Talbot Partnership recently celebrated its 20th Anniversary at a reception at the Thomas E. Hill Youth Development Center at the Easton Family YMCA. Nearly 100 people, including partners and volunteers, gathered to celebrate 20 years of service in working to prevent substance abuse in Talbot County. The organization is a community coalition of more than 80 individuals and organizations that advocates for changing laws, norms, and behavior in order to promote a healthy, substance abuse free community.
It was fitting that the reception was held at the YMCA, which has been identified as one of the most important tools in reaching youth in the community and investing in their future. In addition to welcomes from Don Cook, current Talbot Partnership board president and Gary Pearce, executive director, Robbie Gill, CEO of the YMCA of the Chesapeake spoke, stating, “We need to invest in the youth who grow up here and the YMCA looks forward to working as a coalition partner in the future with these efforts.”
Hilary Spence, keynote speaker and one of the founding members of Talbot Partnership as well as Chairperson for the Blue Ribbon Commission Oversight Committee, commented, “Talbot Partnership has been part of my life over the past 20 years – my personal, professional, and political life.”
Spence, who was the Talbot County Public Schools Drug-Free Coordinator in 1991, was part of the original steering committee to address the issue of substance abuse in Talbot County. She added, “We took a journey together to learn more about the problem, ourselves and those around us.”
She went on to outline the organizations many accomplishments over the last 20 years and concluded, “One constant through the 20 years has been an unwavering commitment to the community building process to tackle alcohol and drug abuse.”
