy choices at every stage of life.

Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) shows that a majority of substance-free adolescents credit their parent or a close adult for their decision not to use illegal substances. Teens are less likely to drink, smoke or use drugs when they feel that a caring adult is actively involved in their lives. It begins with frequent conversations with the youth in your life about the potentially harmful and the real-life facts associated with substance use. Let children and teens know that YOU are a resource who is always in their corner!

Family Activities are another impactful way to connect with your children. This time of year offers a plethora of opportunities to enjoy time together. Our friends at Lakeland Mom have compiled a list of fun family-friendly events and activities in the Lakeland and Polk County area to celebrate the fall season, enjoy the cooler weather, and prepare for the upcoming Christmas and winter holidays. Click on the link below

https://lakelandmom.com/things-to-do-in-november/

November Gratitude Challenge!

 

With Thanksgiving right around the corner (next Thursday, November 23 🦃), it's a perfect time for showing GRATITUDE. The goal is to promote thankfulness and help us focus on what is going well in our lives!

Thanks to our friends at Positively Present for offering this colorful graphic with suggestions for a fun Gratitude Scavenger Hunt to search for things that may bring a smile to a face that needs it - whether that's yourself or someone else!

Start today to find time for things that make you happy, plan a thoughtful act of kindness, connect to the present moment, or make a conscious effort to slow down and enjoy nature's beauty - newly fallen colorful leaves 🍂, a pretty flower 🌻, a beautiful sunrise or sunset.

Taking time for gratitude helps us recognize, acknowledge, and appreciate life's small moments - all of which may go a long way to create a positive outlook on life and promote positive mental health!

Salute Our Vets on Veterans Day – Saturday, November 11

 

Tomorrow, November 11, is Veterans Day - a day set aside for Americans to honor those who have served or currently serve in the United States military.

What makes November 11th so special? On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the battles of World War I ended. The Allied countries and Germany called a truce, also known as an Armistice, and November 11th became known as Armistice Day.

The following year, President Woodrow Wilson asked Americans to mark the anniversary of Armistice Day with a moment of silence and gratitude to the soldiers who had fought for peace. Americans did that and more...they held parades and other gatherings all across the country to publicly thank the World War I veterans.

In 1954, Congress changed the holiday's name from Armistice Day to Veteran's Day to recognize all soldier who serve in war or peace.

Today there are more than 23 million veterans in the United States. We thank and appreciate all of our Veterans for their service and bravery.

Family Drug Prevention Strategies: Lessons from Red Ribbon Month

 

The Red Ribbon Campaign during the month of October promotes safe, drug-free communities. Proactive messages and activities emphasize the importance of making healthy choices and educate about substance abuse.

Family Drug Prevention strategies are relevant year-round. InnerAct Alliance joins with our prevention partners at Informed Families to highlight some important Red Ribbon take-aways for families and communities to reinforce important substance abuse prevention messages and help protect our most valuable resource - our youth!

1. Open the Lines of Communication - schools and communities host events at which they create awareness of the dangers of substance use and encourage students to make healthy choices.

Application for Families - ensure that your kids understand the risks and consequences. Let them know they can always come to you with questions or concerns without any fear of punishment.

2. Peer Influence and Positive Role Models - one of the Red Ribbon Campaign's main strengths is mobilizing young ambassadors to champion the cause, making it relatable to their peers.

Application for Families - encourage your children to seek friends who make positive choices. Act as role models by demonstrating healthy behaviors and decisions.

3. Educate on the Realities - schools often bring in guest speakers to educate and share the positives that most kids in Polk County ARE making the right choices to live healthy and drug-free.

Application for Families - instead of just instructing children not to use drugs, provide them with factual information. Share local statistics that celebrate the positives of youth culture - most teens in 6th-12th grade in Polk County DO NOT use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. 83% don't drink Alcohol, 88% don't use Marijuana, 96% don't use traditional Tobacco, 90% do not Vape or use E-cigs. Facts can have a profound impact to show that everyone is NOT engaging in risky behaviors. 

4. Foster a Strong Support System - the collective effort of the community in supporting the drug-free cause creates a network of accountability. 

Application for Families - engage in regular family activities and ensure that each member knows how much they are loved and supported. A strong family bond can act as a buffer against peer pressure.

5. Encourage Healthy Outlets - many schools and communities organize drug-free events, sports, arts, and other activities during Red Ribbon Month.

Application for Families - when children are engaged in constructive activities, they are less likely to seek out destructive habits. 

6. Be Proactive - the initiative doesn't wait for a crisis to act; it's proactive in its approach.

Application for Families - don't wait for signs of drug use to talk to your children about it. Start the conversation early, set clear expectations, and be vigilant about changes in behavior. 

7. Celebrate Healthy Choices - encourage and champion those who commit to staying drug-free.

Application for Families - celebrate your children's good decisions. Positive reinforcement can strengthen their resolve to make drug-free choices.

Drug-free living starts at home and we support parents to help kids grow up safe, healthy, and drug free. For tips on how to talk to your children, visit www.inneractalliance.org and Informed Families at www.informedfamilies.org. Talk to your kids – they will listen!

Make It a Happy November with Self-Care!

With the holidays on the horizon, this is a perfect time to renew self-care goals that help to improve overall health both mentally and physically...one day at a time! 🍂

There are many ways to work self-care into our days and our friends at Positively Present offer some timely ones.⏰ With the fall back time change, allow yourself extra time to rest and renew with a quick nap or an earlier bedtime.😴 Create new connections, let go of regret, and gather up some good vibes!

Do something kind for yourself and let's be grateful for any opportunity to take care of ourselves!😊

2023 Red Ribbon Run & Challenge Results from Saturday, October 28

 

Kudos to the nearly 6,000 participants, sponsors, spectators, vendors, law enforcement, staff, and volunteers who enjoyed an opportunity to Run The World at the 2023 Red Ribbon Run & Challenge, presented by InnerAct Alliance, Title Sponsor Publix Super Markets, and event partners MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, Florida Dairy Farmers, and many other local business and prevention sponsors on Saturday morning, October 28 at Lake Mirror in Lakeland.

Nearly 1,100 Student Runners in grades K-8 participated in the Kids Fun Run race heats and over 300 adults and their children ran or walked together in the Family Fun Run around beautiful Lake Mirror. Participants also enjoyed healthy snacks, fitness activities, and festive entertainment from different cultures at the Florida Dairy Farmers World Tour vendor area during the event. 

Congratulations to ALL of the Run Participants on making healthy choices! Results from the timed Kids Fun Run K-8 grade heats are listed below. The Family Fun Run heats were not timed. 

The Annual Red Ribbon Run culminated one of the largest Red Ribbon Campaigns in the state to support the prevention of substance abuse and bullying in our community.