Luz Southside Partnership -> Drug-Free Community Support Program
Drug-Free Community Support Program
Contact: Ruby Cajigas, Community Prevention Coordinator
E-mail: [email protected]
Luz Southside Partnership
3819 South Evans, Suite 304
Tucson, AZ 85714
(520) 294-7620
(520) 294-1142 fax
The purpose of the Drug-Free Community Support Program is to strengthen existing efforts to reduce substance abuse among the Southside children and you by promoting community mobilization. In addition, the program provides youth leadership and cultural enrichment programs that are resiliency-based and reinforce positive cultural pride.
The Drug-Free Community Support Program is managed by the Luz Southside Partnership, and the two programs share the same goals. The target population for the Drug-Free Community Support Program includes residents, businesses, and schools in Tucson’s Southside. The boundaries extend from Country Club to the east, the Santa Cruz River to the west, Speedway Blvd., to the north, and Valencia Road/Los Reales Road to the south.
The program goals are:
Goal 1: To strengthen the existing collaborative efforts in the coalition target area in order to reduce substance abuse and related problems among barrio children, youth, and families.
Goal 2: To promote and develop community leadership and individual self-sufficiency within the community through training, information dissemination, and technical assistance.
Goal 3: To utilize the Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA), a science-based environmental prevention model, to change policies, practices, and norms resulting in the reduction of access to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs in the Southside community.
Goal 4: To provide science-based family strengthening training opportunities that promote effective family management and bonding to reduce the risk factors that promote youth substance abuse, violence, violence and early sexual behavior.
Goal 5: To provide youth leadership and cultural enrichment programs that are resiliency-based; reinforce positive cultural pride; reduce cultural stress and conflict; and create positive norms regarding substance abuse and violence.
List of yearly activities:
- 16 de Septiembre Cultural Event: Celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day. This holiday is the celebration of Mexico’s Independence from Spain. This year this event was held at The Rose Family Resources and Wellness Center. The activity consisted of third graders from C.E. Rose Elementary School learning about their Mexican heritage and participating in Cultural Activities and crafts.
- Third Annual Thanksgiving in the Barrio: The Luz Southside Partnership served a free Thanksgiving meal to over 700 people in Tucson’s Southside. This event was held at the El Pueblo Regional Center.
- Second Annual Posada in the Barrio: Christmas celebration in Tucson’s Southside. This event was held at the El Pueblo Reginal Center. Over 300 people attended.
- Third Annual Segundo de Febrero Cutural Event: This event celebrates the Mexican-American Culture. The event was held at Wakefield Middle School.
- Cinco de Mayo Resources and Activities Fair: The Luz Southside Partnership celebrates Mexico’s Independence from France by providing the Southside community with a community fair. This year in May was our 2nd Annual Cinco de Mayo Fair. This event was held at The Rose Family Resource and Wellness Center on Friday May 3, 2002.
- Luz Southside Partnership Youth Coalition Symposium: This activity is currently being planned by our youth coalition. Tentative date set for June 2002.
- Six Best Practices Trainings: The Luz Southside Partnership is collaborating with CODAC Behavioral Health, COPE Behavioral Services, Pima Youth Partnership and Communities Mobilizing for Alcohol Change to provide to the community Best Practices Trainings.
- Enhancing our community’s safety by Safety Corridor: Initiated this year’s safety corridor at Van Buskirk Elementary School.
- Drug Free Workplace: Luz Southside Partnership reaches 10 business within the Southside community to educate about a safe workplace for owners and employees.
- Environmental Tobacco Smoke: The Luz Southside Partnership has reached 52 families and served as an educator about second-hand smoke.
- Liquor License Hearings: The Luz Southside Partnership works closely with Neighborhood Associations and Ward Offices to fight liquor licenses in Tucson’s Southside. Some outcomes from liquor license hearings this year include:
La Mexicana Carneceria on 22nd Street was denied a liquor license, CJ’S on 6th Ave. and Ohio was denied a Class 12 liquor license, which includes being able to sell spirits. Sixth Avenue Pub was revoked its license, Quarter Horse Tavern on South 6th street. was fined $3,000 a given a seven day suspension. The AM/PM on Benson HWY came to a compromise with South Park Neighborhood Association to only sell beer and wine until 10:30pm. The Luz Southside Partnership (LSSP) Steering Committee developed a liquor license subcommittee and LSSP attends Southside Neighborhood Association of President’s Partnership (SNAPP) and Liquor License Subcommittee meetings to plan for future hearings.
Outcomes: Through various different middle schools in the southside, approximately 403 students will have received Life Skills Training classes. We’ve also held community events that have had over 1,000 community members attend. We have strategies in place to reduce new or renewed liquor applications in order to limit alcohol access to youth.
