The Regional Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention

WHO WE ARE

RASAP is a group of concerned citizens, parents, students, teachers, law enforcement officers, business representatives’, youth serving organizations, healthcare, and other professionals who are striving to keep our community free of alcohol, tobacco, and other substance misuse.

Our Mission

The Regional Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention will empower and assist citizens in their efforts to improve our community; enhance and support substance misuse prevention strategies; and gather, interpret, and share information between members and the community about drugs.

Board Members

Amanda Oakes

President

Amanda has been a member of RASAP since 2004 and has served in the role of President since 2011. She is the Director of Prevention Services at Danville-Pittsylvania Community Services. Amanda attended Averett University and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice. She also has an Associate’s Degree in Administration of Justice obtained from Danville Community College and a Non-Profit Management Certificate from Duke University. Amanda has worked with youth and families since 1993. She currently serves on the Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board, the Womack Foundation and the Regional Suicide Prevention Collaborative Amanda is a founding member of the Southern Virginia Problem Gambling Collaborative and a member of the West Piedmont Trauma and Resiliency Network. Amanda is a native of Pittsylvania County and enjoys reading, camping, traveling and watching documentaries.

Bryan Price

Vice President

Bryan is the Evaluation Coordinator for the Virginia Rural Health Association. He previously worked for the University of Virginia Comprehensive Cancer Center in their offices of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Community Outreach and Engagement. A native of Danville, Virginia and currently residing in South Boston, Virginia, Bryan studied Statistics, Mathematics and Computer Science at Virginia Tech. His passion is fitness, Urban Line Dancing, and advocating for racial equity and healthy living in his community. Bryan is the Board Chair for Equality Virginia and is a board member of The Health Collaborative, and the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth Southwest Advisory Board. Bryan is a graduate of the 2018 Class of LEAD Virginia and 2021 graduate of the National Rural Health Association’s Rural Health Fellows program. Brian was appointed by former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam to serve on the Commonwealth’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Council.

Jonica Wilson-Carter

Treasurer

Jonica is currently employed with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. Jonica serves as a Resource Specialist for the Veterans and Family Support Program. Jonica has worked with the Commonwealth of Virginia for 17 years. Her role with DVS as a Resource Specialist has helped her to plan, develop, and implement ways to help veterans and their families in the community. Currently, Jonica currently serves on the Danville Area Veteran Suicide Prevention Coalition. Jonica also serves on the Caregiver Support Team Workgroup, exploring resources and ways to give caregivers the support they need. In her role as Treasurer of the Regional Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention, Jonica supports the mission to empower and assist citizens in efforts to improve the community and enhance and support substance misuse prevention.

Bonnie Trammell

Secretary

As Secretary of RASAP, Bonnie is responsible for meeting minutes, attendance reports, volunteer hours, and coordinating meetings. Bonnie joined RASAP in 2013 and was voted to serve as Secretary in 2016. Bonnie is the Support Services Coordinator for Danville Pittsylvania Community Services and is an active member of the Danville Area Council of Community Services (DACCS), which identify needs for planning towards community improvement. Bonnie also donates her time to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Danville by helping children who face adversity in an effort to help change a child’s life for the better, forever. Bonnie has been happily married to her husband Ricky for over 40 years. They have 3 grown children, 2 grandsons, 2 granddaughters, 4 dogs, and a cat that was inherited from her mother. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family and four-wheeling.

Brenna link

Member at Large

Brenna is originally from Southern California but spent most of her life in Roanoke. The last five years she has lived in Danville working in public health & substance misuse prevention. She received her Bachelor of Science in Health & Exercise Science from Jefferson College of Health Sciences (now Radford University Carilion), and her Master of Public Health with a concentration in Health Promotion from Liberty University. Following graduation, she worked for three years with Danville-Pittsylvania Community Services as the Coalition Coordinator for RASAP (Regional Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention) Brenna currently works for the Virginia Department of Health as the Population Health Manager for the Pittsylvania-Danville and Southside Health Districts. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), Youth & Adult Mental Health First Aid Instructor, REVIVE! Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education Instructor & Master Trainer, and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Presenter. Brenna has a passion for health & prevention education and is excited to serve on the RASAP Board of Directors.

Cindi Poteat

Member at Large

Cindi Poteat is employed by Virginia Rural Health Association as the Nutrition Coordinator in the Danville area. As the Nutrition Coordinator Cindi works closely with local food pantries, local churches with food banks and community gardens. In 2016 Cindi had the opportunity to assist Danville Regional Foundation in organizing the Community Health Workers Program for the Dan River Region to begin a Community Health Workers Program from this pilot training and many community hours the program has been assisting the community for the past 8 years. Cindi partner and work on several community boards and local organizations. Cindi’s goal is to empower and educate the community on resources. Cindi’s motto is to “change lives one life at a time”.

Collaborative Partners

RASAP is proud to work with like-minded partners to improve our community; enhance and support substance misuse prevention strategies; and gather, interpret, and share information between members and the community about drugs.

Youth & Young Adults

RASAP builds future community leaders and empowers young citizens to take an active role in the prevention of substance misuse.

The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is a group comprised of teens from both Pittsylvania County and Danville City.  Membership in RASAP provides young adults with opportunities to gain valuable community service hours.

Meetings include topics on substance misuse prevention. Youth engage in valuable discussions and participate in activities.

Monthly meetings are held at the following locations:

  • Danville-Pittsylvania Community Services
  • Boys & Girls Club – Danville
  • Boys & Girls Club – Pittsylvania County

The teens assist with planning and implementing campaigns in the schools. Previous campaigns have included “Marijuana, I Don’t Wanna”, “Arrive Alive”, “Join the 65%”, “Rx Reality”, and “What’s In Your Vape?”

Learn More

The Collegiate Awareness Council (CAC) is a group comprised of area college students. Meetings include topics on substance misuse prevention. Membership provides young adults with opportunities to gain valuable community service hours.

Council holds in-person monthly meetings and events at Averett University.

Learn More

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