Students Need In One Instant This Year
Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 cause of unintentional teenage deaths. The worst experience your school community may face is the death of a student through a preventable traffic crash – which most often involve driving distractions like texting and impairment.
For over a decade, IN ONE INSTANT has been providing students with the essential tools they need to make safe decisions behind the wheel .
The program offers students and educators:
- A flexible, engaging, and turnkey curriculum designed for in-person or virtual learning
- Minimal disruption to school schedules and instructional needs
- Options to implement in assemblies, one class period or expanded as a unit
- Content that educates students on an emotional level, for lasting impact
- Interactive activities that get high schoolers engaged and thinking about their choices
- Multimedia components using peer-relatable video and storytelling, real-life survivor testimonials
- Follow-up interactive activities that help students apply what they’ve seen and learned to their own lives
Teens will learn how to:
- Stand up to peer pressure
- Refrain from driving when impaired or driving with impaired drivers
- Utilize a designated driver
- Refrain from cell phone use/texting while driving
- Wear their seat belts
- Serve as ambassadors to their peers
IN ONE INSTANT Includes valuable support materials for educators, parents, and students as developed with expert input from: health and safety professionals, teachers, counselors, administrators, psychologists, parents, and teens themselves.
The curriculum is informed by both the Theory of Planned Behavior and Health Belief Model. This theory predicts human behavior based on personal attitudes, peer group and cultural norms as well as other factors. The Health Belief Model is based on the idea that people only change their behaviors when they believe themselves to be at risk for serious consequences. To get someone to change behavior, they have to be provided the tools needed to change risky behavior.
Our anonymous pre and post program surveys show that 86% more teens won’t text and drive after experiencing the program, and 91% more students won’t drive if impaired.
The Power of In One Instant
Hear from Mississippi State Superintendent of Education:
In One Instant’s success over the last decade in addressing safer teen driving has made a difference in thousands of U.S. schools. Its student-driven activities have been especially impactful and is only one of the reasons why I’ve recommended the program to every school district in our state. I highly recommend it to all my fellow educators nationwide.
Carey M. Wright
MS State Superintendent of Education
Hear from a former LA Unified School District Superintendent:
Your role in bringing this powerful, evidence-based program to your school has the potential to save lives. Many parents and teens, as well as your administrative colleagues, have acknowledged the impact of this emotional experience on teen driving behavior, making smarter choices and creating change. Consider offering this invaluable set of resources to your school community.
Merle Price
Former Principal & Deputy Superintendent,
Los Angeles United School District
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Hear from a Trauma Prevention and Outreach Nurse:
Lorraine Artinger, RN
Trauma Prevention and Outreach
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Our History
By co-founders Gail Schenbaum Lawton and Cheryl Wolman Wada
Within a two-year period, our teenage children attended three funerals, each for a friend who died in alcohol, distracted or reckless driving collisions. Our community was devastated. We knew we needed to become proactive. We knew it was time for change.
In 2010, we created In One Instant as a multi-faceted, peer-driven, live program. We created an immersive and emotional experience, combining our dramatic film with a compelling live performance segment. Operations Director, Debbie Barnett, facilitated the program with local Los Angeles high schools. In 2011, our film went on to win three International Telly Awards: Best in Social Responsibility, Best in Social Issues, and Best in Not-for-Profit/Charitable.
The program continued to garner recognition in 2012 with the Wells Fargo Community Support Award as well as the Los Angeles City Council Award. In 2013, we were recognized again with the California State Senate Award by Senator Ted Lieu, now the Representative for California’s 33rd Congressional district.
In One Instant was catapulted into the spotlight in 2013 after receiving national coverage on ABC and FOX News. We received hundreds of requests from every corner of the country. We realized we needed to create a more efficient and cost-effective program that could be available outside of Southern California.
In 2015 we launched our digital program, and in 2021, we introduced our Virtual and In-Classroom program and activities.
In 2024, In One Instant has surpassed 4,800 schools nationwide.
In One Instant team accepting their International Telly Awards.
The Venice High School In One Instant club with California Congressman Ted Lieu after receiving the California State Senate Award.
Our Team
GAIL SCHENBAUM
Co-founder and President
Marketing and Business Development
RYAN AZEVEDO
Digital Marketing
DEBBIE SMITH
Research and Development, Program Implementation
CHRISTOPHER REALE
Graphic Designer
BRADLEY BERMONT
Guest Writer
LETIA CLOUSTON
Video and Media Production
Student Research and Outreach
VIVIAN LEE THOMAS
Health and Wellness Advisor
DAHLIA GREER
PR and Social Media Marketing
MISTY MC COY
Data Research and Analysis
Advisors
Vicki Fox
Director of Strategic Partnerships & Marketing; ACLU of Southern California
Susan Stein, PHD
Psychologist specializing in adolescent behavior
Merle Price
Former LAUSD Deputy Superintendent; Lecturer, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Cal State Univ Northridge; lecturer, Principal Leadership Institute, UCLA
Letia Clouston
Award-winning writer-director of ten feature films. Letia directed the In One Instant film, which won three international Telly Awards and continues to write and direct additional segments for the program.
Kevin Stein
Adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz College Masters of Entertainment Management Program. Specializes in business/partnership development, and content production.
Vivian Lee Thomas
Certified Professional Consultant in Healthcare Information and Management, CA Dept of Public Health.
Shirley Price
Attorney
Partners and Sponsors
Thank you to all of our partners, sponsors and contributors for your invaluable help in supporting our efforts.
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Our Safety Partners & Endorsements
- Los Angeles Fire Department
- Los Angeles Police Department
- Los Angeles County Medical Association
- LA County Supervisors
- California Highway Patrol
- Natividad Medical Center
- UCLA School of Public Health
- USC Center for Trauma, Violence & Injury Prevention
- College Connections
- Former Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl
- Congressman Ted Lieu
- National Organizations for Youth Safety
- California Friday Night Live Partnership
- Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership.
- FCCLA
- Philadelphia Children’s Hospital
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Sponsors
- General Motors
- Honda
- Toyota
- Ellie Kanner trust
- David Zuckerman trust
- Fineshriber Family Foundation
- State Farm
- Wells Fargo
- Miriam Muscarolas & Grant Abramson trust
- Jacqueline and Andrew Caster
- Barbara Zipperman
- Umergency
- Natividad Medical Center
- Joy Chudacoff
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In-Kind Creative Content & Program Assistance
- AT&T
- Beyoncé / Sony Music
- Community Partners
- Debbie Berman, ACE
- Dianne Warren / Realsongs
- Digital Difference
- Eric Lawton Photography
- Fox Music, Inc.
- Letia Clouston, DGA
- Primo Driving Schools Pacific
- ReedSmith LLP
- Saparoff Music
- Umergency
- Universal Music Publishing Group
- Warner/Chappell Music
- Workshop Creative
Testimonials
