The following excerpt is from an article by Isabel Spartz for Q2 News in Billings, Montana. Read the full article here.
Held on the Yellowstone County Courthouse lawn, the event [March Against Drugs and Violence] serves as both a rallying cry against substance abuse and violence and a light for those navigating recovery to find resources.
The annual event began 26 years ago, started by state Sen. Mike Yakawich after a teenager was shot in his neighborhood. The march started out small but has grown in size over the years, but the mission to remind others that the solution to drug abuse and violence starts with the community has stayed the same.
“Billings is showing Billings that there are great people out here wanting to take a stand against drugs and violence. And we should not always just accentuate the negative,” said Yakawich. “It’s really a proactive, positive prevention program, and that’s where Billings is going. It’s going to a new level of good health and good well-being.”
“The community support that we get for this event is just so awesome. It’s grown over the years and I can’t believe that it’s been 26 years now for this walk,” said long-time attendee John Malin. “I’ve been coming off and on for the last 20 years. Me and my brother used to come down and help Mike set up for it.”
The event also spotlighted stories from people still beginning their recovery journeys, like Ilene Upshaw. She has been incarcerated for 10 years and in and out of treatment centers, but now has been on a journey to get clean as a member of the culinary program at Passages.
March Against Drugs and Violence 
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