We are small but mighty! With great pleasure, in this issue we are taking the opportunity to introduce you to our staff on a more personal level while highlighting the role each plays with the Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati (CDFGC). The staff is the face of the Coalition in the communities we serve and with our partners. I am very proud of the high level of knowledge and professionalism that each brings to CDFGC. We have quite a unique blend of personalities and specialty areas that combine for a team that, together, works hard to achieve the goals of the Coalition.

I have worked for CDFGC for 11 years and have been in the field of substance abuse prevention for 16 years. As a registered nurse for 36 years, prevention has always been a philosophy and way of life that I have embraced. As a mother of six children, and now expecting my 7th grandchild, prevention principles have been an important foundation upon which I raised my children to become healthy, productive adults. It was not easy or perfect, but consistency was important.

In my role as President of the Coalition, I strive to bring cohesiveness to programming, sustainability to funding, and innovative ideas for growth. In addition to a talented staff, I am grateful for a board of trustees that is strong and committed. I am grateful for community partners and member coalitions that also work together with us to achieve reductions in youth substance abuse. The coalition approach is a model proven effective to bring about community change on many societal problems. In fifteen years, the Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati has laid a foundation of collaboration, built a reputation of excellence and demonstrated outcomes. Coalition work is arduous and takes a long time, but there is nothing more rewarding than seeing growth and change.