Prevention Through Partnership

When young people struggle with alcohol or drugs, it affects our entire community. Shine Coalition is Somers' Local Prevention Council, a volunteer-led organization that brings together neighbors from every corner of our town.

We're parents, students, business owners, teachers, law enforcement, and dedicated residents who believe that supporting youth health isn't just someone else's responsibility — it's a commitment we all share.

Our approach focuses on the current challenges our youth face today, not yesterday's problems. We monitor trends, track data, and adapt our strategies because what works in prevention keeps evolving.

Whether you've lived in Somers for decades or just moved here, your voice matters in building a unified response that keeps Somers strong and our young people healthy.

Our Mission

Our coalition empowers youth and young adults to make informed choices by raising awareness, providing educational resources, & supporting our community through collaborative substance use prevention initiatives and efforts.

Values

Our work is guided by five values that shape how we approach prevention and community partnership.

Drug-Free Communities Grant

Somers received its Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant, joining over 750 community coalitions nationwide that receive this annual federal funding.

This investment has delivered proven results—among all DFC grantees, middle school and high school youth have typically achieved significant reductions in alcohol use, tobacco use, and marijuana use.

This federal support allows us to combine proven strategies with our local community knowledge, helping the kids who need and deserve our commitment.

POSITIVITY
We are optimistic, resilient, and encouraging, in hopes of inspiring our whole community to participate in our prevention initiatives, transforming negativity into opportunity.

INFORMATIVE
We prioritize accurate, relevant, and accessible information about substance use prevention, allowing youth & families to make decisions based on facts.

INCLUSIVITY
We are empathetic, understanding, and respectful of all voices. We embrace diversity and avoid judgment in our efforts to create a safer and healthier community for all.

INTEGRITY
The impact of our actions and collaborations relies on honesty, transparency, trust, and ethical behavior. We are all responsible for protecting our coalition's credibility.

IMPACT-DRIVEN
We prioritize initiatives and actions that generate meaningful and measurable prevention outcomes for our town's youth, families, and community.

Coalition Members

Shine brings together representatives from 12 different community sectors, ensuring our prevention work reflects diverse perspectives from across Somers. Want to add your expertise and insights? Contact Us!

Youth

KEY MEMBERS

We have a vibrant & dedicated group of Somers students. To protect their privacy, we choose to not list their names.

Parents

KEY MEMBErS

Kelley Garrison
Brian Wissinger

Business

Key Members

Kassie Mashiak
Alex Murdoch

Media

Key Members

Members needed! Contact us to volunteer.

School

Key Members

Dr. Sam Galloway
Margot Martello
Michael Szafir

Youth Services

Key Members

Jen Griger
Maureen Parsell

Faith-Based

Key Members

Members needed! Email us to volunteer.

Law Enforcement

Key Members

Gerard Joyle
Kim Littig
Justin Preuss

Healthcare

Key Members

Erin Gately
Brian Langan

Civic & Volunteer Groups

Key Members

Kathy Devlin
Joanne Nichting
Bob Schmidt
Gail Tishler

State, Local
&
Tribal Orgs

Key Members

Matthew Cox
Tim Keeney

Other Orgs

Key Members

Members needed! Email us to volunteer.

Meet Arianna

As Shine's Prevention Coordinator, Arianna manages coalition activities and leads events. She keeps our prevention efforts current with data while creating resources Somers families can use.

"SHINE allows us to turn prevention into action by connecting people, providing resources, and creating spaces where youth and families can thrive"

See What We’re Working OnSee What We're Working On