PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
FREE
March 16, 2022
Published Weekly, Read Daily
Misty Wilcox goes to Washington, D.C.
By Michelle Boswell mboswell@thepaperofmiami.com
Misty Wilcox said she was able to go on “the learning experience of a lifetime” and it was simply by chance. Wilcox traveled to Washington D.C. to the 32nd Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) Annual National Leadership Forum, but she wasn’t initially scheduled for the trip. “So, this is a cool story of chance. I was not chosen for this trip first. Becca Wily was chosen. I was telling her how cool this chance is for her and that I would love to be a part of it. Then she found out that she could not go, and I told her that I would go (just on a whim that I would love to go). She put my name out there and they said yes.” Wilcox’s trip was covered by a local organization, “More for Miami Coalition.” According to their public information, the goal of the More for Miami Coalition is to “build a comprehensive, effective prevention system based in community mobilization, coalition building and prevention science. They are youth, parents, teacher and administrators, pastors, agency directors, program staff, facilitators, and strategists. The More for Miami Coalition is supported by a growing network of preventionists in Miami County, Indiana, whose willingness to support data-driven decision-making is a powerful testament to the principles of transparency and inclusiveness.” Prior to the trip, Wilcox was not involved with More for Miami Coalition but says she is looking forward to the opportunity of working with the organization. She wants those involved with the organization to know she is grateful and thankful for having the opportunity to take the trip and learn so much. A Miami County resident, Wilcox is employed as the Administrative and Athletic Secretary for North Miami High School. Wilcox has worked for the North Miami School Corporation for nine years and is a 2002 North Miami graduate. She helps with cheerleading and is a trainer for the Peru Amateur Circus. The trip for Wilcox was an exciting opportunity but once she was settled, there was much to learn. “I had an idea of what I would be doing on this trip, but I had no idea how I would feel after the trip or how much I would learn. The conference was about prevention today for a safer tomorrow. There where sessions about different topics to do with prevention, combatting trends, substance abuse and so many other things to help our community youth and others. I learned so much from my trip both about myself and to bring back to help the community. I learned that I am more capable of stepping out of my comfort zone then I thought. I also learned that working with the youth is really where my heart is no matter what way I am doing it. I learned so much from the forum,” she said. Wilcox gathered up all that she learned from the conference and recently shared it with the More for Miami Coalition at the new Miami County YMCA in Peru. Expanding her knowledge like she did in Washington D.C. is nothing new to Wilcox. She has a degree in Cognitive Studies and Applied Behavioral Science from the University of Arizona Global. She is curSee Wilcox, Page 2
Vol. 3, No. 11
Misty Wilcox poses with a statue while visiting Washington, D.C. Wilcox recently traveled to Washington to the 32nd Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) Annual National Leadership Forum. Photo provided
Proudly Serving Miami County