The Council

The Council is the lead drug, tobacco and alcohol prevention voice and advisory body for the City of Providence. The Council makes recommendations to the Mayor and advocates for policies that prevent youth alcohol, tobacco and drug use and promote safe and healthy choices for kids in the City of Providence. The vibrant and diverse Council membership is made up of more than 25 committed individuals and organizations from across the City that represent, and work with Providence youth to keep them healthy, safe, and able to reach their full potential.

Over the last several years the Mayor's Substance Abuse Prevention Council has made significant improvements in enforcement and compliance of underage drinking laws, supported environmental prevention policy change, and broadly expanded public education, community outreach and social norms around drug, tobacco and alcohol prevention.

The council meets the first Wednesday of each month except July and August from 3:00 to 4:30pm at Family Service of RI, 55 Hope Street in Providence (call the Healthy Communities Office at 401-421-7740x505 to confirm meetings).

The current membership of the council is as follows:

Nick Zaller, Chair, Miriam Hospital

Jorge Cardenas, Sodexo

Ysa Luna, Parent Representative

Steve Peck, Peck Marketing

Donna O'Connor, Providence Public Schools

Emily Harris, Young Voices

Capt. William Campbell, Youth Services Bureau, Providence Police Department

Pastor Luis David Rodriguez, Iglesia de la Comunidad

Xong Yang, Socioeconomic Development Center for Southeast Asians

Frank Spicola, SSTAR of North Kingstown

Jim Gillen, The Providence Center/Anchor Recovery Center

Peter Lee, John Hope Settlement House

Melissa Sanzaro, Providence Housing Authority

Chuck Cudworth, Rhode Island Student Assistance Services

Carolyn James, CODAC Behavioral Healthcare

Tim Dutra, Discovery House

Hillary Salmons, Providence After School Alliance

Marie Palumbo-Hayes, Family Service of Rhode Island

Abismael Vargas and Taisha Pepin, students, Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts

Paula Santos, Principal, Anchor Recovery High School

Rosa Decastillo, Lifespan Community Health Services

Jessica Mowry, Mental Health Association of Rhode Island