KYCC’s Prevention Education unit is guiding a new coalition to support the Safe School Zone ordinance, which increases fines for criminal activity that occurs 1,500 feet around schools. Launched in 2013, the Coalition to Prevent Alcohol-Related Harms in Metro Los Angeles (Co-PALM) is concentrating its efforts around Berendo Middle School on the Pico-Union/Koreatown border and Nightingale Middle School in Highland Park.

“Currently, the Safe School Zone policy focuses on reducing bullying and gang activity around schools, but Co-PALM wants to include fining for alcohol and other drug violations,” explains Janet Garcia, KYCC’s Prevention Education Coordinator. “Our goal is to reduce underage drinking through education and policy enforcement.”

In May and June of 2014, Co-PALM will hold information meetings and trainings to recruit people to help enforce the SSZ policy around the two Los Angeles-area middle schools.

Co-PALM meets monthly in Koreatown at Jewish Family Services, one of the service providers. Other coalition members include Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Institute for Public Strategies, and Social Model Recovery Systems; these Metro LA-located programs are funded by the Substance Abuse Prevention and Control (SAPC), a division of County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health.

Co-PALM is open to the community. If you are interested in joining a workshop, please contact Sam Joo at (213) 365-7400 ext. 5136 or sjoo@kyccla.org.