New CASA Youth Coordinator Hopesto Build Engaging and Safe Community

Community Action for Safe Alternatives (CASA) is happy to welcome Danny LaMack on board as the new Youth Coordinator. LaMack, 29, has an impressive background with a wide variety of skills including public speaking, sensitivity training, health education, outreach, and programming. Having worked for the North Shore Alliance for Gay and Lesbian Youth (NAGLY) for 10 years, LaMack, a Peabody resident, is well versed in creating an environment that is non-judgmental and inclusive.

“I believe that it’s important to let kids know that this space is safe and accepting,” said LaMack, who hopes to build an educational environment that promotes tolerance.

LaMack is passionate about his new role, and he’s looking forward to getting kids and teens excited about seeking help and talking about addiction, substance abuse and domestic violence. In addition to his responsibility as the coordinator and creator for the programing of youth events and curriculum, LaMack has big plans for outreach and will use his tools and ability to be a leader in the Winthrop community. Talking about the stigma surrounding addiction and offering a safe place to train and educate youth on overdose prevention will be some of the topics that he hopes to focus on.

“If you set up an environment that is non-judgmental, they will come to you. I want to create an exciting and engaging atmosphere for the members of the youth program.”

The Winthrop Middle School was recently awarded a $11,000  Substance Abuse Prevention grant and LaMack will be partnering up with the school’s adjustment counselor, offering his expertise on hot topics surrounding addiction. He will take on an active role in the planning and executing of the grant’s programming and will provide a safe place for students to engage in conversations and ask questions.

“We spent a great deal of time interviewing candidates that we felt had the experience working with youth and knowledge about primary prevention and we are thrilled that Danny was interested in taking the journey with us as an organization,” said LeighAnn Eruzione, executive director of CASA. “Danny was interviewed by myself, a member of our board and our youth staff and we all knew he had the skill set to take on our youth programming, the managerial skills to work both independently and as part of the larger organization, and the training to implement research based educational opportunities for our community.”

If you are interested in the youth program at CASA, you can contact Danny LaMack at dlamack@winthropcasa.org.