Prevention Works Inc. of Jamestown hosted its 23rd Alcohol Awareness Poster Contest Awards Ceremony, at the Crystal Ballroom, April 23, 2024. Pictured are the 13 contest finalists with former State Assemblyman Andy Goodell, R-Jamestown, Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel, and representatives from Congressman Nick Langworthy’s office and state Sen. George M. Borrello, R-Sunset Bay. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

FALCONER – Your Choice is Your Voice is the theme of Prevention Works’ 24th annual, youth, poster making contest.

Each year, the non-profit located at 1 East Main St., Falconer, holds a contest where students compete for not only cash prizes, but also for a chance to have their unique artwork displayed on a public billboard, and to receive a professional custom framing of the winner’s poster.

Laurie Reynolds, Prevention Works assistant director, said the grand prize finalist will win $100, a billboard featuring the winner’s poster, professional, custom framing of the winner’s design.

There will be several first, second and third place awards given out during the contest.

“There will be three different categories: Category A: Grades 3-5; Category B: Grades 6-8; Category C: Grades 9-12,” said Reynolds. “Each category has its own prizes associated with it.”

Reynolds said three first place awardees will receive $75; three second place finishers will receive $50; three third place awardees will receive $25 and two awards will be given out for an honorable mention for $15.

Kim LaCross, a receptionist with the Prevention Works office location in Falconer said, “All poster submissions need to be in by March 18, and the award ceremony to announce the winners will take place April 8, at 5 p.m. at the James Prendergast Library (509 Cherry St, Jamestown).”

“All contestants can turn their artwork into the Prevention Works building here in Falconer or at the James Prendergast Library,” added LaCross. “In the north county, submissions can be turned into the Prevention Work’s Dunkirk location (186 Lake Shore Drive W., Dunkirk) or at the Darwin R. Barker Library (7 Day St., Fredonia.”)

Reynolds said that the contest is open to children who are homeschooled also.

According to preventionworks.us, the non-for-profit, exists to educate communities on positive life choices by encouraging health, wellness and inclusion. The organization’s vision plan consists of creating an environment where all communities thrive by making safe and healthy choices.

Melanie Witkowski, the executive director of Prevention Works Inc. said, “alcohol use has gone down 6.4 percent in the past 2 years.”

Additionally, Witkowski said that programs like the poster contest help to promote positive peer-pressure among adolescents which helps with Preventions Works stated mission.

“We often hear about peer pressure in a negative way, the poster contest provides a positive spin on peer pressure, youth are using art to encourage their peers to choose not to use alcohol.,” she said. “Alcohol use disorder has gone down since 2021, amongst eight, tenth and 12th graders.”

Reynolds echoed some of Witkowski’s comments.

“The Poster Contest is an effective way of getting our prevention messaging out in the community as it relates to Alcohol Awareness Month, in April. The contest engages youth to tap into their creativity by expressing the message of Your Choice is Your Voice through their own art. This is also an effective strategy so other students in Chautauqua County can see that youth voice is important, while demonstrating most students do not use alcohol or other drugs; As a bonus, the artworks are typically posted in Albany at the capitol on display,” Reynolds said.

For more information call the Prevention Works Falconer office at Falconer (716) 664-3608 or the Dunkirk office at (716) 366-4623.