Mollie Melvin: Prevention, Partnership & the Power of Youth - Episode 49

In Episode 49 of The Town Square Podcast, Trey Bailey sits down with Molly Melvin, Executive Director of the Newton Community Partnership, for a powerful and insightful conversation about youth empowerment, prevention work, and the often-invisible efforts that shape community health in Newton County. Molly shares how the Partnership—originally formed to address teen pregnancy—has evolved into a vital connector of agencies, schools, and families. With just two staff members, they lead initiatives around suicide prevention, early literacy, and substance misuse education while equipping young people through the Youth Action Team to be peer leaders and community advocates.

The episode dives deep into how prevention is interwoven with every issue facing families—from mental health to academic success—and how the Partnership’s focus on capacity building and collaboration makes a measurable difference. Molly also highlights the challenges of sustaining funding for prevention work, and she calls on listeners to get involved, share resources, and help expand the impact. It’s a hopeful yet realistic look at the behind-the-scenes work that often goes unnoticed but is essential to building a stronger, more connected Newton County.