Kirsten Page-Burruel to head M.A.S.H. coalition

M.A.S.H., the Maricopa, Ak-Chin, Stanfield, Hidden Valley anti-substance abuse coalition, recently elected Kirsten Page-Burruel as its new chairperson.

Page-Burruel has lived in Maricopa for four years with her husband and their three dogs. She majored in criminal justice and minored in sociology at ASU, and currently works in juvenile probation for the Pinal County court system.

Her vision for the M.A.S.H. Coalition is continued awareness and growth within the community, as well as involving more youth. “Informing people of the dangers of substance and drug abuse within our community is so crucial; often times our worst enemy is a lack of awareness,” said Page-Burruel.

The new vice-chairman of the coalition is Catherine (Katy) Konski, who lives in Maricopa with her husband and two young daughters. Previously a social worker at Homeward Bound, which provided transitional living for family homelessness and domestic violence, Konski is now in charge of events as part of the city’s Community Services Department.

Asked about her M.A.S.H. goals for the coming year, Konski said, “2009 will be focused on greater community presence, reaching out to children, youth and teens to advocate for substance-free lives.”

Johnna Pascador, another Maricopa resident and mother of two, is the coalition’s secretary-treasurer.

The coalition, a grassroots effort to prevent substance abuse, began in May 2006 as an outgrowth of the Public Safety Advisory Committee. Through the efforts of its volunteer members, the coalition has provided information and resources for youth and those seeking help to combat substance abuse.

In direct relation to the coaltion’s motto: ‘United as a community, we will succeed,’ the Maricopa City Council voted Tuesday evening to enter into a memorandum of understanding between the M.A.S.H. Coalition, the city and the Maricopa Public Safety Department.

The agreement is for the purpose of collaboration under the Drug Free Communities Grant to enable the coalition to implement strategies to reduce youth drug and alcohol abuse. If awarded, M.A.S.H. would receive $125,000 per year for five years. Through the partnership, the city and MPD, who do not have to provide matching funds, would continue to run support services programs. M.A.S.H. would contribute up to $12,000 for staff or materials to be used in the city’s proposed teen center.

M.A.S.H. will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, March 23, at 6:30 p.m. in the Montezuma Room at City Hall. Any and all residents interested in a substance free community are invited to attend and share their ideas.

For more information contact M.A.S.H. Coordinator Firouzeh Dittmar at (602) 463-2650.

Submitted photo