The community partners of our Local Prevention Council are here for you. Whether you are looking for mentorship, new skills, or something positive to do - don’t hesitate to reach out!

MISSION

Engage community partners through collaboration while leveraging resources that educate and empower youth to be responsible by living a positive and substance-free life.

VISION

A healthy and thriving community, free of substance misuse.

DRUG-FREE COMMUNITIES

The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program is the nation’s leading effort to mobilize communities to prevent and reduce substance use among youth. Created in 1997 by the Drug-Free Communities Act, the DFC program provides grants to community coalitions with the goal of establishing and strengthening collaboration among local partners to reduce substance use among youth.

The Drug Free Community sectors are strategic alliances within the community that have proven to be successful when collaborating with one another in an effort to create a safe, healthy, and drug-free community for youth. On this page you can see all of our Local Prevention Council partners and the ways they come together from different sectors to be partners in youth prevention!

  • Media
  • School
  • Youth-Serving
  • Law
  • Religious
  • Volunteers
  • Healthcare
  • Government
  • Other
  • Youth
  • Parents
  • Business
  • The 12 Drug Free Community Sectors Representatives of communications outlets that provide information to the community Representatives of public, private, and charter school systems with influence in school policies and procedures Representatives of organizations that provide services to youth Representatives of law enforcement agencies who are sworn law enforcement officers and/or retired law enforcement officers Representatives of faith-based organization who have leadership roles Representatives of organizations that provide civic or volunteer activities to the community Individuals legally allowed to provide physical, mental, or behavioral healthcare services Representatives of government-funded agencies with a focus on substance abuse Community organizations that address substance abuse prevention Minors that are 18 years old or younger Individuals legally responsible for a child, grandchild, or foster child Representatives of a business-related organization

Media

Representatives of communications outlets that provide information to the community

School

Representatives of public, private, and charter school systems with influence in school policies and procedures

Youth-Serving

Representatives of organizations that provide services to youth

Law

Representatives of law enforcement agencies who are sworn law enforcement officers and/or retired law enforcement officers

Religious

Representatives of faith-based organization who have leadership roles

Volunteers

Representatives of organizations that provide civic or volunteer activities to the community

Healthcare

Individuals legally allowed to provide physical, mental, or behavioral healthcare services

Government

Representatives of government-funded agencies with a focus on substance abuse

Other

Community organizations that address substance abuse prevention

Youth

Minors that are 18 years old or younger

Parents

Individuals legally responsible for a child, grandchild, or foster child

Business

Representatives of a business-related organization

Tyshaunda Wiley, MPH
Prevention Coordinator
Omar McDew
Youth Advocate

Tyshaunda Wiley

Prevention Coordinator

Tyshaunda is the Prevention Coordinator of the New Britain Local Prevention Council (NBLPC). She is responsible for overseeing a Drug Free Communities grant to mobilize community resources, in an effort to prevent and reduce youth substance use. With over 10 years of wide-ranging experience in the public health and science fields, she is adept in substance use prevention, community engagement, youth development, and working with diverse communities. Although new to her role, Tyshaunda has ties to the New Britain community, having served as the Vice President of a local non-profit (Opportunities Industrialization Center) and previously working as a local Domestic Violence Prevention Educator (Prudence Crandall Center). Tyshaunda is excited to use her experience in raising awareness, identifying solutions, and empowering youth to enhance prevention efforts across New Britain.

Contact

Omar McDew

Youth Advocate

Omar is currently the Youth Advocate for the City of New Britain and also serves as the Head Freshmen Football Coach at New Britain High School, a position he has held for 21 years and counting. He started working with New Britain kids as a camp counselor for the New Britain Parks and Recreation Department in 1989 and held several positions there including: After School Supervisor, Recreation Specialist and Assistant Supervisor. After graduating from Central Connecticut State University, where he played varsity football for 4 years, he got a job as a juvenile caseworker at the New Britain Juvenile Justice Center where he was charged with working with medium and high level juvenile offenders. He became New Britain’s Youth Advocate in 2007. Omar started the Youth Leadership Council in 2019 with the idea of teaching New Britain kids leadership skills and giving them experiences that will propel them into leadership positions later in life. A 1985 graduate of EC Goodwin Tech, Omar continues to reside in New Britain.

Contact

Youth

Helpful Resources:

If you’re in need of online or in-person resources, we've got you covered. For online tools, check out our Resources page. If you’re looking for help in our own community, check out our Support page!
Partners: Youth Leadership Council

Parents

Helpful Resources:

Constant communication with kids about the struggles they’re facing is the best way to help them find positive solutions. Visit our Prevention Portal for tools to help you have open and honest conversations!
Partners: Esther Santana, Sara Piatti, and Daisy Sanchez

Business

Key Contacts & Partner Organizations:

Ken House – New Britain Housing Authority
Leticia Mangual – Human Resources Agency
Maura O’Shea – NB Museum of American Art
Stephanie Strucalys – NB Museum of American Art
William Moore – Chamber of Commerce

School

Key Contacts & Partner Organizations:

Geno Ayala – New Britain High School
Daisy Sanchez – CSDNB
Lisa Kawecki – CSDNB
Mayra Rodriguez – CSDNB
Melissa Vancour – CSDNB
Nancy Sarra – CSDNB
Ryan Langer – CSDNB
Sondra Sanford – CSDNB
Jason Gibson – CSDNB
Jessica Hernandez – CCSU

Youth Serving Organizations

Key Contacts & Partner Organizations:

Mallory Deprey – NB Community Services
Tyshaunda Wiley – Prevention Coordinator
Omar McDew – Youth Services
Erik Barbieri – NB Parks and Rec
Megan Dowling – NB Parks and Rec
James Jones – Boys and Girls Club
Jason Gibson – Boys and Girls Club
Joey Listro – ROOTS
Mervin Allen – Village for Families & Children
Nick Jakabowski – Pathways / Senderos
Paulette Fox – OIC of New Britain
Olga Fritho – YWCA
Valerie Rodino-Cammarota – YWCA

Healthcare Professionals

Key Contacts & Partner Organizations:

Carmen Ortiz – Hospital of Central CT
Esther Santana – Hospital of Central CT
Patrick Ciardullo – New Britain EMS
Francine Truglio – Health Department
Janet Manthey – Community Health Center
Lisa Palazzo – Beacon Health Options
Sara Piatti – Village for Families & Children (Behavioral)

Law Enforcement

Key Contacts & Partner Organizations:

Lisa Steeves – New Britain Police Department
Deputy Chief Ben Murphy – New Britain PAL

Religious Organizations

Key Contacts & Partner Organizations:

Pastor Jane Rowe – South Church
Pastor Dana Smith – New Life II Ministries
Reverend Gervais Bager – Peace Missionary Ministries

Media

Key Contacts & Partner Organizations:

Duane Pierre – ParaDYM Academy
Jeniece Roman – New Britain Herald
Sunny Lu Williams – TechServ

Volunteer Organizations

Key Contacts & Partner Organizations:

Desiree Rivera – YMCA, Rotary Club
John Prescod – United Way
Maria Sanchez – American Savings Foundation

Government

Key Contacts & Partner Organizations:

Brock Weber – Mayor’s Office
Justin Dorsey – Mayor’s Office
Max Turgeon – Mayor’s Office
Desiree Costa – Alderwoman
Alden Russel – Alderman

Other Prevention Groups

Key Contacts & Partner Organizations:

Pastor Dana Smith – New Life
Edielynn Cardona – CMHA
Molly Satalino – CMHA
LaToya Tyson – Prevention ACT

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Bringing positivity
to New Britain's Youth.

Local Prevention Council

Youth Leadership Council

Online Resources

Local Support

Youth Survey Results

Photo Gallery

Video Gallery

Campaigns

Bee Responsible

New Britain Parks, Recreation &
Community Services Department

Located in: City Hall

Address: 27 W Main St,
New Britain, CT 06051

Phone: (860) 826-3360