Spotlight on Coalition Member Mary Salaam! Our spotlight member of the quarter is Mary Salaam. Mary Salaam has been a Beyond The Bell Board Member and Coalition Member since 2007. She is a retired Registered Nurse from Meadow Bruce Nursing Home and is currently serving as Technician for The Diabetes Association. In an effort to ensure diversity, Ms. Mary came to Beyond The Bell as a CPAW member from the Muslim Community. She attends The Georgia School of Addiction annually in Savannah, GA., to get additional training on the dangers of underage drinking and marijuana use. National Prevention Week "I Choose" Project The "I Choose" Project is an easy way to make a difference, be a positive example, and inspire others. Beyond The Bell youth council participated in the National Week Prevention “I choose project”. The youth took photographs of each other holding a sign with their personal message they created about why substance abuse prevention is important to them. View SAMHSAs National Prevention Week Video Here! https://youtu.be/YEDzvp2kKCM Listen to SAMHSAs National Prevention Week Theme Song here! http://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/programs_campaigns/nation_prevention_week/npw-2016-theme-stronger-together.mp3 Do you want to educate your child about underage drinking? Alcohol is a drug. It is classed as a depressant, meaning it slows down vital functions, resulting in slurred speech, unsteady movement, disturbed perceptions and an inability to react quickly. Underage drinking by those under the age of 21 is illegal, affects the developing brain, and can have devastating health, safety and legal consequences. Underage drinking, binge and heavy drinking among 18-25 year olds have been identified in DeKalb County as issues affecting the community. Beyond The Bell, founded and created by Sandra Dean in 2002, along with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and the Governors Office of Hwy Safety provide programs and strategies to address these issues based on community surveys, data collection and observations. Beyond the Bells vision is to reduce the negative impact of alcohol abuse and other drugs in the community by providing quality prevention programs and sustainable outcomes! Please take a moment to review your experience with us. Your feedback not only helps us, it helps others like you! http://www.growthsparkreviews.com/bthebell