Monday was Howdy Day, signaling the start of another academic year. Here’s wishing you all an easy transition from summer to school.

Here’s an invitation to schedule us in:

First Baptist Church of La Crescenta hosts a free Concert Under the Stars featuring music by Café Fuego on Friday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m.  at 4441 La Crescenta Ave.  Gourmet food trucks! Family fun! And it’s a fundraiser for our Coalition. Proceeds will underwrite our free, interactive, parent/guardian education sessions held on Tuesday nights from 7:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the YMCA near the 2 at 1930 Foothill Blvd. Childcare is available (free for Y members; minimal cost to everyone else). The first session is Sept. 3, and Pam Erdman, LMFT, will talk about “Parenting Foundations.” As always, we’d love to hear from you so we can plan a session to address a topic of your choosing.

I just attended a Mid-Year Training Institute sponsored by CADCA – Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America. I attend classes on quantitative and qualitative data collection and evaluation, including “Using Focus Groups to Measure Local Conditions.”

This is a skill that’s useful; to practice, I need eight adult volunteers who live or work in CV who are willing to talk about community strengths and weaknesses.  This should take up to two hours, including feedback and snacks. If you are interested, email me at suzy@cvdapc.org.  Depending on who answers, we’ll set the time, but I’m thinking during school while the kids are busy.  Thank you!

Finally, Julia Rabago, former CV chamber ED, will increase her hours with the Coalition by supporting the programs and outreach efforts planned by our Youth & Family Committee. You know Julia; therefore, you know how lucky I am – and we all are – to have this early childhood expert working with families. Please welcome her by adding your name to our distribution list: info@cvdapc.org.

You don’t want to miss out on the great things ahead!

Suzy Jacobs is the executive director of the CV Drug & Alcohol Prevention Coalition.

  Suzy JACOBS