A Legacy of Purpose

Ask Stacy Anderson, the Community Organizer with the Clarkston Coalition for Youth, why she does this work, and she'll tell you: "My heart is really in making a difference." Ask her daughter Mia Zorski, a Prevention Coordinator at the Alliance, and you'll hear something strikingly similar: "I honestly couldn't see myself doing anything else." Some things, it turns out, run in the family.

Stacy came to prevention work the way many parents do, through love and concern. As a mom of four and a full-time Realtor, she had spent years watching families navigate the weight of life's hardest moments: a move, a loss, a divorce, a financial crisis. She saw how those stresses could quietly unravel a household, and she saw how young people in her community were carrying burdens they didn't always have the words for.

"Being a parent is really what first pulled me into this work," Stacy reflects. "I've seen families go through difficult situations tied to substance misuse and mental health struggles. At the end of the day, my heart is in making a difference and being a positive resource for kids and families."

Meanwhile, something was growing in her daughter.

Mia Zorski grew up watching her mother show up for people. And from an early age, she wanted to do the same. "Ever since I was little, my goal has been to help others and try to make them feel better and more supported," Mia says. "I really feel like I was guided in this direction for a reason."

When Mia joined the Alliance as a staff member, it wasn't just a career choice. What drew her in was the organization's willingness to show up where it was needed most, especially in communities and schools. "Being able to make a real impact on people's lives while working closely with the community is something that truly inspired me," she says.

Now, mother and daughter work side by side in the field of substance misuse prevention, each bringing something the other can't fully see on their own.

"She helps me better understand what younger generations are experiencing," Stacy says of Mia, "while I bring the parent side of it." It's a partnership built on mutual respect and the kind of trust that only years of shared love can build.

Mia sees it the same way. "We can talk about different ideas for how to bring more people together, I help her connect with people I know, and she helps me connect with people she knows. It just works."

Mia also brings something her generation is uniquely positioned to offer: a more open mindset. "We're comfortable talking about mental health, substance use, and personal struggles," she explains. "That helps reduce stigma. We use social media and technology to reach people quickly, and we value making sure everyone feels included and heard."

And Stacy? She carries a message for every parent in the community: "You don't have to say everything perfectly. Kids mostly want to know they can talk to you without feeling judged. The small, everyday conversations matter more than people realize."

What gives both women hope is the same thing: people. More parents, schools, students, businesses, and organizations willing to have conversations that once felt too hard. Younger generations growing more open about mental health and lifting each other up.

"It means a lot," Mia says of working toward the same mission as her mom. "We not only share a family bond, we share the same mindset for how we can help. Working toward the same goal together makes our relationship even stronger and allows us to support and learn from each other."

Stacy nods to that. "As a mom, you always want your kids to experience new things, meet different people, and grow into who they are. Watching Mia enjoy this work, gain confidence, and thrive, that's honestly been my favorite part."

Together, Stacy and Mia are proof that prevention is more than a program or a policy. It's a relationship. It's showing up. It's passing down, from parent to child, the belief that every family in this community deserves a chance to thrive.