HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (March 2, 2022) – In partnership with Hope Coalition, students in Henderson County Public Schools’ four middle and six high schools are taking a public stand against substance misuse during the week-long “We Are Hope” campaign March 7-11.
Since 2015, the schools’ student government organizations and leaders have organized the campaign in partnership with Hope Coalition, and support has grown for the initiative among community agencies. Since the first “We Are Hope” Week, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Hendersonville Police Department, AdventHealth and Champion Comfort Experts have increased their active participation in the annual campaigns.
The campaign and the students leading the substance abuse awareness events in their schools are formally recognized by government and school leaders in the community. At their Feb. 16 meeting, the Henderson County Board of Commissioners read a proclamation recognizing “We Are Hope” Week next week, as will the Hendersonville City Council and Henderson County Board of Public Education at their next meetings on March 3 and March 7, respectively.
Each year, the schools’ student governments plan awareness activities that stress the importance of remaining substance free, and high school leaders collaborate with their feeder middle schools’ student leaders to organize activities for the younger students. This year, student leaders plan to use morning announcements and videos to share information with their classmates – including local and national data on substance misuse, as well as resources and strategies for managing social issues like peer pressure.
Throughout the campaign, students at each school will sign pledge banners and flags bearing the school’s mascot and a pledge to be substance free, sponsored by Champion Comfort Experts.
Provided by Hope Coalition, “We Are Hope” T-shirts will be printed for student leaders planning the awareness activities at their schools, and #WeAreHope stickers will be given to students who sign a banner or flag to remain substance free. Annually requested by student leaders, white ribbons will be provided for students to tie around trees, bannisters, and throughout school campuses to represent the purity of the pledge.
Students will sign the banners and flags throughout next week, and “We Are Hope” Week will culminate at 12 p.m. Friday, March 11, when the six high school banners will be hung from the Henderson County Historic Courthouse pillars, and the four middle school flags will be planted in the ground around the Courthouse. Community leaders including Henderson County Manager John Mitchell, Sheriff Lowell Griffin of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Chief Blair Myhand of the Hendersonville Police Department, HCPS Superintendent Dr. John Bryant, and a representative from AdventHealth are scheduled to share remarks.
About Hope Coalition
Hope Coalition is a grassroots effort initiated by the Henderson County Partnership for Health in 2013 as a community collaborative to educate, evaluate, and implement evidence-based models on substance misuse and underage drinking in Henderson County. In addition to several support and recovery groups for youth, adults and families, the Hope Coalition is home to the Henderson County Youth Council – where area students engage in service learning and leadership development.
