Our 13th Roots of Prevention Awards

This May, BPHC held our 13th annual Roots of Prevention Award Ceremony at Contois Auditorium in City Hall. This year’s celebration marked a significant milestone, as it was the first time we came back together in person since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The event recognizes and honors the exceptional contributions of the community changemakers who helped foster a safer and healthier Burlington.

Our D.G. Weaver Award, was presented to Peter VonDoepp, Coach of the BHS Ultimate Frisbee team. Peter launched, coached, and grew the Ultimate frisbee program in the Burlington School District and helped Vermont becoming the first state to have a varsity Ultimate Frisbee program. Peter’s dedication, leadership, and commitment to nurturing the physical and mental well-being of his youth was apparent in the the words of the two students who spoke about the support and mentorship he provided them and other students in the district.

The Youth & Families Award was given to Dr. Kimberly Blake, MD, in recognition of her exceptional contributions as a fierce local and national voice for improving prevention and treatment of Opioid Use Disorder. Her speaker, Grace Keller, shared stories of Dr. Blake’s dedication to providing compassionate and comprehensive healthcare. Grace shared how Dr. Blake has channeled her own loss into providing support and healing for countless other caregivers and loved ones of those who are impacted by substance misuse.

The Outstanding Individual Award was presented to Sidiki Sylla, a remarkable BHS senior. Sidiki was nominated for his work as a mentor to young BIPOC students at Flynn Elementary and the unwavering commitment he showed to being an encouraging, fun, and consistant presence in their lives. It was clear from Flynn Principal Nikki Ellis’s remarks, that Sidiki has had an indelible impact on their school; a powerful and positive legacy to leave ahead of graduation.

This year we were excited to host speaker Jessica Lahey, author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence. Jessica is also an accomplished podcaster, speaker, and recovery expert. Jessica’s insightful words resonated deeply with the audience as she shared her expertise and experiences in supporting resiliance and healthy development in youth. Her message served as an inspiration to continue all our efforts towards a more supportive and nurturing community. We were also grateful to receive a moving personal story from local storyteller, Ferene Paris Meyer of All Heart Inspirations. Her thoughtful insights about substance use culture left our audience with a lot to consider and a feeling of collective connection. A big thank you to all our staff, volunteers, organizations, and BPHC supporters who continue to make it possible for us to host this free community celebration every year!

Watch a recording of the 2023 event here! Thank you to Center for Media and Democracy CCTV Channel 17 for filming.

Do you know a person, group, program, or business that we should consider for a Roots of Prevention Award in 2024? Fill out a nomination here!