:: Safe Community Coalition ::

What's New?

Welcome

Dear Friends of our Community,

Welcome to the website of the Safe Community Coalition! For well over a decade, the SCC along with parents, teachers, faith and business leaders has provided a crucial support system for the young people of our community. We partner together with our local schools, public and private, so that our children will make good choices, stay healthy and commit to be alcohol and drug free. We provide excellent programming for the students as well as their parents. Our hallmark programs consist of Teen Summit, Middle School Forum, and 6th Grade Ethics Day. These events are held each year in our community.

There are ways in which you can begin to help the SCC or ways in which you can continue your service:

Consider giving of your time. Continue to explore our website for our programs and activities.
Make a donation of financial resources. No donation is too large or too small. Your donated funds will be spent wisely and within our mission.
Donate in-kind services such as space for meetings; food, drinks and prizes for youth activities; printing and marketing help.
Let us know what we can do to further help the young people, parents, and schools of our community.

I stand along with the entire SCC board ready to serve you and this community. We are a strong, committed group of volunteers determined to make a difference. We hope you will join our mission and support the young people of our community!

Best regards,
Cameron R. Edgar

Current News and Upcoming Events

Happy Holidays from the Safe Community Coalition - We wish all of you a safe holiday season! COMMUNITY MEETING The next meeting of the Safe Community Coalition will take place on Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 7:30 PM at the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean. All members of the public are welcome to attend and participate in our discussions. ADMINISTRATORS' SUPPER – January 8, 2009 School Administrators from public and independent schools in the Langley and McLean school pyramids are invited to attend our annual School Administrators Buffet Supper on Thursday, January 8, 2009 from 5 – 7 pm at the McLean Community Center 1234 Ingleside Avenue. This is our way of saying “thanks” for your continued dedication to our children. For more information, please contact Betsy Shomaker at shomaker.jb@verizon.net. To register, please click here. HELP NEEDED Why not start off the New Year by volunteering to help the SCC with a program or two? We have many volunteer opportunities available to suit your skills and time commitment. Right now, we especially need help with our growing “6th Grade Ethics Day” program on January 22, 28, 29 and 30. If you can spare a few daytime hours on any of these days to help with this fascinating program, please contact Diane Pechstein at pech56@verizon.net or Kim Mackay at Kmackay61@hotmail.com. For additional volunteer opportunities, click here. "PARENTING THE ADOLESCENT" CLASSES Using STEP/TEEN and other materials, the Parenting the Adolescent class will again be offered for parents of rising 7th, 8th and 9th graders in the Langley/McLean pyramids. This six session class starts on Thursday, March 5, 2009, and will continue on the following five Thursday evenings: March 12, March 19, March 26, April 2, and April 16. This class will be held at Longfellow Middle School, 2000 Westmoreland St, Falls Church from 7-9pm in the library. Offered for the eleventh year, this popular parenting group will be facilitated by retired Longfellow counselor Estelle Brauer, former Longfellow counselor and current SDFY conflict resolution specialist Joan Packer, and former Churchill Road counselor and retired SDFY conflict resolution specialist Marge Bleiweis. Please sign up for the program by calling Estelle Brauer at (571) 313-0116. The fee of $25 covers the cost of the text, Step Teen, and the additional course materials. Please register in advance so that you will have the materials on time. For additional information, click here. JUMPSTART COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR TEEN Looking for a new and fun way to stimulate conversation with your teen? Chatterbox Cards, created by the Safe Community Coalition’s Mental and Physical Health Task Force, are a great place to start. These cards contain conversation openers to jumpstart communication between teens and parents as well as techniques to encourage reciprocal, nonjudgmental dialogue. “Which is more important: intelligence or common sense” is just one example of the thought-provoking questions presented. Cards can be purchased for only $2.00/set by e-mailing Laura Zoll. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Volunteers are the backbone of the Safe Community Coalition. We cannot succeed without your support. We have many volunteer opportunities; both large and small, and will be happy to tailor a job to your schedule and interests. If you can help us, please contact Betsy Shomaker or click here for more information.

Our Mission

Safe Community Coalition's vision is a community where youth learn to make responsible decisions and where they are safe, healthy and free from alcohol and drug use. The SCC offers programs for youth, parents, and the community in collaboration with other community sectors concerned about our youth: schools, PTAs, faith organizations, businesses, public safety organizations, the medical community, and civic organizations.