vernonia prevention coalition
january24
2012
11
The content on this page is provided by the Vernonia Prevention Coalition
Be a Piece of the Puzzle: Random Acts of Purpose
By DeAnna Pearl
It has often been
the human condition to
wonder about ones purpose. Or more
specifically, seeking the answer of what
does fate have in store for him or her.
Some people believe fate is
actually a set of vignettes all playing at
the same time. They play simultaneously
but when our mind focuses on one,
that is reality for that person. How we
select which one depends on
our conscious goals we have
set for ourselves: a kid wants
to be a vet--he or she takes
every opportunity to work with
animals while growing up. A
student, whom wants to be a
musician, focuses on music. It
would be the same as wanting
to change a negative goal we
have set for ourselves: Stop
being a bully or becoming
healthier. It behooves us to be
purposeful in our actions and
to be awake when vignettes are
presented.
This year, students in
the VSD 47J have become more
purposeful. Not just to raise money, not
just to have more dances, but to create
a sustainable change in the environment
in which they learn. What seem to be
random acts of kindness actually has
been a purposeful movement to change
the negative community norm of
intolerance. On any given day, sticky
notes will find their way onto bathroom
mirrors with positive messaging like
“What a great Smile!” On any given day,
high fives are shared with teen mentors
and grade school kids. Third graders
starting an Against Bullying Club to
help educate their younger peers. Even
greater, motivated groups of youth plan
to help bring awareness to the dangers
of underage drinking and encourage
increased participation in supporting
healthier lifestyles.
Acts of kindness are not just
being seen in the school. During the
winter break, coats and shoe tags were
taken from the Giving Tree and then
distributed to 45 local youth. Vernonia
churches collected dozens of socks and
underwear. Hats and scarves, knitted by
Skein Slayer members, were donated to
all three schools to help wrap our kids
in warmth. Programming was offered
to area residents in efforts to allow
kids and families to make simple gifts
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1-800-273-TALK (8255)
suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Are you feeling desperate, alone or hopeless? Call the National Suicide Prevention
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1-800-273-TALK (8255) Press 1
2001 Vernonia Prevention Coalition Sector Representatives
Position
Name
Sector
Contact
Affiliation
Chair
Josette Mitchell
Government
(503) 429-4232
COV Mayor
Vice Chair
Pete Weisel
School
(503) 429-3521
VHS Councilor
Exec. Board
Dr. Ken Cox
Media
(503) 429-5891
VSD Superintendent
Exec. Board
Sgt. Shaun
Carnahan
Police
(503) 429-4232
COV Police
Faith
(503) 961-5281
Vernonia Comm.
Church
Board Member Ashley Swanson Prevention
(503) 396-2074
Public Health Foun-
dation of Columbia
County
Board Member Heidi Brown
Business
(503) 429-2787
Grey Dawn Gallery
Board Member Gina Fields
Parent
(503) 429-6306
Parent
Board Member Mark Brown
Board Member Lee Anne Kraus e Youth Serving (503) 816-9810
Kiwanis
Board Member O.S.S.O.M.
Youth
(503) 429-3521
VSD 47J
Board Member George Tice
Civic Org.
(503) 880-1627
Lions Club
Board Member
Health Serv.
Heather Lewis
Contractor
Seeking Representation
(503) 429-4677
Resource Coord.
VPC Mission:
To develop safe and healthy neighborhoods through collaborative planning, community
action, policy advocacy and enforcement.
for one another. Baskets of fruit were
delivered to elders in the community by
the Lion’s. Toiletry items were collected
to be donated to Vernonia Cares and
Community Closet Dignity Bags.
The downtown corridor of Vernonia
was decorated for winter by a group
of dedicated individuals and foreign
exchange students.
These acts of kindness, the
ones we know about, are not random
but purposeful. Purposeful in the way
that just doing them
helps effect change
in our community: A
young person with
warm feet will more
likely participate in
school. Empowering a
community member to
donate items that serve
a specific need to a child
or family is powerful.
Collaborating with other
like minded programs
to fulfill their individual
mission
increases
sustainability. Increasing
the intrinsic beauty of a
community during the
holidays encourages cohesiveness.
Acts whether they are random
or purposeful, motivate people. Most
people want to help, it is human nature.
Truthfully when asked, people reply
they don’t know how they can. Due
to our recent economy, many say they
do not have the capacity to contribute
money. But, contribution can look
different for many people; donation
of time, donation of money, donation
of ad space, forwarding emails, social
website posts, posting flyers, sharing at
a meeting, collecting change or hanging
ornaments. All these and more have
equal value. For the VPC, everything
our grant contributes has to be matched
dollar for dollar in value whether it is
time or goods. Collaboration is the
key to finding the opportunities that
contribute to match.
In Vernonia, there are many
vignettes of opportunities being
witnessed every day. Witnessed and
documented by people whom have raised
their heads out of their various service
trenches in an effort to increase their
capacity to serve. This didn’t happen
on its own. It was not a random act
and has become a purposeful invitation
to like minded people. Through that,
organizations are refocusing on their
missions and inviting collaboration
that better support sustainability.
Serendipitously, individuals have
randomly gravitated toward purposeful
programming if at first out of curiosity.
More so, many are staying involved
because they see an opportunity to be
a part of a solution toward creating a
safer and healthier community. These
seemingly random acts of purpose are
influencing the paradigm shift of healing
and growth.
DeAnna Pearl is the Director of the
Vernonia Prevention Coalition. You can
reach DeAnna at 503-369-7370 or by
email at deanna@vernonia-or.gov
