Greater Gresham Area Prevention Partnership

Youth Coalition

Powerful Video Depicts the Consequences of Drunk Driving

New YouTube Video!

Students at Arizona State University developed this video to educate others about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs.

Check out the latest Youth Video, NO THANKS I Get High on Life! Coming to Metro East County Community Media.

GGAPP supports Center for Advanced Learning culminating project of a Youth Video called, NO THANKS I Get High On Life! Produced by Hannah Goodwater, Film by Eric Williams

Tune in to Metro East Community Media:

• Monday May 23,11 8:00PM Channel 21
• Tuesday June 7,11 12:00PM Channel 21
• Saturday June18,11 7:00PM Channel 11
• Saturday June 25,11 10:00AM Channel 21

Look at the Boards!

Students at Reynolds Alternative Middle School (RAMS) worked with GGAPP and teachers to discuss substance abuse refusal skills and the support they needed to stay drug and alcohol free. These students discussed various ways to share these ideas with classmates. They defined a list of words that they believe illustrate the strengths and skills needed for teens to support each other. These words are:

Bravery - Believe - Truth - Capable - Respect - Kindness - Acceptance Vision - Support -Peace - Tolerance - Kindness - Dreams - Inspire

The RAMS principal noted the school had a fence with several boards missing. The group of students determined that painting the boards and putting them on the fence would work to get students involved in discussing the words and the concepts around how they can take care of one another and provide support; helping one another to avoid drugs and alcohol. They brainstormed a name for the project and came up with 'Look at the Boards". Two students presented the project to the larger student body three weeks before the end of school. Paint and supplies were gathered, a teacher from the school cut the boards and the students began to paint.

Gresham Youth Ricardo Gonzalez named 2010 Jennifer Beegle Youth Involvement Award Winner

The Jennifer Beegle award recognizes youth who positively impact our community despite personal hardships. It is offered by the Multnomah Youth Commission and the Citizen Involvement Committee of Multnomah County in memory of Jennifer Beegle, a former member of the Youth Commission who died in a car accident at 17 years of age.

Ricardo is being recognized for his volunteer service at the Four Cities Peer Court, where he has served as a volunteer peer attorney since its inception. Ricardo has assisted with over 25 cases and also helps train new peer attorneys at mock trials.

The Four Cities Peer Court is a community-based diversion program designed to give youth with first-time, low-level violations a chance to repair harm and show accountability for their actions without involvement in the juvenile justice system. The goals of this program are to keep youth in school, support drug/alcohol free youth, deter high-risk behavior, and provide education about the legal system. Ricardo's service, and the assistance of other volunteers, have been instrumental to the success and growth of the Four Cities Peer Court.

Click here to read more about Ricardo's service and the Four Cities Peer Court.

Every Fifteen Minutes Someone Dies from an Alcohol-Related Crash

This statistic inspired the Every Fifteen Minutes project, a national program conducted for teenagers and parents around the country. East County high school students participated in this Spring's Every Fifteen Minutes program.

Every Fifteen Minutes is a two-day program focusing on high school juniors and seniors, which challenges them to think about drinking, driving, personal safety, and the responsibility of making mature decisions. Along with alcohol-related crashes, it focuses on the impact that their decisions would have on family and friends. The first day starts with a student being removed from class, immediately after the start of the day. Following that, an additional student is removed from class every fifteen minutes. The students that are pulled from class get made-up to look dead and become the "living dead." They attend their classes for the rest of the day but are not allowed to speak to anyone. Students also write letters to their families. Visit the Youth & Schools Team Page to read some of these letters.

Peace Out to Drugs

I have the power to do something great!

Pictured from left to right: Back: Miguel Morales, Hadiyah Desphy, Kiana Salter, Joseph Hovater, Cella Rael, Max Hanson, Eddwin Baa; Front: Gabrielle Cackler, Victoria Wyatt, Zach Smith, Kady Vallejo, Myshel Macklin

This past fall the PAL Youth Center's Youth Leadership group partnered with GGAPP to begin a campaign at PAL that addressed substance abuse in a variety of ways. Groups talked about substance abuse, their peers and what it meant to not use drugs. Part of the work the leadership team did was to create a traveling mural. The mural used one word goals of the youth with their handprints. This helped youth to highlight why kids should choose not to become involved with drugs and alcohol.

The project began with the Leadership Group meeting with both girls and boys Groups at the Youth Center, and developing "Core Cards." From these cards the youth answered questions that began with; "I am...I can...I believe...I want to be..." It helped each young person identify what makes them strong to their core. They also posted their cards on a bulletin board at the center so that they could talk to other center youth about their feelings and beliefs around using drugs. This also helped them to recruit other PAL Youth Center members to the project. Everyone got to put their handprint and their one word "vision" next to it.

All the young people at the center got a great idea of how the choices they make now can affect their future. They were also able to understand that the power to do something great resides in the strength and belief they have in themselves. Saying "Peace Out to Drugs" means for them, that they have the power to be whatever they choose and if they choose not to use drugs they will succeed for sure!

Student Designs Tee-shirt

Tee-shirt designed by Hillary Larson, a Barlow High School senior. Information on ordering tee-shirts will be made available shortly.


Front	Back
For Design Detail click here.

Peers and Schools: Risk and Protective Factors

Click Here to expand or collapse article.

Calling all teens!

The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign (www.AbovetheInfluence.com) is now accepting videos from YOU! Express how you and your friends stay 'above the influence' in a two-minute or less drama, documentary, montage or commercial-style advertisement and your video may be featured on their nationally-advertised website. Details and examples can be found at www.abovetheinfluence.com/speak/submit-videos.aspx

About the Team

This team is composed of school representatives, youth and youth serving organizations. The group focuses on linking to existing school activities, such as Every 15 Minutes Activities held in the spring and school curriculums such as health. This group will work toward expanding messaging and maximizing outreach through effective content. This team is designed for teens to talk to teens!