Third of 10 Safe & Sound-organized community projects unveiled as part of series funded by Potawatomi Hotel & Casino’s Heart of Canal Street program
As part of the Heart of Canal Street program, Safe & Sound’s 27th Street West Drug Free Coalition will unveil a billboard campaign aimed at combatting drug and alcohol use by local youth. The unveiling event will be held Aug. 14, 4:15 p.m., at 33rd and Lisbon Avenue. A billboard will be unveiled that was developed and created by local youth. There will also be a program with remarks by Safe & Sound staff, partner organizations, aldermen and Milwaukee Police Captain Jeffrey Norman.
“The main goal of Safe & Sound’s 27th Street West Drug Free Coalition is to encourage local young people to make healthy choices,” said Selma Aly, Safe & Sound Drug Free Communities Organizer. “Through this project, made possible by the Heart of Canal Street program, we engaged youth to develop the theme, slogans, and photos for the campaign. We are very excited to share the billboards with the full community!”
To create the project, Safe & Sound staff organized a Youth Council group that met regularly to learn about the impact of alcohol, tobacco and other substances on their own lives and their community. They also explored the effects of trauma and ways to cope without using drugs and alcohol. The Youth Council talked about healing through ‘”natural highs” such as playing basketball and creating art. After this discussion, the Youth Council decided to launch the billboard campaign highlighting “natural highs.”