Vermont Youth and Adults Join Together for Prevention Day and OVX Statehouse Rally
Vermont Business Magazine Prevention Day brought together youth, prevention organizations, and supporters to educate decision makers and to celebrate the substance misuse prevention community in Vermont. Over 70 youth participated from 15 groups, and 68 adults from 14 prevention organizations, three Vermont state agencies and three other organizations for a total of 148 people were in attendance. This year, Prevention Day was held in collaboration with the OVX (Our Voices Xposed) State House Rally on April 7th, 2022.
High school members of Our Lives Xposed (OVX)– Vermont’s youth-led movements to reduce youth smoking and vaping prevalence – marched from Montpelier City Hall to the steps of the Vermont Statehouse to speak out against the dangers to youth of e-cigarette and tobacco use, and against flavors that are designed to attract a next generation of people with life-long nicotine addiction. Legislators took the opportunity to meet with students from their congregations to learn more about what needs to be done in their communities.
Youth and adults were able to participate in activities to recognize and celebrate how communities can reach a common goal of supporting healthy living for all Vermonters. By creating community asset maps to highlight the positive aspects that their community offers and what they can do to improve.
The complete list of awardees can be seen below:
Lifetime Achievement:
1. Sharon Koller | UP for Learning
2. Lori Uerz | Vermont Department of Health (Retired)
3. Jackie Borella | The Collaborative
Prevention Colleague:
1. Tom Fontana | University of Vermont
2. Shelley Park | Deerfield Valley Community Partnership
Community Partner: Bennington Regional Planning Commission
Volunteer: Michael Shaeffer | The Dorset School
Decision Maker: Kelly Pajala | Representative of the Windham-Bennington-Windsor district
Youth: Kate Lewton | Healthy Lamoille Valley
About The Collaborative
The Collaborative, since 1999, serves Bennington County, Western Windham and Southern Windsor and Rutland Counties. Our direct service area includes 18 towns encompassing the Northshire and mountain towns and nine schools focusing on promoting healthy communities and substance free youth through education, programming, environmental strategies and policy development. Visit
About Prevention Works! VT
Prevention Works! VT is a network of community coalition leaders, prevention consultants, service providers and individuals with an interest in and a commitment to substance misuse prevention across the state of Vermont. Visit preventionworksvt.org
About OVX
Since 2014, OVX youth leaders from across the state have joined together through the CounterBalance education campaign, working to reduce the harmful effects of tobacco and flavored products among Vermont youth. Visit Counterbalancevt.com
