2023 Engaged in Action Award Recipients
We’re excited to announce our 2023 Engaged in Action Award recipients! These honorees exemplify the values of Engage Douglas County which include a demonstrated commitment to reducing substance misuse and/or promoting mental health, active engagement in issues that affect residents in Douglas County, such as drug and alcohol use, suicide prevention, or other behavioral health issues, and dedication to serving the community.
Nora Prather - Youth
Baldwin City High School
Nora Prather is the youth recipient of the 2023 Engaged in Action Award. Nora is participating as a volunteer for the Teen Lifeline through HeadQuarters Kansas! She is a member of National Honor Society and participates in wrestling and soccer. She is an incredible leader on both teams! Nora has been active in SPEAK/Douglas County Youth Empowerment & Prevention (YEP!) for the past three years, and she has demonstrated tremendous growth in her confidence to plan projects and speak up during meetings. She was one of the presenters to the entire student body on “How to help a friend” for suicide prevention month. Nora is enrolled in advanced classes at BHS and was a Junior Editor for The Avant (an art and creative writing magazine published here at the school). Nora also had several written pieces selected to showcase and won Best in Poetry for this year!
Wendy Conover
University of Kansas Libraries
Wendy Conover is the adult recipient of the 2023 Engaged in Action Award. Wendy is currently the Communications Coordinator for University of Kansas Libraries and was previously Director of the Baldwin City Library and she is a true champion for youth wellness; through her program BCK United at Baldwin City Library, she helps young people create projects that spark positive social change and personal growth. In this year alone she’s helped youth plan numerous events inclusive of all and focused on protective factors.
The Center for Supportive Communities
Lawrence, KS
The Center for Supportive Communities is the organization recipient of the 2023 Engaged in Action Award. The Center for Supportive Communities (CSC), a new organization in Lawrence dedicated to using behavioral science to create equal opportunities and meaningful change, operates a prevention program, SupportEd, that serves school-age children and youth in all Douglas County school districts who, for several different, multilevel factors, spend too much time out of school and who would otherwise end up in the juvenile justice system. They are a Douglas County community partner and we collaborate with Criminal Justice Services, the District Court, the District Attorney’s Office, the Department for Children and Families, and all school districts to make this program the best it can be for our youth.
Congratulations to all of the nominees across the three categories!
Youth
Bridan Butell – Baldwin High School
Brooke Mulvihill – Eudora High School
Jade Henry – Lawrence College and Career Academy
Nora Prather – Baldwin High School
Adult
Amaury Collado – Lawrence Police Department
Bruce Liese – The Cofrin Logan Center
Dee Kinard – Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health
John Sebelius – The Cofrin Logan Center
Julie Heatwole – USD 497
Kay Emerson – USD 497 School Board
Laura Serene Smith – Eudora Community Navigator
Meg Hasselman – KSPHQ
Morgan Haney – Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Pam Weigand – Douglas County Criminal Justice Services
Risa Lesser – Perry Lecompton High School
Wendy Conover – Baldwin City Library
Agency/Organization
#BeMoreLikeClaire
Center for Supportive Communities
The Cofrin Logan Center
The Community Children’s Center
Foster Village
Haskell Indian Nations University Counseling Center
The Housing Stabilization Collaborative
The Willow Domestic Violence Center
Thank you to the Engaged in Action committee for their work to review all the nominations and select the final recipients!
They had their work cut out for them with so many incredible nominees to review.
Engaged in Action Committee
Ariel Cohn
Brooks Robertson
Chrissy Mayer
Cydney Novotney
George Diepenbrock
Julie Clobes
Kenny Massey
Kiley Luckett
We welcome all Engage Douglas County Coalition Members to join us in celebrating the award recipients and the Engaged in Action Awards!
June 21st, 2023 | 1:00-2:30 PM
StoneHill Hotel
6101 Rock Chalk Dr. Lawrence, KS 66049
