Minority Program Services, Battle Creek, Albion, Michigan, Substance Abuse Prevention Programs, Calhoun County

Minority Program Services Overview

History

What started as a help-line in 1970 to help people in crisis, has evolved into a multi-faceted organization to help children, youth, and families, during each critical point in their lives. Minority Program Services had a humble beginning, with college students manning help lines for those in trouble with drugs.

Today, it helps people before they get into trouble with drugs, as well as helping those already hooked.

Minority Program Services recent move (to Wyndam Woods Centre in Albion and Summit Pointe in Battle Creek) is only the latest in a 29 - year history of name changes and relocations. What follows is a brief history of the group, according to its current executive director Harry Bonner, Sr.

    1970 - The Albion Help Line begins operating out of Albion College.
    1971 - The Help Line becomes the Drop-In Center on Walnut Street
    1972 - The Drop-In Center moves to 217 Center Street
    1975 - Bonner works two years at Albion High School, during which he said he learned to work with young people
    1977 - Bonner becomes assistant director of Albion Drop - In Center
    1979 - the Center becomes part of REACH, Inc. (Referral, Education, Awareness, Crisis Intervention, and Health.)
    1982 - The group becomes Call Someone Concerned and operates out of the Professional Plaza near Sheldon Manor. Later it merges with an Adrian version of the program. Bonner serves as prevention specialist.
    1984 - Bonner becomes the education coordinator for both programs in Albion and Adrian.
    1986 - Call Someone Concerned becomes the four - county Substance Abuse Prevention Agency.
    1989 - SAPA loses its funding. Bonner is soon put in charge of Minority Program Services by Bonnie John-Murray, then director of South Central Michigan Substance Abuse Coordinating Agency. "She is one of the people that I have the utmost respect for, " Bonner said. The offices moved to 112 Superior Street.
    1997 - Minority Program Services moves in with Behavioral Health Resources at 300 B. Drive, Albion, Michigan.
    1999 - Minority Program Services moves in with Summit Pointe in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Mission Vision
Minority Program Services Provides:

Dream Team
Harry J. Bonner, Sr. Executive Director

Paula Langston-Ware, Program Director

Greg Brown, Youth Director

Lekia Blake, Youth Director

Terry Bonner, Administrative Services Coordinator

Ciara Glasper, Youth Director

Margaret Simpson, Youth Director

Harry J. Bonner, Sr. Executive Director

Harry Bonner, Sr. was called on early on in his career to work with young people. As the executive director of Minority Program Services in Albion, he has been able to recognize the needs of young people, including educational and social opportunities, and respond to those needs in a manner consistent with his beliefs.

Minority Program Services is a substance abuse prevention program aimed at providing young people with academic, social, and life skills to be able to succeed in life. Through Mr. Bonner's dedicated efforts, young people have been able to learn, grow and interact with others in the community, state and nation.

Reaching beyond his professional position in substance abuse prevention, Mr. Harry Bonner, Sr. has made a long-term commitment to the success of children and youth in Calhoun County. His efforts have been praised by local school districts, government agencies, state and regional substance abuse agencies, and state and national Cooperative Extension organizations.

Mr. Bonner's motto is "Success is a choice." It is your decision.

Paula Langston-Ware Program Director	Terry Bonner Administrative Services Coordinator

Youth Directors

Greg Brown	Lekia Blake
Ciara Glasper	Margaret Simpson

Back to the top of this page

Mission:
Joined in a commitment to do all we can to prevent the further increase of community problems and loss of life caused by drug use and abuse.

Vision:
To provide key leadership in developing a community wide vision and plan for eliminating substance abuse in local communities.

Minority Program Services is a primary Minority Focus Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Prevention Program, and received national recognition from the Michigan State University Children, Youth and Families Program. Minority Program Services reaches over 50,000 people each year with their anti-drug message of positive youth development.

Minority Program Services Provides:

Immediate answers and connections to alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention services for children, youth, and families who don't know where to begin.

Educational enrichment programs in schools, after school programs, parents training programs, community forums, and the general public. Minority Program Services programs are provided by license, certified substance abuse prevention specialists who understand the problems and know how to help.

Funding, management and technical support to grassroots citizen-led groups in neighborhoods, churches and throughout communities who want to mobilize a volunteer effort to reduce alcohol, tobacco, an other drug problems.

Staff, who serve as facilitators and conveners for:

Albion Black Family Reunion

Kwanzaa Institute for Youth Development

Albion Men of Vision

A Guide to the Winners Circle

Community Partnerships for Drug Prevention

Substance Abuse Workgroup of the Coordinating Council

Safe & Drug Free Schools Violence Prevention Program