Happy New Year from the NOCC!

by | Jan 6, 2025 | Nonprofit

Happy New Year!

We hope your 2025 is off to a great start!

In the newsletter below, we have information on Dry January and the sober-curious movement, a look at some of our upcoming events for the first half of 2025, and the first installment of our Board Member Spotlight!

Each month, we will be highlighting one of our amazing board members, sharing a bit about them and their involvement with the North Oakland Community Coalition. This month, we will highlight our Board President, Andrea Martinec.
Andrea Martinec, Board President

Please share a bit about your family:
I have a wonderful husband of 23 years, Matthew. Three kids, Mason (22); Austin (20); and Madison (18). Two Dogs (Murphy & Aspen), 1 Cat (Meow Meow) and a Bunny (Mufasa)!

What is your profession?
I am the Customer Experience Manager at The Home Depot (In Lake Orion) and the owner of Lake Orion Printing & Design.

How long have you been on the NOCC board?
6 years.

Why did you want to become involved with the NOCC?
My kids were all in school when I became involved and am passionate about supporting our communities with the resources needed to be healthier. Including providing mental health resources, information on vaping & marijuana usage, suicide prevention information and workshops! The amount of information and support the NOCC provides to the community is just amazing and I am very proud to be a part of that!

What is your favorite NOCC Program?
I would have to say Level Up Camp! Our team gets to work closely with incoming 6th graders to help get them ready for middle school. It is a great way for them to get to know us and know that we are here to help support them. Growing up is hard, I remember middle school and to have an organization like the NOCC in the mix would have been so helpful.

What is your favorite thing to do in the Lake Orion/Oxford area?
Now that we are empty nesters…. My husband and I like to enjoy a dinner out and there are so many great places in Lake Orion & Oxford!
Are you participating in Dry January? Or are you one of the nearly 42% of Americans who are sober-curious?

Dry January, started in 2013 by Alcohol Change UK, is a movement that encourages people to abstain from alcohol for the month of January, both to reduce overall alcohol consumption, as well as raise awareness about the benefits of a sober lifestyle. Benefits can be physical, like losing weight, better sleep, or better liver health, as well as mental, such as no longer feeling “foggy” or hungover, or feeling more creative. If you’d like to learn more about Dry January and the sober-curious movement, click here.

If you’re looking for something to drink other than alcohol this month, check out these 46 Mocktail recipes by clicking here.
Now that 2025 is officially here, we at the NOCC have been working hard to bring back some returning campaigns and programs for the beginning of the year, including:

  • Monthly Youth Action Board Meetings
  • March Marijuana focus
  • April Take Back Day (April 26th- mark your calendars now!)
  • Smart Students Don’t Drink prom campaign
  • 2025 Level Up Camp
  • Protect It, Protect Them lockbox giveaways
  • And more!

As each event draws near, we’ll be sure to include any relevant information in our monthly newsletter, so make sure to check for us in your inbox as well! The best way to stay up to date with the NOCC is by following us on social media! We post reminders and information about events on both our Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as information and any registration links on our website, noccmi.org.