• The Whitesburg Campus SGA and UNITE coalition will distribute 10 Christmas Care packages youth whose parent(s) are presently in drug rehabilitation to overcome addiction. In the nature of the holiday season we understand the difficulties families with issues of drug addiction and recovery will encounter. This project is in conjunction with the Kentucky River Comprehensive Care.
  
  
• Coalition members are working with Drug Court participants to train them about media production so that they can play an active role in raising community awareness. Once they complete the training they will be qualified to lead production workshops throughout the community. These teams will work with Appalachian Media Institute and art therapists to assist in the collection and documentation of family stories. Younger at-risk youth will express their hopes and fears through the creation of a memory book. Visits to treatment and rehabilitation facilities will be documented to increase awareness about treatment options. Through this process the group intends to develop a comprehensive grant to establish a facility in Letcher County.
  
  

• From September 21 through October 31 the coalition was involved in a digital storytelling project as part of Building Families with a Future. More than 50 people have brought in photos. While a lot of photos were scanned and stories recorded, there is much more to do. Drug Court participants have been trained and are working at the Harry M. Caudill Library three days a week. Families who have taken advantage of this opportunity gained a new appreciation and perspective on their rich family history.
  
  
• SEW (Southeast Whitesburg) UNITEd has developed a Drug Information and Education Center on the Whitesburg Campus of Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College.
  
  
• The Whitesburg campus sponsored a fall essay contest - "Drug Abuse: Destroying Our Appalachian Family" - for students. Jami Dixon won first place with an essay focusing on the adverse impact on the family and the sorrow that all involved feel when fighting the demons of addiction within the family. From child to grandparents, she focused on the pain involved. Mark White finished second focusing on the impact of parents doing drugs and how it hurts their children. Third place went to Josh Lark who conveyed his feeling on the community as a whole, focusing on the crackdown of users and dealers within his community. His essay reflected on how much it hurts to see former school friends abusing drugs today and how it has changed their lives. Each was recognized at an awards dinner on October 16. To read winning essays click here.
  
  
• Lifeline of Letcher County currently offers weekly an adult Drug and Alcohol Recovery and a youth Life Controlling Problems groups. They are in the process of forming an adult Concerned Persons group.
  
  
• Three Letcher County schools have a registered UNITE Club – Jenkins Middle, Martha Jane Potter Elementary and Whitesburg Middle.
  
  
• Letcher County will be part of the Drug Endangered Child Training Network.
  
  

• Saturday, May 10 - Letcher County will hold its first Hooked On Fishing-Not On Drugs youth fishing and mentoring program with approximately 15 people from the Cowan Community Center starting at 10 a.m. at the shelter at the dam site of Fishpond Lake. Any volunteers to assist would be greatly appreciated. For information contact Ron Brunty at ron.brunty@kctcs.edu.
  
  
• Monday, May 12 - A general overview of Operation UNITE will be given to the Neighbors UNITED organization and concerned local citizens, 7 p.m. at the Eolia Community Christian Outreach Center. For more information contact Marie Coleman at 606-633-4654 or marie.coleman@letcher.kyschools.us.
  
  
• Tuesday, June 24 - UNITE Shoot Hoops Not Drugs basketball camp with Jeff Sheppard, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Letcher Central High School, 435 Cougar Drive, Whitesburg.
  For details click here.
  
  

• Tuesday, December 18 - The Letcher County Juvenile Drug Court held a Christmas party at the county courthouse.
  
  
• Monday, October 29 - Former University of Kentucky basketball star Jeff Sheppard gave anti-drug presentations to students at Arlie Boggs Elemenetary School, Cowan Elementary (grades 6-8), West Whitesburg Elementary (grades 4-5) and Whitesburg Middle at the middle school. For details contact Marie Coleman at 606-633-8160.
  
  
• Tuesday, October 16 - The Letcher County Juvenile Drug Court held a graduation ceremony for two participants.
  
  
• Monday, August 27 - Former UK basketball star Jeff Sheppard conducted anti-drug rallies at Martha Jane Potter Elementary, Fleming Neon Elementary and Letcher Elementary schools.
  
  
• Tuesday, July 24 - Letcher County Juvenile Drug Court held a graduation ceremony for two participants.
  
  
• Monday, July 16 - A Neighbors UNITED presentation was held at the Mayking Fire Department. For information contact Roland Craft at 606-633-1257.
  
  
• Thursday, May 10 - The Letcher County Drug Court held a graduation ceremony. The event honored the first married couple to complete the program.
  
  
• Monday, April 9 - Former University of Kentucky basketball great Jeff Sheppard presented anti-drug programs at Jenkins Middle/High School and Jenkins Independent Elemenetary.
  
  
• Thursday, March 22 - An overview of UNITE and available resources was presented to supervisory and management staff from the Department for Community Based Services Eastern Mountain Region. For information contact Susan Howard at 606-788-7108.
  
  
• Thursday, March 22 - The Letcher County UNITE Drug Court held a graduation ceremony for one participant with guest speaker former Kentucky Governor Paul Patton.
  
  
• Wednesday, March 21 - Cowan Elementary School career day for approximately 350 students in grades K-8.
  
  
• Tuesday, March 6 - Letcher County Juvenile Drug Court held a graduation ceremony for two participants at the Letcher County Courthouse.
  
  
• Thursday, December 7 - Letcher County Drug Court held a graduation ceremony for one participant at the Circuit Courtroom of the Letcher County Courthouse.
  
  
• Thursday, November 2 - Students on the Whitesburg Campus signed pledges to refrain from abusive drugs, received educational materials, and a Southeast Whitesburg UNITE T-shirt for participation in the Drug Awareness Pledge Day. To view pictures click here.
  
  

Chair
   Madeline F. Kincer
   606-633-7034 (h)
   606-633-6587 (cell)
   madeline.flannery-kincer@kctcs.edu

Vice-Chair
   n/a

Secretary/
   John Cleveland
   606-633-7204 (h)
   jcleve@tgtel.com

Treasurer
   n/a

Chair
   Ron Brunty
   606-633-0279 (w)
   ron.brunty@kctcs.edu                                                

Vice-Chair
   Pricie Young
   pricie.young@kctcs.edu

Secretary
   Sandy Holbrook
   606-633-0279 (w)
   sandy.holbrook@kctcs.edu                

Treasurer
   Deborah Young
   606-633-0279 (w)
   deborah.young@kctcs.edu