Today’s theme is effective communication strategies.    

New Website: CV-Alliance.org! Our new website rocks, and will improve as I master its functions. This website is your place for information. Please visit, sign up for mailings, offer information we can share with others, and consider making an end-of-the-year donation.

New Program in 2014: Teen Trials & Tribulations: A Series of 4 Talks. Join us on Thursday, Jan. 23 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the CVHS Library, 2809 Foothill Blvd. in La Crescenta when Tina Givrad, PhD, will explain, “Hardwiring of the Teenage Brain.” Alcohol and drug use before the brain’s fully developed in a person’s mid-20s is harmful. Dr. Givrad’s talk is designed for a teenage audience. It’s free and everyone’s welcome. Visit the website for information to learn about talks on preventing bullying, suicide and underage alcohol use.

New Way to Donate: dwolla.com! Your tax-deductible support for CV Alliance underwrites our programs and services, and does not pay salary, insurance, rent and office upkeep. Please consider donating funds online through PayPal or Dwolla.  PayPal’s popular, but charges us a small percentage of your donation to use their service. Dwolla’s service is free when you donate $10 or less, and any amount over $10 costs us a quarter! The catch: you can’t charge. The money goes from your bank account into ours through an email account you establish.

Regardless of method, we appreciate your clicking on the purple donate button!

New Voice for Change: CV Alliance’s Youth Alliance! Follow these brilliant teens on our website. They will attend the brain talk on the Jan. 23 and are planning a teen social at Montrose Bowl. Your donations to CV Alliance can underwrite Youth Alliance activities, designed to prevent underage drug and alcohol use by providing alternative activities and a new group of friends.

New Billboards: on Foothill! We’ve put up three so far advocating family closeness, communication and safety. Thanks for the positive feedback!

We are grateful to be a part of this vibrant and caring community. On behalf of CV Alliance’s board of directors and staff, have a warm and wondrous holiday season.

Suzy Jacobs is the executive director of the Crescenta Valley Drug & Alcohol Prevention Coalition. You can reach her at suzy@cvdapc.org.

  Suzy JACOBS