Page 12 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 22, 2024 Malden Overcoming Addiction’s 8th annual #MaldenStopTheStigma Day Special to The Advocate W hat a fast-paced and exhilarating day! On the 8th annual #MaldenStopTheStigma Day, Malden Overcoming Addiction (MOA) representatives started at the Beebe School at 8:30 a.m., where they were joined by Mayor Gary Christenson, and then they moved to the Ferryway School, the Cheverus School, Malden Catholic High School, the Salemwood School, the Linden School and the Forestdale School before ending at Malden High School (MHS). The MOA team was met at the Cheverus by Malden Police Chief Cronin, who met them again at the Salemwood. MOA Board member Dave Allan was also part of the visiting team at each school. Ward 8 Councillor Jadeane Sica and Councillor-at-Large Craig Spadafora also joined the group at the Linden School. MHS students Dominic Nesta and Beatriz Santos got to accompany the team to each school. The students created the video that was shared with students in the Malden Public Schools (MPS). The video was created as part of MHS teacher Jim Valente’s media class. Valente’s students have been preparing videos for the stigma day for several years. At each school MOA representatives were welcomed by the young people and staff, some wearing the teal ribbon, symbolizing #MaldenStopTheStigma day. “The overall attentiveness and participation by students is the best it has ever been,” said MOA President/City of Malden Addiction Recovery Resource Specialist Paul Hammersley, the brainchild behind the start of Stop the Stigma Day in Malden eight years ago. In preparation for the day, MOA members Paul Hammersley, Recovery Coach PJ Bell and Vice President Dana Brown served on a planning committee along with Forestdale Principal Adam Weldai and MPS Athletic Director Charlie ConeMayor Gary Christenson and supporters at City Hall for #Maldenstopthestigma day. frey. This year the focus shifted to “what the students can do and learn,” according to Principal Weldai. MOA’s Dana Brown wants to thank the staff and students at each school for making the day as successful as it was. In particular, Brown singled out the health teachers at each of the MPS buildings who, in the weeks leading up to the visit, had engaged the students in health lessons around stigma, alcohol and drug use, vaping and some mental health areas. Brown also praised Conefrey, who played a critical role in helping leverage the expertise of the teachers. Poster Boards, newspaper articles, poems and videos were created by students at many of the schools to demonstrate their understanding of the day. It was a “hopeful” day, according to Hammersley. For more information on MalForestdale School den Overcoming Addiction and their programs, call Hammersley at 781-838-2203 or visit the website at https://www.maldenovercomingaddiction.com/. Malden High School Helping Hands Stop The Stigma Beebe School
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