Audio C is a brand new coalition whose goal is to protect our youth by standing against underage drinking in Cleveland and Bradley County.

A recent survey showed that 70.2% of all 11th graders in Bradley County believe that underage drinking is a problem in our schools. Audio C was formed as a result of a training program enacted by the Bradley Initiative for Church and Community (BICC) and Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative. This training program is called Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA) and its goal is to reduce adolescent (13-20 years old) access to alcohol by changing community policies and practices. Audio C has partnered with GRAAB (Going Respectfully Against Addictive Behaviors), our local anti-drug coalition, in an effort to unite forces and oppose the damaging and even deadly effects that drugs and alcohol have on our youth and our community.

The Mission Statement of Audio C is “Changing our environment by educating Cleveland / Bradley County about the continuing problems of underage drinking and by helping reduce those problems through prevention, intervention, awareness and community resources”.

One Objective is to increase awareness of the clear and present problems and health risks associated with underage drinking among students in Cleveland and Bradley County. Audio C is partnering with several local organizations in an effort to provide a support network for students and families facing the problems associated with underage drinking. Our hope is to reach parents and students, beginning in the middle schools, with the message that underage drinking can cause our students permanent damage physically, developmentally and emotionally.

A brief history of our organization and beginnings

Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA), is a community organizing effort designed to change policies and practices of major community institutions in ways that reduce access to alcohol by teenagers. CMCA is a SAMHSA (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration) model Program with services provided by Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) based in San Francisco California.

(CMCA) is a program developed to reduce adolescent (13 to 20 years old) access to alcohol by changing community policies and practices. CMCA has proven that effectively limiting the access to alcohol of people under the legal drinking age not only directly reduces teen drinking, but also sends a clear message to the community that underage drinking is inappropriate and unacceptable.

In compliance with Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative goal number 2: Reduce and Prevent Substance Abuse and Violence--- Faith Based Community Coordinator has organized a training series on Communities Mobilize for Change in Alcohol (CMCA)

As part of the an ongoing effort to enhance positive youth development in Cleveland/Bradley County members who have participated in the CMCA training are working together strategically, identifying various ways to reduce and prevent underage drinking in our community. The named coined for the Cleveland/Bradley County CMCA initiative is Audio C (Against Underage Drinking in our Community).

Audio C has partnered with GRAAB (Going Respectfully Against Addictive Behaviors) local anti-drug coalition.

Meet our Community Coordinator
Ms. Kelly Myers

Kelly was recently elected to be the community coordinator for Audio C. She is a counselor at the Behavioral Research Institute which exists to help students and their families in Cleveland/Bradley County deal with mental health issues. This includes counseling, awareness, training and community involvement. Kelly is extremely motivated to see real change take place in our community regarding the issues of underage drinking.