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Trainings: Trainers

Rachel Anderson

Title: Prevention Services Program Director

History/Job Description

Rachel has been with DREAM since November 2005. She began as program manager for the Rankin School Districts Against Substance Use (RSASU) student drug testing program which served Pearl Public and Rankin County School Districts. Currently, Rachel serves as the Prevention Services Program Director which coordinates DREAM’s prevention services under the MS Department of Mental Health's Substance Abuse Prevention Block Grant. She also coordinates the National Red Ribbon Campaign for Mississippi; coordinates distribution of DREAM’s Smart Choices curriculum; manages content for the Mississippi Prevention Network (mpn.ms) and Mississippi Executive Prevention Council Web sites; publishes DREAM’s Dateline and Red Ribbon Times newsletters; and manages DREAM's Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Resource Center (RADAR). She also conducts meeting logistics for the State Epidemiological Work Group (SEOW) and the Mississippi Executive Prevention Council (MEPC), facilitates various workshops and trainings, and locates and provides resources related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use to prevention professionals.

Education

Masters of Science, University of Southern Mississippi; Bachelors of Arts, University of Southern Mississippi; Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS), American Red Cross Certified Adult CPR and First Aid, Certified HIV/AIDS STD instructor

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Sheldon Gooch

Title: Program Director

History/Job Description

Sheldon joined DREAM, Inc. in April 2009, and currently serves as Program Director for the Hinds County Senior Transition Program. In this role he is responsible for brokering services and building links between a cross section of business professions and graduating seniors in the Jackson Public School and Hinds County School Districts. His role also includes expanding awareness by speaking at civic clubs, conferences, and other venues. For over 20 years, Sheldon has been a motivational speaker on every university campus in Mississippi and has also delivered presentations for Drug Free Schools programs in Mississippi. He served as the Vice President of United Way and directed their million dollar campaign fund, was Supervisor of Community Development for Mississippi Valley Gas and has a wealth of sales experience. Other Activities: As a Singer, songwriter, and recording artist, Sheldon has performed and spoken in over 700 Mississippi churches as well as at numerous events around the Country. Most notable appearances include DATELINE NBC and the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Mississippi College; Three year certificate in community development, University of Central Arkansas

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Tawni Lovorn

Title: Community Relations Coordinator

History/Job Description

Tawni has been with DREAM since June 2004. She serves as the Program Director for the Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalition of Rankin, Scott and Simpson Counties. The Coalition’s mission is to reduce disease, disability and death associated with tobacco use and exposure. The Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalition of Rankin, Scott and Simpson Counties is funded by a grant from the Mississippi State Department of Health.

Education

Bachelor of Science, Family & Consumer Sciences Education, Louisiana Tech University; Bachelor of Arts, Consumer Affairs with a minor in Business, Louisiana Tech University; Certified Training Professional: University of Southern Mississippi; Certified Prevention Manager (CPM)

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Vicki Mixon

Title: Strategic Prevention Framework Regional Master Trainer for the Central Region of Mississippi

History/Job Description

Vicki Mixon is the Strategic Prevention Framework Regional Master Trainer for the Central Region of Mississippi. Prior to joining DREAM in July 2008, she was an Educational Consultant for Josten's Learning Corporation. Vicki was also a classroom teacher in private and public education for over 27 years.

Education

Masters in Education, Mississippi College; Bachelor of Arts in Communicative Disorders, University of Mississippi; Certified Prevention Specialist, in progress

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Caroline Newkirk

Title: Underage Drinking Prevention Coordinator

History/Job Description

Caroline Newkirk joined DREAM in July 2008 as the statewide Underage Drinking Prevention Coordinator. As such, she acts as a resource to the Strategic Prevention Framework Statewide Incentive Grant sub-grantees in the development and implementation of community and evidence-based programs targeted at underage drinking. Caroline also conducts training workshops and seminars aimed at educating both professional and public audiences on topics related to the prevention of underage drinking. Additionally, she co-chairs the Mississippians Advocating Against Underage Drinking (MAAUD) Task Force and provides technical assistance and support to the Mississippi Executive Prevention Council (MEPC).

Education

Masters in Public Health, Health Behavior Concentration, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Millsaps College; Certification in Public Health; Certified Health Education Specialist; Certified Prevention Specialist, in progress

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Gini Tucker

Title: Prevention Education Specialist

History/Job Description

Gini joined DREAM, Inc. in May 2009 as a Prevention Education Specialist, providing innovative and up-to date training for prevention professionals. She has worked in the prevention field since 2001. She is a CDC certified Trainer of Trainers in HIV/AIDS. Using that expertise, she became the statewide trainer for HIV/AIDS professionals in Tennessee. Gini was selected to become part of an elite cadre of trainers for the Teacher Training Cadre based at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. She trained thousands of teachers across the state of Tennessee to do effective prevention education in schools. Prior to moving to Mississippi. Gini worked as a Student Assistance Professional counselor in Virginia, counseling at-risk students in small group settings regarding substance use/abuse and other risky behaviors. She also developed in-service trainings for teachers and program presentations for parents to raise awareness of risky youth behaviors. In addition to her prevention experience, Gini’s 10+ years of management experience as Executive Director of two Sylvan Learning Centers in Chattanooga and as Regional Manager for Les Petite Academies (Middle Tennessee) has given her additional valuable insight as to how to help meet the needs of parents and children.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Louisville

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