Ava Lawdanki Participated in “Hidden in Plain Sight”, a Drug Awareness Program

Academy at Saint Mary 7^th grade student, Ava De Castro Lawdanski, participated in “Hidden in Plain Sight”, a drug awareness program held in partnership with the New Jersey State Drug Enforcement Administration, Municipal Alliance Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Kearny Elks Lodge 1050, Kearny Prevention Coalition, Kearny Teen Prevention Coalition and Kearny Cares. The event raised education and awareness for parents with school age children and the community. Ava is a Cadette in Girl Scout Troop 10648 working on her Silver Award, the highest honor a Cadette may achieve. Her project focuses on Opioid Abuse Awareness, Substance Abuse Disorder, education in the community including middle schools and the opioid epidemic and health crisis.

Ava pictured below, volunteered at the Kearny Prevention Coalition table, distributed literature and brochures to the community in effort to create public awareness about substance use disorders and opioid abuse. As a Member of the Kearny Teen Coalition, Ava worked with children in the 4^th through 6^th grades by facilitating activities for children while parents attended the event. She is also pictured with the presenter from the New Jersey State Drug Enforcement Administration and program coordinators from the Municipal Alliance Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Kearny Elks Lodge 1050, Kearny Prevention Coalition, Kearny Teen Prevention Coalition and Kearny Cares.