Celebrating 10 Years

The DuPage PLT Celebrated a Huge Milestone:
10 Years of Prevention, Partnership, and Progress!

Jordan Esser, PLT's Program Coordinator, along with Co-Chairs Amber Quirk and Jennifer Hess.

In October of 2025, the DuPage County Prevention Leadership Team (PLT) proudly celebrated a decade of dedication to creating a healthier, more resilient community. Since its formation in 2015, the PLT has grown into a powerful coalition of youth, parents, schools, law enforcement, faith leaders, health providers, and other local partners united by a shared mission: to reduce youth substance use and promote mental health through community-level prevention strategies. This milestone is more than a celebration of longevity—it's a tribute to the impact that collaboration, compassion, and commitment can have on an entire county.

A Decade of Making a Difference

Over the past 10 years, the PLT has:

• Empowered youth voices through Reality Illinois and the Teen Ambassadors

• Increased community awareness of mental health and substance use issues

• Launched prevention campaigns in schools, neighborhoods, and online spaces

• Trained hundreds of professionals in evidence-based prevention and intervention methods

• Built lasting partnerships across sectors to support a safer, stronger DuPage

To explore the PLT's impact in detail, check out the PLT 10-Year Annual Report.

The Celebration

To mark this exciting milestone, the PLT hosted a memorable event filled with reflection, recognition, and inspiration. Attendees enjoyed:

• A free continental breakfast to kick off the morning

• A powerful keynote presentation by General Barrye L. Price, Ph.D, President & CEO of the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)

• Networking opportunities with prevention leaders, youth advocates, and community members

• Presentation of the Changemaker Awards, honoring individuals and organizations driving meaningful change in DuPage

• "A Decade of Art" installation, showcasing some of the coalition’s most monumental moments

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who has walked alongside us over the last 10 years. Together, we’ve built something lasting—and the best is yet to come!