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By Mudra Machewad, TECH Youth Coalition Member & Founder, LakeSafe Initiative Last week, something remarkable happened, and it started right here in our community.
On June 30, 2026, Mudra Machewad, founder of the LakeSafe Initiative and TECH Youth Coalition member, had the honor of presenting as a panelist at a national webinar hosted by CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America), The Premier Prevention Association. The webinar, Competencies in Focus: Implementation, brought together over 123 coalition leaders, public health professionals, and prevention advocates from across the United States. And the LakeSafe Initiative, a youth-led drowning prevention effort born right here in our community, was selected as a featured real-world example of what effective coalition implementation looks like. By Mudra Machewad, TECH Member When people think about drowning prevention, they usually picture life jackets, swimming lessons, and warning signs at the water's edge. Those things matter - a lot. But there's a piece of the prevention picture that doesn't get talked about nearly enough, and it starts long before anyone steps near the water.
According to King County Public Health, between 60 and 70 percent of drowning deaths in King County involved drugs or alcohol. Let that land for a moment. In the majority of cases, the critical decision point wasn't at the shoreline - it was on dry land, hours earlier, when someone made a choice about what to consume before heading to the lake. This is where Influence the Choice's work and LakeSafe Initiative's work meet. And it's why we're proud to be partners. |
Influence the Choice
is a 501©3 nonprofit organization.
1420 NW Gilman Blvd. #2190
Issaquah, WA 98027
is a 501©3 nonprofit organization.
1420 NW Gilman Blvd. #2190
Issaquah, WA 98027