The Fairfax Prevention Coalition Youth Team brought youth voice, creativity, and community pride to life through the “Fall in Love with the Highway” Youth Photovoice Event.

Through photography and storytelling, youth captured the beauty, challenges, and opportunities they see along the Route 1 corridor. Their photos highlighted what they love about their community, what they hope will change, and how young people can be part of creating safer, healthier, and more connected neighborhoods.

Youth helped lead every part of the project — from taking photos and writing captions to planning the event, promoting it, and leading a panel discussion with community members and local leaders. The event was even covered by local publication The Zebra Press.

The FPC Youth Team also created an inspiring Instagram video featuring testimonials during the event.

This event showed what happens when young people are given space to lead: they bring honesty, creativity, and powerful ideas for positive change.

(Click photo below to watch video.)

After identifying areas of concern through their Photovoice project, members of the Fairfax Prevention Coalition Youth Team took the next step: action.

On June 7, 2026 youth partnered with Clean Fairfax and the Fairfax County Park Authority for a community cleanup around Sequoyah Community Center, a nearby creek, Mount Vernon Woods Park, and Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School.

The cleanup was about more than picking up litter. Youth talked about community beautification, mental health, substance use prevention, homelessness awareness, and the importance of caring for shared spaces.

The Youth Team hopes to continue cleanup projects as an ongoing initiative. We are so proud of the Alexandria FPC Youth Team for making a difference in their community!

The Youth Team members created a video of the event featuring reflections from members, footage of the cleanup, and encouraging messages to community members to participate in cleanups.

This year, the Fairfax Prevention Coalition continued its support of National Drug Take Back Days, working with Fairfax County Police Department stations and the Drug Enforcement Administration to promote safe medication disposal across the county on two Take Back Days in October 2025 and April 2026.

FPC helped share outreach materials, promote collection sites, recruit volunteers, and encourage coalition members and partners to spread the word.

Across the two Drug Take Back Day events, Fairfax County community members safely disposed of more than 1,800 pounds of expired or unused medications.

Safe medication disposal is an important prevention strategy. Removing unused medications from homes helps reduce the risk of misuse, accidental poisoning, and unsafe access to prescription drugs.

Join the next National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 24, 2026 – more information to come!

On National Fentanyl Awareness Day, the Fairfax Prevention Coalition will hold a REVIVE training on May 7, 2024 6:00pm EST. Register Now

Please join us for this virtual Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education Training session, which is open to the community and strongly suggested for all community members. Educate yourself on illicit fentanyl overdoses and be a part of the solution!

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid. There are two types: medical fentanyl and illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is permeating the street drug supply and is now a major contributor to overdoses and deaths in the U.S. Learn the facts and spread the word on May 7, 2024.

Why Should I Care?

Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is driving the recent increase in U.S. drug overdoses. Dealers are mixing it with, and disguising it as, other common drugs like Oxy, Percocet, Adderall and Xanax to increase profits. This process is not regulated and does not undergo any quality control – and as little as two milligrams of fentanyl (two grains of sand) is lethal.

What Can I Do To Help?

Spread the word on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Learn more about how to protect yourself and your loved ones at fentanylawarenessday.org and click the purple button below to access the full toolkit of resources for NFAD. 

Join the Chris Atwood Foundation for a recovery and family friendly festival with food, fun, and fellowship. All proceeds will help others access the profound hope of recovery, connection, and peer support.

Saturday, May 11th 10:30am to 1:30pm

Activities include morning yoga, kids games, music, food, petting zoo, lawn games, and raffle prizes.  It’s a “pay-what-you-can” event, but ask you to reserve your ticket in advance to get a headcount for food.