PACOIMA : 29 Groups Sign Up for Anti-Drug Class

The offer of free materials and training to prevent drug abuse among youngsters prompted 29 community organizations to sign up for a seminar today in Pacoima, the first of two to be held in the San Fernando Valley.

Representatives of the organizations will share the anti-drug lessons they learn during the 3 1/2-hour seminar at the Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley with youths ages 7 to 15 in coming weeks.

Among the participants will be Ana Alvarez, the office manager and program director of the 430-unit Van Nuys Pierce Park Apartments in Pacoima, which is home to about 900 children.

“One of my wish-list things I like to see is more (drug) prevention education given to the people,” said Alvarez, who will be attending with nine parents. “Parents need to have some type of awareness.”

The seminars, conducted elsewhere in the county since earlier this year, are part of a drug prevention program sponsored by Los Angeles-based BEST (Bringing Everybody’s Strength Together) Foundation for a Drug-Free Tomorrow.

The sessions focus on three sets of videos that teach youngsters about self-esteem and peer pressure. The videos will be given to each organization for future use, said Mary Cervantes, a community liaison consultant with the foundation.

“We’re hoping they will go back to their organizations and set up programs using these videos,” she said.

A second seminar will be held at the Mid-Valley Family YMCA in Van Nuys on July 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is open to any community-based organization working with youth, Cervantes said.