Sharlene Johnson is a dedicated lifelong resident of Kamiah with a deep passion for her community. Her career in prevention began as a coalition director, where she successfully led two prevention coalitions. Sharlene has also contributed her expertise to the Idaho Governor’s Office of Drug Policy and Region 2 Public Health. Additionally, she has facilitated prevention education at both state and national levels.

Sharlene’s commitment to her community is evident in her involvement in various activities, which she finds extremely enjoyable and fulfilling. She believes that prioritizing commitments is key to making a meaningful impact: “We’re all busy with the things we decide are priorities. If you commit, it instantly becomes a priority, which is the best way to get something started.”

Jaleese Simpson, Assistant Director and Certified Prevention Specialist I for the Cheatham County Community Enhancement Coalition, is a dedicated leader in youth prevention and development. She oversees multiple social-emotional behavior support groups and mentoring initiatives, focusing on empowering at-risk youth to build resilience and make positive life choices. Through her work, Jaleese has cultivated opportunities for young people to develop leadership skills, strengthen their mental health, and contribute to a safer and healthier community.

Regina Meyerchick serves as the Washington Parish Youth Coalition Director for ADAPT, Inc., based in Bogalusa, Louisiana, and is the former director of the Drug Free Communities Grant. A retired high school teacher and basketball coach (32 yrs), she has over a decade of experience in youth prevention, guiding young people to achieve recognition at local, state, and national levels, including CADCA Youth Leader of the Year and Youth Appointee to CADCA’s Board of Directors. Regina is dedicated to educating, empowering, and inspiring youth to live with purpose through leadership, technology, and peer-to-peer education.

Formerly the Program Coordinator of the Hempstead Prevention Coalition at Family and Children’s Association (FCA), April McCarthy M.A.Ed. is now the current Director of Prevention & Community Engagement @ FCA. April has dedicated over 17 years to protecting, assisting, empowering, and strengthening Long Island’s most vulnerable children, families, seniors, and communities. As a Hempstead native, she has devoted herself to challenging and changing social systems that adversely affect marginalized communities.

As an educator, April committed herself to prevention work and coalition building. Since adolescence, April has both developed and facilitated awareness and prevention education trainings on a variety of topics including, but not limited to sexual health, sexual abuse, domestic/dating violence, trauma, addiction, high risk behaviors, bystander intervention, healthy relationships, healthy night life, hazing, role modeling, federal and state student rights and protections, and other similar topics.

April utilizes her prolific speaking, participant-centric teaching skills, and engaging personality to establish connections and foster personal understanding with community partners and training participants of all ages, especially youth.

Charles Love is a dedicated professional with a passion for youth engagement in substance misuse prevention. With over 20 plus years of experience in the human services social services field, he has successfully implemented innovative programs that empower young people to make informed decisions. Charles Love believes in the importance of collaboration and community involvement in fostering healthy environments for youth.

Jazzmin McGuff, MPH, CHES, CPS, earned her Master of Public Health with a focus on Health Promotion from Grand Valley State University and became a Certified Health Education Specialist in 2022. She takes pride in delivering health education and promotion with compassion, equity, and cultural competence as the A.C.T (Advocate, Collaborate, Treat) Drug Free Community Coalition Coordinator at Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities in Dearborn, Michigan and became a Certified Prevention Specialist through this role in 2023. Jazzmin is particularly passionate about empowering the youth in her community to advocate for meaningful change and providing opportunities for development and growth to the ACT Youth Action Committee. Jazzmin hopes to continue to build her skills as an advocate for youth and continue to provide a safe and encouraging environment for youth to learn and grow throughout her life.

Luke Jarvis is the founding Executive Director of Wilkes Youth Life Development (WYLD) and a lifelong resident of Wilkes County, North Carolina. Since entering the nonprofit sector in 2015, he has passionately worked to empower young people and strengthen his community. Inspired by the challenges youth faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ever-changing obstacles they continue to navigate, Luke co-founded WYLD to provide vital programming and opportunities for growth, helping young people embrace their true potential. He also serves as the Adult Advisor for Youth Impact NC, supporting youth leaders as they create meaningful change across the state. His commitment to youth development and community impact continues to drive his work as a dedicated leader and advocate for change.

Juliana J. Craig is a seasoned public health professional with over 18 years of experience in substance use disorder prevention, specializing in community-based programs. With a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, she has dedicated her career to working with Arizona Youth Partnership, where she has collaborated with community coalitions across Arizona to implement evidence-based prevention strategies for youth and adults. She manages federal, state, and local grants, budgets, and staff. Juliana is an expert in staff training, grant writing, and strategic planning, with a proven ability to lead successful programs. She has also contributed to the development of educational resources, including a statewide Fentanyl and Psychostimulant Toolkit used nationwide.

Cesar Velazquez is a Youth Prevention Specialist at Eden Youth (Hayward, CA) with a focus on Social Emotional Learning. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and first generation, Cesar was once a YAC (Youth Advisory Council) alumnus which he now co-facilitates and takes leadership in. Taking on a new leadership role, Cesar serves as a mentor to youth and helps guide them through making healthier choices through substance abuse prevention work, policy, and engaging them in a fun and humorous environment in the very same community he grew up in.