BEYOND THE BELL MACON-BIBB AND GREATER LIZZIEBORO BAPTIST CHURCH TO HOST COMMUNITY CELEBRATION JULY 9

MACON, GA. – June 13, 2022 – Beyond the Bell Macon-Bibb, in partnership with Greater Lizzieboro Baptist Church, invites residents of Macon-Bibb County to a community-wide celebration of youth and family. This free event will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 9 at Greater Lizzieboro Baptist Church, 1180 Fort Hill St. Macon, GA 31217. This celebration will have free food, community speakers and opportunities for raffle drawings to win fun prizes.

At the community celebration event, Beyond the Bell will provide information on programs and services that work to assist young people and their families live healthy, safe lives avoiding substance abuse. Attendants of the celebration will have the opportunity to hear from Rev. Dr. Derek Dumas, the Greater Lizzieboro Baptist Church pastor.

Beyond the Bell works to provide education and support to young people and their families in the prevention of alcohol, marijuana and tobacco use and abuse. “We use evidence-based strategies to help better equip our community in providing a safety net of tools for young people,” said Executive Director Sandra Dean Executive Director Sandra Dean. “We are thrilled to partner with Greater Lizzieboro Baptist Church to provide a mission-oriented day of family fun for the community.”

Alongside community events, Beyond the Bell provides programs to the community including the “Botvin Life Skills Training”, which consists of a 7-week groundbreaking substance abuse and violence prevention program which is designed to promote mental health and positive youth development.

The organization also runs a “Positive Social Norms” campaign which focuses on the fact that people’s behavior often is influenced by their perceptions of what is “normal” or “typical.” The problem is that people usually severely misperceive the typical behaviors or attitudes of their peers. For example, if people believe most of their peers drink alcohol, then they are more likely to choose to drink, as well. Using social norms communications to inform people that most of their peers do not drink alcohol can potentially lead them to avoid alcohol use.

For more information about Beyond The Bell and its programs/resources, please visit www.beyondthebellkids.org.

– ENDS –

For media inquiries, please contact Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com, Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

BEYOND THE BELL PARTNERS WITH LOCAL FIRST RESPONDERS TO HOST ‘WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU SEE BLUE’ TOWN HALL EVENT – JUNE 18

THOMASTON, GA. – May 17, 2022 – Beyond The Bell Upson County has partnered with local first responders to host the “What To Do when You See Blue” town hall event Saturday, June 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Silvertown Baptist Church, located at 300 W. Goodrich Ave. Thomaston, Ga. 30286. These leaders of the Upson County community will inform attendees about what to expect and the processes of getting stopped by a police officer with advice on what to do.

The featured speakers at the event will include Sergeant Derric Pearson with the Thomaston Sheriff’s Department, Officer Kentavious Traylor of the Thomaston Police Department, and a representative from the Thomaston-Upson Fire Department. There will be a Q&A session with all three speakers following the event and lunch will be provided to attendees as well as free information materials.

“It can be intimidating for citizens, especially youth, to interact with law enforcement due to a lack of understanding and trust. The goal of this free town hall event is to encourage honest conversation and positive interactions between law enforcement and the citizens of Upson County,” said Executive Director Sandra Dean. “We are thrilled to be working with the Upson County Sheriff’s Office. Police department, and fire department to inform our community’s youth about what to do when they interact with law enforcement.”

Beyond The Bell, along with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) provides tools and evidence-based strategies to train, educate, and support youth and families in the prevention of alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco use and abuse.

Beyond The Bell offers programs to the community including the “Botvin Life Skills Training”, which consists of a 7-week groundbreaking substance abuse and violence prevention program which is designed to promote mental health and positive youth development. They also implement the “Positive Social Norms” campaign which focuses on the fact that people’s behavior often is influenced by their perceptions of what is “normal” or “typical.” The problem is that people usually severely misperceive the typical behaviors or attitudes of their peers. For example, if people believe that the majority of their peers drink, then they are more likely to drink. Using social norms marketing to inform people that most of their peers do not drink can potentially lead them to avoid drinking.

For more information about Beyond The Bell and its programs/resources, please visit www.beyondthebellkids.org.

– ENDS –

For media inquiries, please contact Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com, Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

BEYOND THE BELL HOSTS ‘STOP: SOBER TRUTH ON PREVENTING UNDERAGE DRINKING’ COMMUNITY EVENT – SATURDAY APRIL 23

DEKALB COUNTY, GA. – March 24, 2022 – Beyond The Bell Dekalb County has partnered with Decatur Housing Authority and No Junk Productions to host the “STOP: Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking” community event from 12-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 23 at Oliver House, 1450 Commerce Drive Decatur, GA 30030. This free event is in celebration of how DeKalb youths resisted the temptations of underage drinking during the pandemic. Attendees can enjoy live entertainment, food, and vendors.

According to an annual survey done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, alcohol and drug use among U.S. teens in 2021 was at a record low. The researchers recorded it as the largest single-year drop since the survey began in 1975. Dekalb’s youth were among these teens that refused to participate in substance abuse or give into peer pressure.

“As a nonprofit whose entire goal is to reduce substance use among youth, we couldn’t be happier to hear of the survey results that alcohol use is at an all-time low amongst teens,” said Executive Director Sandra Dean. “That is why our work as a community is so important – it can really make a difference in the lives of young people and impact their decision making. In honor of our achievements, we wanted to host this community event to celebrate our teenagers’ strong will and integrity. Let’s all come together for a fun day of commemoration!”

Beyond The Bell, along with SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services Administration, offers programs to prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth and young adults ages 12-20 by using evidenced-based programs that minimize the risks and behaviors that lead to alcohol use. 

For more information about Beyond The Bell and its programs and resources, please visit www.beyondthebellkids.org.

– ENDS –

For media inquiries, please contact Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

BEYOND THE BELL UPSON COUNTY HOSTS “UNDERSTANDING OPIOID USE & ABUSE” FREE COMMUNITY EVENT – THURSDAY MARCH 17 AT 6 P.M.

UPSON COUNTY, GA. – February 18, 2022 – Beyond The Bell Upson County is slated to host a free community event “Understanding Opioid Use & Abuse” from 6 – 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 17 at the Thomaston-Upson Civic Center, located at 101 Civic Center Drive Thomaston, Ga. 30268. Law enforcement, medical professionals, and the fire department will update attendees about how opioids impact individuals and their families. 

Speakers for this town hall event include Upson County Sheriff Dan Kilgore, Fire Chief Renee Harris, and Upson County Health Department Registered Nurse Jennifer Rooks who will address the impact of opioids that they have seen in their professional lives. There will be a Q&A session with all speakers following the event and dinner will be provided to attendees.

“The goal of this free town hall event is to raise awareness of the opioid problem in the Upson community and that opioid addiction not only brings danger to the individual, but their entire family,” said Executive Director Sandra Dean. “We believe that the expertise of the guest speakers will give insight into what our community is experiencing right now and what steps we can take to help prevent opioid misuse and abuse in our community’s youth.”

Beyond The Bell, along with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) provides tools and evidence-based strategies to train, educate, and support youth and families in the prevention of alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco use and abuse. 

For more information about this free community event, visit Beyond The Bell’s Facebook and Instagram, @beyondthebellupsoncounty. For more information on Beyond The Bell and its programs/resources, please visit www.beyondthebellkids.org. 

– ENDS –

For media inquiries, please contact Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com, Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

BEYOND THE BELL PARTNERS WITH GREENBRIAR CHILDREN’S CENTER TO HOST “PROTECT YOUR FAMILY – UNDERSTANDING OPIOID ABUSE & ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES” TOWN HALL EVENT – MARCH 3

SAVANNAH, GA. – February 9, 2022 – Beyond The Bell has partnered with the Greenbriar Children’s Center to host the “Protect Your Family – Understanding Opioid Abuse & Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)” town hall event at 6 – 8 p.m. Thursday, March 3 at the Pennsylvania Avenue Resource Center (PARC), located at 425 Pennsylvania Ave. Savannah, Ga. 31404. Law enforcement, medical professionals, and leaders of the Savannah community will update attendees about how opioids impact individuals and their families. 

Mayor Van Johnson will welcome guests to the event. Speakers from Memorial Health University Medical Center, Savannah Police Department’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, Chatham County EMS, Gateway Behavioral Health Services, Recovery Place as well as an individual in long term recovery will address the impact of opioids that they have seen in their personal and professional lives. There will be a Q&A session with all speakers following the event and dinner will be provided to attendees.

“The goal of this free town hall event is to raise awareness of the opioid problem in the Savannah community and that opioid addiction not only brings danger to the individual, but their entire family,” said Executive Director Sandra Dean. “We are thrilled to be working with Greenbriar Children’s Center to inform the Savannah community about the dangers of opioid abuse and share information about how strong relationships are the foundation of healthy brain development at any age and can be used to help mitigate the impact of trauma.”

Executive Director of Greenbriar Children’s Center, Gena Taylor, will also speak about their Project Safe Place program which focuses on the prevention of child abuse and neglect by partnering with local businesses to provide safe havens for those in need. She will also discuss how opioids in a home can leave a child experiencing ACEs that could lead to future violence victimization and perpetration.

“Youth who have ACEs are more at risk for mental illness, physical health problems, and are at more risk of harming themselves and the community they live in. The first step to preventing this is to educate the community about how common ACEs are in youth and the lasting effect it can have on them, their families, and the wider community,” said Taylor. “We are grateful that Beyond The Bell reached out to us to partner with them for this event so we can reach Savannah community.”

Beyond The Bell, along with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) provides tools and evidence-based strategies to train, educate, and support youth and families in the prevention of alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco use and abuse. 

For more information about this free community event, visit Beyond The Bell’s Facebook and Instagram, @beyondthebellsavannah or Greenbriar’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, @greenbriarchildrenscenter. For more information on Beyond The Bell and its programs/resources, please visit www.beyondthebellkids.org. For more information about Greenbriar Children’s Center and its programs/services, please visit www.greenbriarchildrenscenter.org. 

– ENDS –

For media inquiries, please contact Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com, Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

BEYOND THE BELL UPSON COUNTY APPOINTS NEW PROJECT COORDINATOR WANDA JOHNSON

UPSON COUNTY, GA. – January 27, 2022 – Beyond The Bell has appointed Wanda Johnson as their new Region 6 Project Coordinator in Upson County. 

Johnson received her Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Mercer University and a Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Post-Secondary and Adult Education. She began using her qualifications by training childcare professionals and student teachers at Southern Crescent Technical College in Thomaston, GA. She then transitioned into a role as a Special Education teacher at George E. Washington Elementary School in Woodbury, GA where she developed appropriate learning center and instructional materials to facilitate differentiated activities and individualized performance tasks. Her most recent role has been a Life Skills Instructor for Roosevelt Warm Springs where she provided guidance and instruction in life skills needed for individuals looking to gaining employment. 

“I am beyond pleased to start working with Beyond The Bell to start developing materials and programs that will guide the youth of Upson County to avoid the pressures of abusing drugs and alcohol. I believe that my experience has equipped me to be able to provide the tools they need to combat any negative messages that might hinder them from reaching their full potential,” said Johnson. “Beyond The Bell does such amazing work in Upson County and I am ready to dive headfirst into growing and developing the organization

 Beyond The Bell offers programs in the local schools and community, including the Botvin Life Skills Training, which consists of a 7-week groundbreaking substance abuse and violence prevention program designed to promote mental health and positive youth development. Beyond The Bell also implements the “Positive Social Norms” campaign, which focuses on the fact that people’s behavior often is influenced by their perceptions of what is “normal” or “typical.” The problem is that people usually severely misperceive the typical behaviors or attitudes of their peers. For example, if people believe that the majority of their peers drink, then they are more likely to drink. Using social norms marketing to inform people that most of their peers do not drink can potentially lead them to avoid drinking. 

For more information about Beyond The Bell, its programs/resources and success all of the impacted communities, please visit www.beyondthebellkids.org or visit any of the BTB communities Facebook pages. 

– ENDS –

For media inquiries, please contact Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com, Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

BEYOND THE BELL PARTNERS WITH BIBB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE TO HOST ‘WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU SEE BLUE’ TOWN HALL EVENT – SATURDAY JANUARY 22

01/22

BEYOND THE BELL PARTNERS WITH BIBB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE TO HOST ‘WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU SEE BLUE’ TOWN HALL EVENT – SATURDAY JANUARY 22

01/22

MACON, GA. – December 7, 2021 – Beyond The Bell Macon-Bibb County has partnered with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office to host the “What To Do when You See Blue” town hall event at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 22 at Glorious Hope Baptist Church, located at 3805 Napier Ave. Macon, Ga. 31204. Law enforcement and leaders of the Macon-Bibb community will inform attendees about what to expect and the processes of getting stopped by a police officer with advice on what to do.

Lt. Reggie Thomas of the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office will be the featured speaker for the event and will be joined by Judy Gordon, Neighborhood Watch Coordinator for the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, and Jeremy Grissom, Safety Net Project Specialist for the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. There will be a Q&A session with all three speakers following the event and lunch will be provided to attendees as well as free information materials.

“It can be intimidating for citizens, especially youth, to interact with law enforcement due to a lack of understanding and trust. The goal of this free town hall event is to encourage honest conversation and positive interactions between law enforcement and the citizens of Macon-Bibb County,” said Executive Director Sandra Dean. “We are thrilled to be working with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office to inform our community’s youth about what to do when they interact with law enforcement.”

Beyond The Bell, along with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) provides tools and evidence-based strategies to train, educate, and support youth and families in the prevention of alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco use and abuse.

Beyond The Bell offers programs to the community including the “Botvin Life Skills Training”, which consists of a 7-week groundbreaking substance abuse and violence prevention program which is designed to promote mental health and positive youth development. They also implement the “Positive Social Norms” campaign which focuses on the fact that people’s behavior often is influenced by their perceptions of what is “normal” or “typical.” The problem is that people usually severely misperceive the typical behaviors or attitudes of their peers. For example, if people believe that the majority of their peers drink, then they are more likely to drink. Using social norms marketing to inform people that most of their peers do not drink can potentially lead them to avoid drinking.

For more information about Beyond The Bell and its programs/resources, please visit www.beyondthebellkids.org.

– ENDS –

For media inquiries, please contact Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com, Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

BEYOND THE BELL LAUNCHES IN MACON-BIBB COUNTY AND INVITES THE PUBLIC TO RIBBON-CUTTING EVENT – OCTOBER 20

BEYOND THE BELL LAUNCHES IN MACON-BIBB COUNTY AND INVITES THE PUBLIC TO RIBBON-CUTTING EVENT – OCTOBER 20

MACON, GA. – September 29, 2021 – Georgia-based non-profit organization Beyond The Bell is set to open a new location in Macon-Bibb County on October 1 and is inviting the public to a ribbon-cutting and grand opening event on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 11 a.m. located at the new office, 3115 Vineville Avenue, Macon, GA 31204. Light refreshments will be provided and local leaders and the faith-based community will be in attendance.

Beyond The Bell, along with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) provides tools and evidence-based strategies to train, educate, and support youth and families in the prevention of alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco use and abuse.

“The goal behind Beyond The Bell’s programs is to ensure the safety and healthy development of our community’s youth so they can maintain healthy habits the rest of their lives and become productive citizens. We aim to educate parents on the issue of underage drinking and drug use because it is helpful for parents to have the knowledge to discuss risk factors with their kids and be a positive example for their children,” said Executive Director Sandra Dean. “We are thrilled to be introducing Beyond The Bell to Macon-Bibb County and using our programs to improve the lives of the youth in this community.”

Beyond The Bell offers programs to the community including the Botvin Life Skills Training”, which consists of a 7-week groundbreaking substance abuse and violence prevention program which is designed to promote mental health and positive youth development. They also implement the “Positive Social Norms” campaign which focuses on the fact that people’s behavior often is influenced by their perceptions of what is “normal” or “typical.” The problem is that people usually severely misperceive the typical behaviors or attitudes of their peers. For example, if people believe that the majority of their peers drink, then they are more likely to drink. Using social norms marketing to inform people that most of their peers do not drink can potentially lead them to avoid drinking.

For more information about Beyond The Bell and its programs/resources, please visit www.beyondthebellkids.org.

– ENDS –

For media inquiries, please contact Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com, Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).