Engage Douglas County is proud to announce the three recipients of the 2023 Engaged in Action award. Recipients of the Engaged in Action award exemplify the values of Engage Douglas County which include a demonstrated commitment to reducing substance misuse and/or promoting mental health, active engagement in issues that affect residents in Douglas County, such as drug and alcohol use, suicide prevention, or other behavioral health issues, and dedication to serving the community.
Youth – Nora Prather (Baldwin High School)
Adult – Wendy Conover (Communications Coordinator, University of Kansas Libraries)
Organization – Center for Supportive Communities (Lawrence)
Nora Prather is the youth recipient of the 2023 Engaged in Action Award. Nora is participating as a volunteer for the Teen Lifeline through KSPHQ! She is a member of National Honor Society and participates in wrestling and soccer. She is an incredible leader on both teams! Nora has been active in SPEAK/Douglas County Youth Empowerment & Prevention (YEP!) for the past three years, and she has demonstrated tremendous growth in her confidence to plan projects and speak up during meetings. She was one of the presenters to the entire student body on “How to help a friend” for suicide prevention month. Nora is enrolled in advanced classes at BHS and was a Junior Editor for The Avant (an art and creative writing magazine published here at the school). Nora also had several written pieces selected to showcase and won Best in Poetry for this year!
Wendy Conover is the adult recipient of the 2023 Engaged in Action Award. Wendy is currently the Communications Coordinator for University of Kansas Libraries and was previously Director of the Baldwin City Library and she is a true champion for youth wellness; through her program BCK United at Baldwin City Library, she helps young people create projects that spark positive social change and personal growth. In this year alone she’s helped youth plan numerous events inclusive of all and focused on protective factors.
The Center for Supportive Communities is the organization recipient of the 2023 Engaged in Action Award. The Center for Supportive Communities (CSC), a new organization in Lawrence dedicated to using behavioral science to create equal opportunities and meaningful change, operates a prevention program, SupportEd, that serves school-age children and youth in all Douglas County school districts who, for several different, multilevel factors, spend too much time out of school and who would otherwise end up in the juvenile justice system. They are a Douglas County community partner and we collaborate with Criminal Justice Services, the District Court, the District Attorney’s Office, the Department for Children and Families, and all school districts to make this program the best it can be for our youth.
About Engage Douglas County
Engage Douglas County was founded in 2019 and the mission is to mobilize and empower Douglas County to reduce substance abuse and promote mental health primarily among youth through action, education, and collaboration. The coalition helps increase awareness of issues that affect many Douglas County residents, including matters such as suicide, underage alcohol use, vaping, marijuana use, and more. To learn more about Engage Douglas County, visit: https://www.engagedouglascounty.org/
