On-Site Programming (wip)
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It was essential to have a great collaborative relationship with the team in Residence. We have worked closely with Residence Life Manager, Brittanie Walker-Reid, to implement innovative harm reduction programming, educational sanctions, and special events in Residence. The team of Resident Advisors, Resident Life Coordinators, Community Advisors and two Child and Youth Care placement students have done some great work since the beginning of the project. It is clear that there is an understanding for the need of harm reduction education amongst employees as well as students. Trainings were well attended by Residence staff.
Key events:
September: Orientation – previously mentioned key tie-ins with the lip balm and other educational materials in the Residence “swag bags” and outreach booths during high traffic times.
National Addictions Awareness Week – as previously described.
Halloween – social media marketing and on-site programming, including “reverse” trick or treat bags that contained key harm reduction messaging, condoms, candy, and information on taxis and the bus system.
Consent Fest – outreach booths during this consent fair.
St. Patrick’s Day – social media marketing and on-site programming, including outreach booths and key messaging around “green” beer.
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Keep It Classy Program in Residence
Algonquin College had a pre-existing alcohol awareness campaign in the Residence halls, called Keep It Classy. The following is the program overview as written by Stephen Marchment, Residence Life Coordinator.
The purpose of Keep It Classy is to establish and promote a positive and healthy culture around alcohol use within the Algonquin College Community and Residence. As a person implements this campaign at the start of the year, students will be aware of the drinking philosophy at Algonquin College and will hopefully align themselves with that philosophy at the beginning of the year resulting in routines that last year long. Students should be aware of how they form a “drinking identity” that will stay with them throughout the duration of the year in order to create positive self-practices. We want to challenge negative alcohol use with leadership and provide students with the ability to create the standard and model the way. Keep It Classy is meant to inspire a shared vision and challenge the process of combatting alcohol use at the post-secondary environment. The host is the leader in the community and we want them to enable others to act and encourage a positive position creating a readiness to have everyone move towards a positive culture together.
We supported this pre-existing initiative and were incorporated into their awareness posters.