SRSLY celebrates 10 years

Curran at the podium. Photo courtesy of SRSLY.

On August 15, at the historic Michigan Theater in downtown Ann Arbor, SRSLY Coalitions celebrated 10 years of empowering youth to live healthy, substance-free lives in Chelsea, Dexter, Stockbridge, and Manchester. Donors, volunteers and supporters of the organization attended a special celebration to recognize the difference the coalitions have made in the lives of young people and their families.

“Youth want to be empowered, and they want to live healthy substance-free lives, and they want to feel supported in their decision to do so,” said Reiley Curran, regional director of SRSLY, in delivered remarks. “SRSLY has been making youth feel seen, and heard, and valued, and respected, and supported, and honored for ten years. This work matters, and it is working.”

This past year SRSLY Manchester has had 190 youth and 60 adults participate with 3,841 volunteer hours. To date, SRSLY in its four communities has coordinated more than 500 events with the help of 3,000 volunteers, logging a total of 50,000 volunteer hours.

“Manchester is very involved and dedicated to its youth,” said Alex Duranczyk, SRSLY Manchester coalition director. “We are grateful to our community supporters for finding the time in their busy schedules to participate.  They have made a profound impact throughout the community.”

SRSLY Manchester coalition meets quarterly with the next coalition meeting scheduled for September 12 from 3:30 to 5 pm  Middle and high school students meet every Friday in school during both A and B lunches. SRSLY Manchester also has after school meetings where teens can become part of the Youth Steering Committee.  Dates will be announced when school begins. Parents and community members are welcome to join the Adult Steering Committee. There is also a Haunted Hallways event being planned for October, which will offer a good opportunity to get involved. All these meeting times and locations will be available on SRSLY Manchester’s website www.srslymanchester.org.  For more information, please contact Alex Duranczyk at alex@srslymanchester.org.

SRSLY staff from Left to right is: Rebecca Jaskot (SRSLY Chelsea), Alex Duranczyk (SRSLY Manchester), Alyssa Tumolo (SRSLY Dexter), Julia Porter (SRSLY Dexter), Lindsay Baker (SRSLY Chelsea), and Emily Stewart (SRSLY Stockbridge). Photo courtesy of SRSLY.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.