In collaboration with KYCC, Youth Policy Institute (YPI) and the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office, Manos Unidas performed a play, “Influence That Kills,” on April 28 at Vista Charter Middle School. The play illustrated the consequences of alcohol and other drugs on youth.
The event, with over 60 attendees, promoted the initiatives of Alcohol Awareness Month and helped to reduce the stigma often associated with alcoholism. By encouraging communities to reach out to the public every April, Manos Unidas offered information about alcohol, alcoholism and recovery.
As a closing act, Mark Ross, Rampart Division Neighborhood Prosecutor, brought out the “Drug Box” to explain the different popular drugs in the neighborhood, and led a community discussion.
“There’s a misconception that alcohol awareness only applies to youth,” says Gennesis Lopez, KYCC Prevention Education Coordinator. “But it’s a community effort to create consciousness and creating lasting change.”
Manos Unidas, a KYCC Prevention Community Council, was established at Vista Charter Middle School two years ago. It is comprised of parents dedicated to becoming advocates in the Rampart community. Their mission is to help promote the prevention of alcohol and other drug use in the community by creating a clean environment and raising awareness of advocacy with unity, support and parental involvement.
KYCC Prevention Education’s goal is to reduce drinking and drug use among the adolescent population in the Koreatown, Pico-Union and Westlake areas.
