Top 8 SSDP Triumphs of 2011
We’d like to share our top eight triumphs of the year. Check it out!
We trained over 400 students in some of the same cutting-edge storytelling skills that corporate CEOs pay thousands of dollars for! And now those students have returned to their communities to train others. We also held three regional conferences this fall in Boston, Chicago, and the Washington, DC area. Read more
The SSDP national staff has changed quite a bit this year. We’ve welcomed three new staff members: Drew Stromberg, and Devon Tackels comprise our newly formed outreach staff team. And Zara Snapp has come on board as International Liason, working from our Mexico City office, which we opened in early 2011. In June, we moved into a new headquarters in Washington DC — just two blocks from the White House. (Actually, it’s not “new” at all, since we’re in the oldest standing skyscraper in the world!) Read more Left to right: Devon Tackels, Aaron Houston, Stacia Cosner, Drew Stromberg, Zara Snapp (not pictured: Edward Spriggs, Garret Overstreet)
8. Students ambassadors at United Nations
We were granted official “consultative status” by the United Nations, which means we are the only US-based drug policy organization with a seat at the UN’s committee that handles drug policy. Our students will be rubbing elbows with diplomats, weighing in on the youth perspective — from a youth perspective. Read more7. SSDP’s International Conference: inspiring students to tell their stories
We trained over 400 students in some of the same cutting-edge storytelling skills that corporate CEOs pay thousands of dollars for! And now those students have returned to their communities to train others. We also held three regional conferences this fall in Boston, Chicago, and the Washington, DC area. Read more6. Historic marijuana legalization bill introduced in Congress
Students key to federal legalization legislation Students’ role in historic federal legislation SSDP staff and students played an integral role in the introduction of the first-ever marijuana legalization bill in Congress! Read more5. Over 20 Candlelight Vigils for Victims of the War on Drugs
On June 17th, the 40th anniversary of Richard Nixon declaring “War on Drugs”, SSDP joined forces with the Drug Policy Alliance on this important day of action. SSDP chapters organized candlelight vigils in 22 cities across the world to honor the memory of victims of the drug war. Read more4. Reforming local laws
SSDPers in several states have been moving and shaking on the state level this year, most notably in New York, Illinois, and Connecticut. In New York, our students played a vital role in advocating for the passage of a law that now provides protection from being charged or prosecuted for drug or alcohol possession for individuals who call 911 for themselves or a friend. SSDPers in Connecticut had an exciting victory with statewide decriminalization of marijuana, David Haseltine writes about his experience lobbying for this change for the Huffington Post here. More recently, the Illinois House passed SB 1701, the Emergency Medical Services Access Act to Save Lives, Rebecca Welker writes about her experience advocating for this reform on our blog here. Read more3. New office one block from the White House and new staff
The SSDP national staff has changed quite a bit this year. We’ve welcomed three new staff members: Drew Stromberg, and Devon Tackels comprise our newly formed outreach staff team. And Zara Snapp has come on board as International Liason, working from our Mexico City office, which we opened in early 2011. In June, we moved into a new headquarters in Washington DC — just two blocks from the White House. (Actually, it’s not “new” at all, since we’re in the oldest standing skyscraper in the world!) Read more Left to right: Devon Tackels, Aaron Houston, Stacia Cosner, Drew Stromberg, Zara Snapp (not pictured: Edward Spriggs, Garret Overstreet) 
