PrevenTable

They're back! Luka Cai sits down with PrevenTable Host and Executive Director Jenny Armbruster to discuss all things SQSH, or St. Louis Queer Support & Healing. At SQSH, several new initiatives are rolling out in the coming months to help promote and facilitate queer safe havens across the St. Louis metro area. Luka makes mention of how as an organization they are keen on feedback, and letting that fuel the direction they see SQSH going in when it comes to addressing public concern for LGBTQIA+ population in St. Louis. Listen more for how you can stay connected with all the events happening during this years' Pride Month at SQSH! 🏳️‍🌈

Brittney Bonds pulls up a chair at the PrevenTable with Executive Director and Host, Jenny Armbruster, to unpack one of life's most powerful feelings; grief. While it has made itself abundantly present early on in her life, Brittney is using grief as fuel to make change in her life, and others' too. Bridging the gap that grief can carve in someone's life with compassion and understanding sparked Brittney's life long promise of giving back to those that gave to her. PreventEd recognizes and follows this commitment, especially when it comes to serving the community and aiding in practical, long-term recovery. 

He's back! James Pursell joins Jenny on the PrevenTable to recap all the groundbreaking work he's been doing since his debut episode in season three. Mentioning several coalitions across the St. Louis region. James shares his impact and how it can be measured across recovery services within the substance use, mental health, and labor recovery fields. Additionally, his time of three years as a Peer Support Specialist brings together the importance of being vulnerable with the fundamentally crucial mantra of simply showing up for your tribe. Navigating situations along the spectrum of recovery aligns with PreventEd and our mission statement of providing accessible resources to all. 

2025 Pioneer Award Recipient Dr. Fredrick Echols joins Jenny to highlight the significance of relationships, and how nurturing them can last a lifetime. Sharing both personal and professional anecdotes from his wide array of leadership opportunities, Dr. Echols discusses that his affiliation with PreventEd has empowered him to build a meaningful network, and rise to the role as a significant mentor throughout his community. Inspiring young people to be fueled by education and help incite change wherever they go is a crucial part of PreventEd's mission statement, and people like Dr. Echols serve as pioneer's for just that. 

Ben Holtmeyer, Howard Potratz Alumni Leadership Award recipient and dedicated PreventEd supporter, joins Jenny to discuss the importance of being aware and staying connected to community in Saint Louis. Making mention of his close involvement with PreventEd spanning several years, Ben highlights the significance of how his time with the team has equipped and empowered him to serve as a pillar of advocacy in all areas throughout his professional and personal development.

Natalie Garrett, Director of Admissions and Outreach at Harris House Foundation, joins Jenny to discuss how Harris House supports individuals across the full continuum of care in recovery. They explore the organization’s programs, the importance of staying connected throughout the recovery journey, and the challenges posed by today’s insurance landscape. The conversation also highlights the value of honesty and having difficult conversations with loved ones—while emphasizing that hope remains at the heart of recovery and positive outcomes are always possible.

PreventEd interns, Liz Smith and Austin Nico, share their reflections on their time at PreventEd as they enter their final semester at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. During their time at PreventEd, they have practiced applying what they've learned and shared their thoughts on the latest cannabis trends and on how we communicate this information to our teens. 

Season 6 of PrevenTable premieres with Nichole Dawsey, former Executive Director of PreventEd and now Executive Director of the Addiction Prevention Coalition. Nichole reflects on the camaraderie and connection that define PreventEd and what it meant to transition into leading the only organization in Alabama providing prevention education in schools. She also discusses cultural differences between Missouri and Alabama in both workplace dynamics and substance use prevention efforts, closing with a candid look at navigating the 36-hour federal funding freeze in January and the resilience required to lead through uncertainty.

In our Season 5 finale, Jenny sits down at the PrevenTable with Joyce Kariuki, PreventEd Associate Director of Community Strategy, for a conversation about what truly supports young people as they grow. Joyce breaks down the developmental assets that act as building blocks for youth success, explores the impact of both adverse and positive childhood experiences, and highlights why trauma-informed approaches matter. Through it all, she reminds us that there’s no rulebook for raising kids, but there are tools that can help us show up better for them.

We're back with another episode of the PrevenTable! Jenny sits down with Brenda Schell, Public Health Analyst and Liaison for the state of Missouri’s Overdose Response Strategy, and Brad Germann of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. They discuss the encouraging decline in overdose rates across Missouri since 2022 and highlight the impact of statewide naloxone distribution, with more than 630,000 kits provided to partners across 15 counties between July 2024 and June 2025. The conversation covers the signs of an overdose, emerging drug use trends, and the innovative strategies being implemented both in Missouri and nationwide to save lives and strengthen communities.