M.A.D.E. in Madison's Annual Meeting Celebrates Youth Leadership

The accomplishments and leadership of Madison youth was the focus at M.A.D.E. in Madison’s Annual Meeting held on Monday, June 4th in the Senior Center Cafe.  Graduating DHHS Senior, Jess Buller, was honored for her participation and leadership in M.A.D.E.’s high school youth group, L.I.F.E.  In addition, members of L.I.F.E. recapped the past year’s activities that culminated with a poster campaign of the youth survey results posted throughout the community and in the high school.  Representatives of Peer Helpers, a middle school youth program led by Peg Butler of Madison Youth & Family Services, presented their effort “Speak Up Against Drugs and Alcohol” at Polson Middle School that invited students to participate in making a pledge not to use alcohol and other drugs with a video of reasons not to use, discussion in small groups and a wall poster featuring each student’s reason for not using. 

M.A.D.E. Chairperson, Lori Lodge, presented a summary of the coalition’s initiatives for the year, noting that M.A.D.E. continues to build support and momentum and invites all members of the community to learn more and join in the effort.  David Melillo, Treasurer and Project Director of M.A.D.E. and Director of Madison Youth and Family Services, noted that the youth survey conducted in November 2011 in partnership with the Madison Public Schools indicated that use of alcohol and other drugs has measurably decreased since the last survey was conducted two years ago, in most ways bucking national trends. 

M.A.D.E. is entering the last year of its federal grant and the last two years of its smaller state grant.  Sustaining the effort will be a primary focus in the upcoming year.