Lauryn Winn of Elko has been selected to replace Laura Oslund as the executive director of PACE Coalition, a substance use prevention and wellness coalition serving Elko, Eureka and White Pine counties. Oslund, who replaced founding director Catherine McAdoo in 2016, ran the nonprofit until she stepped down in late May. The board of directors elevated Winn to the position in June.

Winn joined PACE Coalition in December of 2021 and has since assumed increased responsibilities within the organization. She is stepping into her new role during challenging times. Like other Nevada prevention coalitions and federally funded programs, PACE Coalition’s funding for the new fiscal year has faced significant cuts.

Winn is committed to the success of PACE Coalition. In the new fiscal reality, the organization will need to rely on more than federal and state grants to sustain operations and will pursue donations and private grant opportunities.

The new director also plans to increase the nonprofit’s presence at events throughout the tri-county area. 

“It’s important for PACE to ‘show face’ in the communities it serves,” Winn said. 

In addition to attending community events, PACE Coalition provides after-school programs at Southside Elementary School, educating students about tobacco, vaping, and staying healthy, and provides evidence-based prevention programs such as Too Good for Drugs, Lifeskills, Girls Circle, and Boys Council in Elko, Eureka and Ely schools. 

PACE also offers free brochures on health-related topics like alcohol, tobacco and drugs as well as other matters such as diabetes, pregnancy, child-rearing and bullying prevention. It maintains a directory of social, health and behavioral service providers in Northeastern Nevada. Other services include distribution of free naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug, and the provision of naloxone training to organizations. PACE Coalition’s certified car seat installer provides free infant and child car seats to parents and guardians upon referral from other agencies.

Anyone wishing to help PACE continue its mission to keep children, families, and individuals healthy and drug-free can donate by contacting [email protected] or clicking the yellow donate button on right hand column of PACE Coalition’s home page at www.pacecoalition.org.