A Healthy Lynnfield held its Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet Oct. 23 at the Meeting House.
“Last year was a big year for our Coalition,” AHL President Phil Crawford said. “We supported residents and provided positive childhood experiences for our youth.”
Former Program Director Peg Sallade, who retired at the end of September, was recognized for her contributions during her six years as director.
Several awards were presented. The Community Partner Award went to the Lynnfield Police Department and its Community Outreach Team. The award is given to an organization or business that contributes to the mission of AHL.
“Last year, the police department worked diligently to create the Lynnfield Community Outreach Team, led by Capt. Chris Decarlo and Dr. Jennifer Burns,” Crawford said. “LCOT was created to help Lynnfield residents access appropriate support services during times of crisis through post-incident follow-up and proactive community outreach. DeCarlo and Burns have met quarterly with local agencies covering the areas of domestic violence, behavioral health, substance use, and recovery, and so much more.”
“This was great, this is an awesome award,” DeCarlo said. ‘The program is doing great and we’ve had a lot of training resulting in our instructors being certified in mental health areas so we have really progressed a lot since we’ve started.”
The Community Volunteer Award went to Diane Courtney.- The award is reserved for a person whose leadership exhibits exemplary hands-on support and volunteer effort for implementation of a prevention program or strategy. Courtney said “first and foremost, prevention needs to be in our minds and in our plans” and that volunteering with AHL is her way of “investing in our community. I find it immensely rewarding to sit there at the table with our all-star cast of coalition members. Thank you to all the coalition members and board members and any community members who support our efforts to make this community better and healthier.”
“Diane has been a member of A Healthy Lynnfield’s Coalition since day one, all while being a fantastic mom and working on the front lines as an ER nurse in Boston,” Crawford said. “She is clearly an asset to our organization and pushes us to be better as an organization.”
Sheri Weeks, co-advisor of the Lynnfield Middle School Youth Club, and DeLeo, presented the youth awards.
Lynnfield High student Annabelle Eckhardt and Lynnfield Middle School student Sydney Moore received the Youth Advocate Award. This award is given for excellence in advocacy and using student voice to positively impact the community.
“Annabelle has been a constant in A Healthy Lynnfield’s youth councils since her days in middle school. No matter what the task, Annabelle is usually one of the first in line,” DeLeo said.
“Sydney has also been a standout leader in the middle school youth council,” LMS adviser Sheri Weeks said. “The younger students looked to her for guidance and direction.”
“I love being involved in the community and working at Lynnfield High School helping students make good choices,” Eckhardt said.
She cited visiting the State House with other students from across the state to help battle big tobacco, becoming certified in teen mental health, and being certified in first aid as highlights of her activities.
“This information I have learned has helped me be a more useful member of the community,” Eckhardt said. “I look forward to continuing my work through the Youth Council and helping students and myself make more positive choices.”
The Unsung Hero Award went to Lorelai Eckhardt (LHS), Patrick Ryou, and Nikhil Kumar (LMS). This award is given to youth council leaders for positively influencing A Healthy Lynnfield’s Youth Council from behind the scenes with a positive attitude, a willingness to help in whatever capacity necessary, and a commitment to excellence.
“Lorelai has quietly made her mark on A Healthy Lynnfield’s Youth Councils since she was in middle school. Her hard work and dedication to our mission, while being a positive role model to her peers, has not gone unnoticed,” DeLeo said. “Patrick’s and Nikhil’s continuous joint efforts over the last two years were a tag-team dynamic duo. Their advocacy, hard work, and dedication to LMS AHL made our projects flow smoothly.
“This program has given me many opportunities to make a positive impact in my school and in my community,” Lorelai Eckhardt said. “I’ve had the opportunity to visit the elementary schools about preventing bullying and managing stress,” adding the Youth Council has provided her with many useful tools moving forward into the future.
The Champion for Youth award went to LHS Theater Director Shay Wainwright. This award is student-driven with students nominating and voting on an adult who goes above and beyond the lives of Lynnfield’s youths. The award is the only one that is student driven with students nominating and then choosing the award winner.
“I am really honored that the students have supported me and I hope to continue to work with them as long as I can,” Wainwright said.
Jones was unable to attend but commended Sallade’s service.
Peg Sallade has done a tremendous job over the last six years helping A Healthy Lynnfield fulfill its mission to promote a healthier and safer community through education, prevention and support,” said Jones “Her efforts to help combat substance abuse and to connect Lynnfield residents with treatment and recovery resources has made a positive difference in the lives of so many individuals and families. I wish Peg nothing but the best on her well-deserved retirement.”
