Misty McPhetridge, Coalition Coordinator
Misty serves on the Primary Prevention team at MDC and supports the Community Coalition. She strives to create and maintain lasting partnerships across all sectors in the community in order to better address conditions that lead to substance misuse. She is passionate about advocacy, policy change, and believes that everyone deserves equitable opportunities to be happy and healthy.
She received her Master of Science in Social Work with a concentration in organizational leadership from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Get to know Misty a little better!
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in Knoxville and graduated from the University of Tennessee with my Masters in Social Work in 2021. I currently live in Corryton with my long-term partner, Tanner, and our five fur babies – four cats (Plum, Poe, Oliver, and Little) and a Jack Russell Terrier mix named Lucy. In my free time, I love crafting, taking photos, reading, napping, cooking, baking, and exploring new places. I also visit my niece, Ellie Grace, in Kentucky as often as I can because she is the light of my life!
What is one project or event you have worked on for MDC that you are particularly proud of?
This is a hard one! I am proud of the amount of free lock boxes that I am able to provide to the community to help prevent substance misuse and theft. When I started my job at MDC a little over a year ago, there were a lot of lock boxes that had been sitting in my closet for quite a while. I’ve given out over 700 since last September, focusing on homes with children, older adults with caregivers, and sober living facilities.
One thing I want people to know about my job is…
Prevention work is done mostly behind-the-scenes. There’s a lot of research, planning, and collaboration that the community often doesn’t see.
What is your favorite thing about living in Knoxville?
There are lots of beautiful places to hike and explore!
What is the best piece of advice you have ever gotten?
This is a bit cliché, but my Dad always told me that I can do anything I set my mind to. Because of this, I’ve always believed in myself and my capabilities. From a young age, he helped me to learn confidence and encouraged me to follow my passions.
What is something people probably wouldn’t guess about you?
I used to be a cheerleader.
What superpower would you choose?
I’d love to be able to teleport so I could easily and quickly visit loved ones and far away places!
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Probably Zone Perfect chocolate peanut butter protein bars.
I am proud to work at MDC because…
My work here makes a positive impact in our community and will hopefully save lives for years to come!
