Today we’d like to introduce you to Vincent Sanders.
Hi Vincent, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Vincent Sanders. I was born and raised in Orangeburg, SC. I completed in high school at Orangeburg-Wilkinson in 2013 and also graduated from Claflin University with a degree in Communications in 2017. I began as an elementary school teacher through the Teach for America program before transitioning to the field of public health as a prevention specialist. Since May of 2020, I’ve worked at the Tri-County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse in prevention. It is through this job that I’ve been able to create the Fearless Individuals Reaching Excellence Drug Prevention Youth Coalition, known as the FIRE Squad. I have truly grown a passion for working with young people through mentorship and leadership development while advising this youth group. The success of this youth coalition has been solely dependent upon the caliber of students who have decided to volunteer through this organization.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road, I graduated college with honors and having served in various leadership roles, but I left still not knowing what I wanted to do. Even when I the role as a prevention specialist I didn’t know quite where to start and how to build a youth organization. I began the FIRE Squad in the height of the pandemic, where human interaction was minimal. Thankfully I was able to begin with two students who my sister recommended from her time as a teacher and another gentlemen who heard about our youth organization. We began meeting virtually which made it hard to get to know the students and really have them, become invested in our organization. It was also hard getting community buy in during this time, because prevention is all about being out in the community, developing relationships and meeting people where they were at. Slowly but surely, as things began to open back up, we began to grow and to really do the work and see the possibilities of youth led prevention in our area.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a prevention specialist I teach prevention education in schools, do speaking engagements about various drug topics, participate in community events sharing resources parents and students can use at home. As advisor of the FIRE Squad, the kids host awareness events in their schools and in the community at large. The kids are a major presence in the community during football and basketball season, hosting themed nights called prevention nights, hosting Red Ribbon Week assemblies in elementary and middle schools across Orangeburg, Calhoun and Bamberg counties, hosting an after school book club program at a middle school in Orangeburg where members help students develop social and emotional skills so that they don’t turn to drugs to cope with stress, anxiety, anger or depression . I am extremely pleased that our book club, which is an 8-week program has yielded positive results in increasing student perception of the risk of harm in drug use. I am also extremely proud that the FIRE Squad was able to advocate for a city wide ordinance that passed in April 2025, which restricted new smoke shops from setting up near school zones, churches, childcare centers, and youth recreation centers. The FIRE Squad took it upon themselves collect survey data and advocate to Orangeburg City Council for something to done about the influx of vape shops in our area. I am also proud that our youth organization was named the 2025 Smoke Free SC Youth Advocates of the Year along with the Pickens County Youth Board for hosting the first state-wide conference against youth vaping called Escape the Haze in Columbia, SC. 142 students from schools across the state came to learn about the dangers of vaping and how to advocate for policy change within their communities. Breakout sessions were led by the FIRE Squad in collaboration with the Pickens County Youth Board. They’ve also advocated and spoke out against vape shops to the St. Matthews Town Council as well. The group is special because this is strictly a volunteer organization, where students from various high schools in Orangeburg, Calhoun and Bamberg counties come together to figure out ways to positively affect and persuade students their age against drug use. Many of these students are leaders within their own right serving on student government, and other prominent student organizations at school.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Advice is to nor only seek wise council, but also follow wise council, do not be afraid to ask questions. You don’t get anywhere knowing everything. Also, vision comes from what you see and what you’ve been exposed to, but you must understand the importance of detailed planning and collaboration that will push you to success.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: firesquadyc
- Facebook: FIRE Squad Youth Group
