Mary Byrne
Public health educator Lisa Gibalerio is planning a community meet-and-greet next week at the Fire Station on Trapelo Road to boost public awareness of the Belmont Wellness Coalition.
The nonprofit Belmont Wellness Coalition—a program of Wayside Youth & Family Support Network—brings together members from all sections of the community, from first responders to library officials to local organizations such as Belmont Against Racism. Students, too, are represented in its membership. Parents make up roughly half the coalition’s membership, according to Gibalerio.
“How to get community change happening has been studied, and what people who have studied it have learned is that the best way to get community change is to involve members of the community,” she said. “The change we want to see is awareness around the risk factors for youth using substances. We want to highlight those risk factors, we want to talk about them, we want to address them. The best way to do it is to involve multiple people from the community.”
In particular, the Wellness Coalition focuses on the prevention and reduction of substance misuse, promoting healthy choices and positive decision-making among Belmont youth. It offers webinars and videos, and Gibalerio offers a parenting group.
On Monday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m., the meet and greet will offer families the opportunity to learn more about what the wellness coalition is and how it is able to help and support the community. Light refreshments will be served.
“We can break bread together, share some snacks, share our offerings,” said Gibalerio, who oversees the coalition. “It’s just a way in which … we can share with the community all that we have to offer.”
There will be no “real agenda,” though Gibalerio may share a few words during the event. Otherwise, the meet and greet simply offers a chance for the community to get to know the organization.
“We’re not doing it to drum up new members; we’re more doing it to drum up publicity of what we do,” she said.
Gibalerio said the organization is available to answer the difficult questions— what to do when a child is suspected of drug or alcohol use, and how to have those conversations with a student. She said the organization just wants parents and guardians to know they are available as a resource.
“We just want people to know that if they’re struggling, or they’re worried about their kids, they don’t have to Google alone,” she said. “They can talk to someone.”