Community messaging growing through events, contributions

By Robert Williams

Editor

GROW Frazee-Vergas and its youth group counterpart MVP are beginning to transition away from the five-year, Positive Community Norms (PCN) grant program, which expires this spring, and moving on to utilizing the combined efforts of that half-decade to continue inspiring local youth and being a benefit to the communities of Frazee and Vergas.

One of the most recent community contributions has been the equipment library, which currently includes free sleds at the sliding hill.

The idea for the community contributions came from a brainstorming session at Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge in Bemidji during a PCN training attended by PCN Coordinator Karlie Lehmann, CornerStone Executive Director Mackenzie Hamm and High School Media Center Para Sheli Sharp.

“We got talking about ways to have our messaging more visible in the community and while all this data is showing us that we have students that are saying they would rather not drink or use substances when spending time with their friends,” Lehmann said. “How can we have opportunities for them to do that in the community?”

The sleds are there both for kids who want to use them and also to remove barriers for any kids who do not own one.

Future contributions later this year include: a wagon for guests using the Wannigan Regional Park trail; new frisbee discs at Lion’s Park; pickleball paddles and balls, basketballs for the outdoor hoop, and the largest part of the project—a community fish house.

“We have Mr. Boyer’s construction class working on building that for us and that will be put out on Town Lake and people will be able to check it out by signing up for a time slot at CornerStone,” said Lehmann.

Hopes are to complete construction and get the house on the lake before the ice fishing season ends. 

The equipment library was not a part of the strategic or action plan of GROW Frazee-Vergas and was funded by approval of the project by the Department of Human Services (DHS), which runs the PCN program. 

“The main goal is sustainability; they are very supportive of anything that is going to be messaging that will outlast the grant cycle,” said Lehmann. “That’s been a huge focus this year.”

The program’s messaging is highly visible around the high school with more planned for the elementary and near the district office.

“If we don’t have that permanent messaging there is no guarantee that it is going to be out and around the community,” said Lehmann.

The basis for the messaging about abstaining from alcohol and other substances is derived from data gathered through the PCN student survey, which is administered every other year.

The survey is an integral part of a broader initiative to cultivate and strengthen positive behaviors among youth and is instrumental in the prevention and reduction of alcohol and other substance use among students by reinforcing the existing positive norm of nonuse in local schools. It is a voluntary and anonymous tool that plays a crucial role in shaping the perception and behavior of students regarding substance use.

Perceptions, whether accurate or not, significantly influence student behavior. If students believe that substance use is common among their peers, they are more likely to engage in similar behaviors themselves. The PCN Student Survey aims to identify and amplify the actual norms within our schools, thereby serving as a protective factor by correcting any misperceptions about substance use among students.

The survey encompasses a range of questions that delve into students’ opinions, behaviors and experiences. For instance, some questions can ask students to compare personal substance use habits with perceptions of peer usage. The survey can also gauge attitudes and perceptions towards substance use, such as views on vaping or e-cigarette use among teens. Prior to the survey, parents, guardians, and caregivers have the opportunity to preview the questions to be asked.

All students in the participating communities are eligible to take part in the survey. However, there can be an option for students to opt-out or skip any question, and parents or guardians can also choose to exempt their child from participating in the survey. 

The survey is administered entirely online during school hours, adhering to federal and state accessibility standards, and can be offered in multiple languages. It is conducted by schools with the support of The Montana Institute, a key partner in developing survey content, ensuring data quality, and analyzing and reporting the results.

The data collected from the survey is pivotal in developing evidence-based messaging that promotes positive behavior among students and corrects any misconceptions about norms. Additionally, the findings assist in assessing the needs of local youth, ensuring they receive appropriate and effective programs.

“The hope is we continue to see those numbers decline but from my standpoint, seeing where the numbers were at before the grant even started to where they were from 2024 and the surrey data that just came out, it’s amazing, it’s incredible,” said Lehmann. “There has definitely been a culture shift and those numbers, I think, are in a place that our community should be really proud of.”

GROW Frazee-Vergas is also bringing the communities together by hosting positive culture performances. Much like the popular LionHeart visits over the course of the grant, Vive 18 starring Zion Givens will be in Frazee for three performances, two for students-only and the final one for the public.

The Vive18 national drug prevention tour is coming to Frazee High School on Wednesday, Feb. 11 to show students they can have fun, make friends and feel good without using substances.

Vive18 was created when co-founder Jake White began hosting house parties at his college without any drugs or alcohol. Within months he attracted nationally known sponsors and hundreds of students to each event.

“Most drug prevention programs are boring, shame-based or irrelevant for youth,” said White. “We engage students in the science of underage use so they can cope with feelings in a healthy way and protect their future.”

Now their team educates and inspires K-12 students across the nation to stay free from substances like nicotine, alcohol and marijuana. They can even choose to start their own peer-led club that hosts safe events.

The data collected from 6-12th Frazee-Vergas students through the PCN survey and Minnesota Student Survey continues to show us that most of our students choose not to use substances.

“Conversations about substance use in schools often focus on the negatives, which can overshadow the reality of how many students are making positive, healthy choices every day,” Lehmann said. “We are incredibly proud that the majority of our students choose to refrain from substance use, and we hope Zion’s visit serves as a celebration of their commitment and the strength of this community. When students and adults hear the same message, it unites us, reinforces our shared values, and moves us forward together.”

Givens also stresses mental health, goal setting and leadership through his own style of messaging.

He will be presenting separately to middle school (6-8) and high school (9-12) students on Wednesday, Feb. 11. His visit also includes hands-on work with the MVP youth ground and a public presentation at 6 p.m., in the high school gymnasium. Lehmann stresses the importance of Givens’ messaging and is hoping to tie into other Wednesday night youth and adult groups to come share the experience.

“It’s so powerful to be able to have us all getting that same message; I think especially as the grant is coming to an end and it will be transitioning,” said Lehmann. “What a great time for everybody to get on the same page.”

GROW and MVP are also part of the upcoming annual “Taste of the Wild,” sponsored by Harvest Church of Frazee on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m., also at the high school. GROW and MVP helped sponsor keynote speaker Justin Martin. Admission is free to the family event.

Lehmann is one of eight PCN Coordinators in Minnesota, and she will be joining regional prevention coordinators and DHS representatives at a celebration back in Bemidji. As part of the gathering, Lehmann will be able to bring the group to see the positive impact that the program has had in the area.

CornerStone will be the highlight of a visit and is also becoming a big part of the grant transition.

“I’m so excited that we’ve already been working on transitioning the GROW coalition to be combined with the CornerStone coalition; there were so many people doing both and people only have so much time to give, especially when you’re volunteering,” said Lehmann. “That was just a really natural place to partner and Mackenzie is the chair of the GROW coalition. Her visions for amazing things to happen keep coming and she gets them done.”

Organizers are hopefully applying for the Drug-free Communities grant, a typical follow-up grant program to PCN, albeit less structured, with more plans for community outreach before summer. 

“We are working on a partnership with Wannigan; we’re going to have a planting day,” Lehmann said. “We’ll still do the Day of Caring. There will still be more fun stuff this spring.” 

Upcoming events

Vive 18 – Zion Givens

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 6-7 p.m. at the high school

Taste of the Wild

Saturday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m., at the high school