White House honors Drug Free Communities of Dallas County
Published 5:26 am Friday, November 3, 2023
- Dallas County Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn, Sydney Pritchett, and Drug Free Communities of Dallas County Executive Director Jerria Martin at the White House in Washington, D.C.
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The White House awarded a Blue Ribbon to Drug Free Communities of Dallas County (DFCDC) at the National Youth Substance Use Prevention Summit on Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
Jerria Martin, DFCDC executive director, was accompanied by Dallas County Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn and Youth Representative Sydney Pritchett to the nation’s capital.
“I am thrilled about the Hope Dealer’s latest accomplishments,” Martin said. “In 2020, we were honored by the Trump administration and ONDCP (Office of National Drug Control Policy), now we’re being celebrated by the Biden administration. This just goes to show how drug prevention, when done right, is nonpartisan and excels in bringing communities together to help combat substance use. I am proud of Dallas County for being one of the 15 communities celebrated by the White House this year. We are a model coalition, now featured on the CDC’s website. The Chief Medical Officer of the CDC, during her speech at the awards ceremony, used the Hope Dealers as her example of coalitions engaging in exemplary work in communities.”
The Dallas County program was one of 15 Drug-Free Community Coalitions from across the country receiving a Blue-Ribbon Award.
“It felt really good be in Washington, D.C. and for Drug Free Communities of Dallas County to be recognized,” Nunn said. “We had a wonderful time celebrating Dug Free Communities 25th Anniversary celebration.
“We are honored to have Jerria over DFCDC. The entire team is making a difference in combating drugs in this community. I am convinced we are on the right track and we must stay focused on the issues before us.”
White House ONDCP Director Dr. Rahul Gupta praised the DFCDC for setting a good example of stopping drug abuse.
“I am grateful to the Blue-Ribbon Coalitions awardees, like Drug Free Communities of Dallas County, who are leading the way in expanding critical evidence-based prevention efforts and addressing youth substance use so that all young Americans can live healthy and fulfilling lives,” Gupta said.
