by Lawrence Times
Share this post or save for later
Engage Douglas County has recognized two community members and the Baldwin City Police Department with its three Engaged in Action awards for 2024.
The organization aims to reduce substance abuse and promote mental health primarily among youth through action, education and collaboration.
Its annual awards honor “individuals and organizations that demonstrate a profound commitment to reducing substance misuse, promoting mental health, and actively engaging in issues affecting the residents of Douglas County, including drug and alcohol use, suicide prevention, and other behavioral health concerns,” according to a news release announcing the awards.
The adult award winner is Lawrence police Officer James Browning, the school resource officer at Billy Mills Middle School. He is deeply involved with the Kansas Special Olympics organization, and he’s credited with instituting the “Handle with Care” program within LPD, according to the release.
The program notifies school employees if a student has encountered law enforcement at the scene of a traumatic event. No details are given so that privacy is protected, but it simply gives the employee a note to handle the student with care. These efforts demonstrate Browning’s “dedication to the safety and well-being of children in the Lawrence community,” according to the release.
The youth winner is Kelli Spreer, a Perry-Lecompton High School student. Spreer has been a member of Youth Empowerment and Prevention, or YEP!, for two years.
“Her dedication to spreading mental health and substance misuse awareness is evident through her participation in numerous events,” according to the release. “… Her passion for prevention and advocacy continues to grow, and we are confident she will achieve great things in the future.”
The organization winner is the Baldwin City Police Department, which “has shown exceptional dedication to engaging with the Baldwin City community across all age groups,” according to the release. “Their efforts in suicide prevention, domestic violence protection and abatement, and substance use education and prevention highlight their commitment to serving the community.”
The winners will be recognized during an award ceremony set for 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27 at the DCCCA Service Center, 1739 E. 23rd St. in Lawrence.
Learn more about Engage Douglas County at engagedouglascounty.org.
If our local journalism matters to you, please help us keep doing this work.
Don’t miss a beat … Click here to sign up for our email newsletters
Click here to learn more about our newsletters first
This post is by the Lawrence Times news team.
If you have news tips, questions, comments, concerns, compliments or corrections for our team, please reach out and let us know what’s on your mind. Find our contact info (and a quick contact form) at LawrenceKSTimes.com/contact.
Follow us so you won’t miss the local news that matters most to you:
Latest Lawrence news:
Lawrence news
‘They never forgot their Grandfather’: Sacred Red Rock reunited with Kaw people, Kaw land
by Molly Adams
Share this post or save for later
Nearly 400 people attended a rematriation celebration Saturday at the Scared Red Rock’s new home: on Kaw land at Allegawaho Memorial Heritage Park near Council Grove.
Jody’s Market, a downtown Lawrence microgrocery store, set to open in July
by Jordan Winter
Share this post or save for later
Downtown Lawrence hasn’t been home to a grocery store in recent memory, but Reanna Slagle wants to close that gap. She plans to open Jody’s Market, a microgrocery store geared toward pedestrians, during the first week of July.
‘From any position, a person can lead’: Black Kansans to discuss civic engagement at Lawrence brunch
by Maya Hodison
Share this post or save for later
As part of a statewide leadership series, Black Kansans will soon convene in Lawrence in hopes of empowering one another.
Split Lip Rayfield reunites at Kaw River Roots Festival in Lawrence
by August Rudisell
Share this post or save for later
A Lawrence crowd welcomed Split Lip Rayfield as the band performed together for the first time since 2019 on Friday night at the fourth annual Kaw River Roots Festival.
Community members flock to downtown Lawrence for Midsummer Night on Mass
by Lane Rozin
Share this post or save for later
Lawrence community members showed up in droves Friday afternoon and evening for the second annual Midsummer Night on Mass.
MORE …