COMMUNITY IMPACT
The impact of Chris Herren’s message transforms individuals and communities to start the conversation on wellness. He challenges audiences to uncover their “Why” and to look within to create change. In the past year, the Herren team has fielded thousands of e-mail messages, letters and social posts from students, parents, community members and educators following Chris’s presentations. Below are case studies of the impact within communities, at both middle and high schools, personal stories and how Chris and Heather Herren are giving back to others.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
The impact of Chris Herren’s message transforms individuals and communities to start the conversation on wellness. He challenges audiences to uncover their “Why” and to look within to create change. In the past year, the Herren team has fielded thousands of e-mail messages, letters and social posts from students, parents, community members and educators following Chris’s presentations. Below are case studies of the impact within communities, at both middle and high schools, personal stories and how Chris and Heather Herren are giving back to others.
COMMUNITY & SCHOOL IMPACT
Chris Herren was recently welcomed into a community to share his message with 350 community members and 1,100 ninth and tenth graders from 13 different County Schools. Following the presentation students were encouraged to participate in an online survey answering questions on substance use and share their reflections on the presentation.
Survey Results:
- 54% of students said the subject matter was personal to them in their life.
- 19.2% reported that they have tried a substance in the past to cope with social stressors.
- 80.8% of students said they have tried a substance (tobacco, vape, alcohol, marijuana or other) due to social pressures, stress, anxiety or feeling uncomfortable.
- 75.2% stated that post presentation, they feel more equipped to handle stressors that may cause substance use.
Comments Shared Included:
- “It was super moving and has given me the confidence to never use substances again.”
- “Really informational, it was like he was really talking to me as a person.”
- “The one take away from this for me is that my actions can greatly impact those around me, such as family and friends.”
- “Would I want my younger siblings to get into substance abuse? No, obviously I wouldn’t, so why would I do it.”
- “It was not like the other drug presentations I’ve been to. Everyone was listening and you helped relate what you were saying to us. It was really interesting.”
- “I am a teacher and have struggled with alcohol for years and because of the presentation I am going to reset my life and quit. Thank You!!”
- “It hit close to home with me, I actually ended up crying because of the topic. The presentation didn’t make light of it, and I liked that.”
Chris Herren was recently welcomed into a community to share his message with 350 community members and 1,100 ninth and tenth graders from 13 different County Schools. Following the presentation students were encouraged to participate in an online survey answering questions on substance use and share their reflections on the presentation.
Survey Results:
- 54% of students said the subject matter was personal to them in their life.
- 19.2% reported that they have tried a substance in the past to cope with social stressors.
- 80.8% of students said they have tried a substance (tobacco, vape, alcohol, marijuana or other) due to social pressures, stress, anxiety or feeling uncomfortable.
- 75.2% stated that post presentation, they feel more equipped to handle stressors that may cause substance use.
Comments Shared Included:
- “It was super moving and has given me the confidence to never use substances again.”
- “Really informational, it was like he was really talking to me as a person.”
- “The one take away from this for me is that my actions can greatly impact those around me, such as family and friends.”
- “Would I want my younger siblings to get into substance abuse? No, obviously I wouldn’t, so why would I do it.”
- “It was not like the other drug presentations I’ve been to. Everyone was listening and you helped relate what you were saying to us. It was really interesting.”
- “I am a teacher and have struggled with alcohol for years and because of the presentation I am going to reset my life and quit. Thank You!!”
- “It hit close to home with me, I actually ended up crying because of the topic. The presentation didn’t make light of it, and I liked that.”
MIDDLE SCHOOL IMPACT
Chris recently spoke to a Middle School and after the assembly an optional, anonymous survey was distributed to analyze the effectiveness of the presentation. The results are inspiring with 93 students answering the survey and the school system responding by looking at ways to support the message further with additional programming and resources.
Survey Results:
- 38.7% of 8th Graders Responded
- 6.3% of 7th Graders Responded
- 90.3% Rated the assembly a 5 (Powerful), 7.5% rated the presentation a 4 and 2.2% a 3.
- Over 94% reported talking to their friends, parents and extended family about the assembly and message.
Comments Shared Included:
- “Very powerful message and I know already helped a handful of people.”
- “It made many people cry or tear up which meant he knew they were feeling it in their hearts.”
- “This assembly was very emotional and I hope it made other students change their decisions.”
- “It was an amazing and powerful story.”
- “I hope that he comes back to share his inspirational story again.”
Chris recently spoke to a Middle School and after the assembly an optional, anonymous survey was distributed to analyze the effectiveness of the presentation. The results are inspiring with 93 students answering the survey and the school system responding by looking at ways to support the message further with additional programming and resources.
Survey Results:
- 38.7% of 8th Graders Responded
- 6.3% of 7th Graders Responded
- 90.3% Rated the assembly a 5 (Powerful), 7.5% rated the presentation a 4 and 2.2% a 3.
- Over 94% reported talking to their friends, parents and extended family about the assembly and message.
Comments Shared Included:
- “Very powerful message and I know already helped a handful of people.”
- “It made many people cry or tear up which meant he knew they were feeling it in their hearts.”
- “This assembly was very emotional and I hope it made other students change their decisions.”
- “It was an amazing and powerful story.”
- “I hope that he comes back to share his inspirational story again.”
HIGH SCHOOL IMPACT
Chris recently shared his message to an audience of 1000 students over the course of two presentations in neighboring communities. The impact was felt by many students prompting the Principal to share “This was a phenomenal presentation. He hit many students with his message. I highly recommend this program to other districts.”
Survey Results:
- Grade Level Appropriate (9-12) : Excellent
- Student Response: Excellent
- Interaction with Student Audience: Excellent
- Knowledge on Subject: Excellent
- Overall Program Quality: Excellent
- Recommend Program to Other Districts: Yes
Since the presentation, the school has continued the conversation in and out of the classroom with the hope of furthering Chris’s message and impact.
Chris recently shared his message to an audience of 1000 students over the course of two presentations in neighboring communities. The impact was felt by many students prompting the Principal to share “This was a phenomenal presentation. He hit many students with his message. I highly recommend this program to other districts.”
Survey Results:
- Grade Level Appropriate (9-12) : Excellent
- Student Response: Excellent
- Interaction with Student Audience: Excellent
- Knowledge on Subject: Excellent
- Overall Program Quality: Excellent
- Recommend Program to Other Districts: Yes
Since the presentation, the school has continued the conversation in and out of the classroom with the hope of furthering Chris’s message and impact.
At a high school student assembly Chris shared his message to an audience of 486 students. What happened after the presentation demonstrates the need to bring impactful presentations on the topics of substance use and wellness into schools and communities to start a conversation and provide a safe place to express their emotions.
Survey Results:
- 12 students left the assembly to get help from counselors.
- 5 students e-mailed Chris Herren and the student outreach team for assistance; 2 high risk.
- 387 students wrote reflections.
- 50 students shared that a family member or friend has a significant substance use problem.
- 10 students shared that a family member or friend had died due to overdose/complications from substance use disorder.
Since the presentation, the school has adopted a campaign around Chris’s message of being a “Pro At You” and will share student reflections through the year in the hope of keeping the conversation going.
The Student Perspective:
Read excerpts from a Letter to the Editor that a high school senior wrote sharing her thoughts on the impact of the Chris Herren Presentation.
At a high school student assembly Chris shared his message to an audience of 486 students. What happened after the presentation demonstrates the need to bring impactful presentations on the topics of substance use and wellness into schools and communities to start a conversation and provide a safe place to express their emotions.
Survey Results:
- 12 students left the assembly to get help from counselors.
- 5 students e-mailed Chris Herren and the student outreach team for assistance; 2 high risk.
- 387 students wrote reflections.
- 50 students shared that a family member or friend has a significant substance use problem.
- 10 students shared that a family member or friend had died due to overdose/complications from substance use disorder.
Since the presentation, the school has adopted a campaign around Chris’s message of being a “Pro At You” and will share student reflections through the year in the hope of keeping the conversation going.
The Student Perspective:
Read excerpts from a Letter to the Editor that a high school senior wrote sharing her thoughts on the impact of the Chris Herren Presentation.
PERSONAL IMPACT
“My name is Mike, I am from Mt. Laurel, NJ I remember you came to speak at Lenape High School. I just wanted to tell you how thankful I am that I got the privilege to hear you speak and to hear your story is inspiring to me. Both my brother and father are recovering alcoholics and both are involved with AA. Everybody thought that I would follow in their footsteps but after you spoke at our high school. It made one of the biggest impact on my life, that inspires me to make the right decisions. I am the first person in my family to graduate from college.
You have inspired to me to be a public speaker because I speak to an elementary school once a year the program is called W.A.T.C.H. it is a program where kids with tough backgrounds and hard upbringings all come together find ways to be better young men in the community and school. I’ve had a few times where I just felt like picking up a bottle of alcohol and drinking away my struggles but I knew the affects and how serious alcoholism really is from looking at my brother and father, I didn’t want to go down that road. I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciated to hear your story.”
– Mike, 21, Mt. Laurel, NJ
“My name is Mike, I am from Mt. Laurel, NJ I remember you came to speak at Lenape High School. I just wanted to tell you how thankful I am that I got the privilege to hear you speak and to hear your story is inspiring to me. Both my brother and father are recovering alcoholics and both are involved with AA. Everybody thought that I would follow in their footsteps but after you spoke at our high school. It made one of the biggest impact on my life, that inspires me to make the right decisions. I am the first person in my family to graduate from college.
You have inspired to me to be a public speaker because I speak to an elementary school once a year the program is called W.A.T.C.H. it is a program where kids with tough backgrounds and hard upbringings all come together find ways to be better young men in the community and school. I’ve had a few times where I just felt like picking up a bottle of alcohol and drinking away my struggles but I knew the affects and how serious alcoholism really is from looking at my brother and father, I didn’t want to go down that road. I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciated to hear your story.” – Mike, 21, Mt. Laurel, NJ
“I was in 8th grade on the night of this life-changing event at Pomperaug, an event to which I could easily relate. When I heard that he was traveling in my area to give his presentation, I was ecstatic and made it a number one priority to attend his event. I remember walking into the gym a couple minutes late and having to sit nearly at the top of the bleachers.
Although I was physically far away from Mr. Herren, the message that he spoke was one I held closely in my heart. There were hundreds of people listening to his engaging words, but it felt as if I was the only one there. Through Mr. Herren’s teachings, I learned that innocent drugs are not very innocent at all; instead, they are gateways to continuously wanting a better high. This is an itch that can never be scratched, and the world is filled with deadly intoxicants; so, although it may be “cool” to fit in with the crowd and moderate, the end results can be alarming.
I learned many great lessons from Mr. Herren, lessons which would carry my angry freshman self through high school and still shape who I am today. Now a freshman in college, I live a completely sober and happy life.”
– Max, 19, Southbury, CT
“I was in 8th grade on the night of this life-changing event at Pomperaug, an event to which I could easily relate. When I heard that he was traveling in my area to give his presentation, I was ecstatic and made it a number one priority to attend his event. I remember walking into the gym a couple minutes late and having to sit nearly at the top of the bleachers.
Although I was physically far away from Mr. Herren, the message that he spoke was one I held closely in my heart. There were hundreds of people listening to his engaging words, but it felt as if I was the only one there. Through Mr. Herren’s teachings, I learned that innocent drugs are not very innocent at all; instead, they are gateways to continuously wanting a better high. This is an itch that can never be scratched, and the world is filled with deadly intoxicants; so, although it may be “cool” to fit in with the crowd and moderate, the end results can be alarming.
I learned many great lessons from Mr. Herren, lessons which would carry my angry freshman self through high school and still shape who I am today. Now a freshman in college, I live a completely sober and happy life.” – Max, 19, Southbury, CT
From the Community
Testimonials, stories and statements from students, community members and educators drive Chris and our team to keep sharing the message with the hope of reaching just one person. Chris recently said in an interview, “Meaningful interaction with young people happens almost every day, I don’t think we create enough opportunities for kids to talk about tears. ” Our team is here to help start the conversation and walk with you on the journey.
GIVING BACK
Chris has shared his message across the country, inspiring honest discussions on the topics of substance use disorder and the disease of addiction with a focus on wellness. Chris and Heather Herren, have also established two organizations designed to support the Herren Talks platform and provide recovery resources and navigation to all people in need of assistance.
GIVING BACK
Chris has shared his message across the country, inspiring honest discussions on the topics of substance use disorder and the disease of addiction with a focus on wellness. Chris and Heather Herren, have also established two organizations designed to support the Herren Talks platform and provide recovery resources and navigation to all people in need of assistance.
Herren Project is a nonprofit organization focused on treatment, recovery and prevention of substance use disorder. Programs include assistance with treatment placement, recovery support for individuals and families, financial support for treatment and recovery housing as well as prevention education programs for schools and communities.
Herren Wellness is a residential substance use, health and wellness organization for men and women with locations in Massachusetts and Virginia. Our unique approach to recovery combines holistic wellness with medical and clinical support for the continuity of care for substance use disorder at any stage and mental wellness.