are trying to build capacity for awareness, and understand that it is okay to have these conversations as a community, because if we provide support to each other and we respond as a community, it will make us all better.” The school district has teamed up with local businesses and organizations, including Healthy New Albany Inc., Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Concord Counseling Services. “It is important for us to have a healthy community,” says Sawyers. “I think it makes New Albany, to some degree, unique because there is a deliberate focus to try to create a healthy community, and not hide from the ills that exist in society, but hit them head-on.”
“(It) is impossible for the school district to do this without our entire community being engaged.” Sawyers acknowledges that one conversation won’t be enough. NAPLS administration has a vision of hosting substance abuse-related community conversations between two and four times a year. “We want this to become a series of really great conversations where we are talking about hard topics in our community at large,” says Sawyers. “We don’t want people to get the impression that you have a conversation and it goes away. It doesn’t.” Sawyers says he believes the community is interested in coming together to combat these problems, and hopes to empower New Albany residents to build resources which benefit the community, especially children, who are the most vulnerable. “We are really excited … and I think it will be wonderful,” says Sawyers. “This is just another extension of what we are always trying to do to build a healthy community.” Lydia Freudenberg is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at adeperro@cityscenemediagroup.com. www.healthynewalbanymagazine.com
As both an arts manager and a performer, ProMusica’s Janet Chen knows the creative process begins long before anyone else sees or hears the result. In Columbus, Janet sees a communitythat is diverse and open minded, a place that serves as a platform for artists to be inspired and take risks. Learn more about Janet’s story and other Columbus artists and events at ColumbusMakesArt.com.
Additional support from: The Crane Group and The Sol Morton and Dorothy Isaac, Rebecca J. Wickersham and Lewis K. Osborne funds at The Columbus Foundation. Photo: The Columbus Dispatch | Design: Formation Studio
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