Business Highlight: Grundy Safe Communities Coalition

Drug and Alcohol prevention for you and families in Grundy County.

Brief Description of Business and Service Provided:

Drug and Alcohol prevention for you and families in Grundy County. We provide education, speaking opportunities, events, drug take back support, and after school activities for youth. SPARK (students preventing addiction and raising knowledge) is our Youth Coalition at GCHS. We attend youth leadership and prevention training camps and events to support students in assisting their peers, community members, and families in leading drug and alcohol free lifestyles.

Tell us about your business:

I am the Coalition Coordinator for Grundy Safe Communities Coalition. This is our 15th anniversary year and our mission is to be united in establishing a safe, caring and drug-free community for youth and families. We are funded under grant contract with the State of Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

What inspired you to start (or join) this business? (Your why):

I am a nurse and have served Veterans in recovery at Alvin C. York, worked with students and staff as the school nurse at Palmer and Swiss Memorials Schools, and worked with students at Baylor School Chattanooga. I "came home" to serve my local community after travel nursing and working on Federal USDA/CDC research at the onset of Covid-19. I am passionate about serving Grundy County in substance prevention efforts.

What is something unique about your business that most people don't know? (A fun fact, specialty product, or behind the scenes detail):

I catch and release flyfish and have chased and caught bonefish in the saltwater flats in Belize! I also trout fish in E. Tennessee and in Colorado.

What so you love most about being part of this community?

The kindness and community spirit of my neighbors.

What's one challenge you've overcome in your business journey?

Bringing awareness about GSCC to our community and the opportunites we provide to the 12 sectors we serve. We are greatly challenged with evolving drug trends and availability and it is crucial that we all serve our youth and families in prevention and awareness efforts.

What's the best advice you've received as a business owner?

"You've already got this, you just don't know it yet".

How can the community best support you right now?

By hosting safe and informative events for youth, young adults and families to bring conversatoins about drug and alcohol dangers to the table. For example game nights for families, town hall events with speakers who work in the field, community events for youth and families at Littel-Partin Center.