Alcohol-Free Quinceañera
We are a grant-funded group of dedicated community members focused on reducing Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drug (ATOD) use by youth in a designated area of West Phoenix, Arizona.

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Alcohol-Free Quinceañera

Past Events & Prevention News

 



 



Congratulations to the 2010 Alcohol Free Quinceañera participants!

Quinceañera participants volunteer at Golden Gate Community event by painting kids faces 7-2-10From left to right, Karen, Anel, Kaylee and Ruth. They painted kids faces at a community event at Golden Gate Community Center.

Quinceañera participants volunteering at the Maryvale Light up the Sky Event by distributing Drug/Alcohol Prevention material 7-2-10From left to right, Jared, Maria, Wendy, Ana, Roxana & Melissa. They volunteered at the Maryvale Light up the Sky event by distributing alcohol/drug prevention material.

We are currently in the process of providing classes to the participants & their famillies once a week on topics related to the responsibilities of becoming an adult, drug/alcohol prevention and preparation for the choreographed dance during the Quinceañera event in September. We are very excited to be working with the 13 participants that we have selected. Not mentioned in the pictures above are also Sarai, Lirianly and Estefania. Congratulations to all 13 participants!!!

Questions?

Call Jeff Welch if you have any questions related to this event. Hablo Español.

602-685-6016

email: alcoholfreequinceanera@copecoalitionaz.org

 

COPE Coalition Alcohol-Free Quinceañera

Watch a brief video of the 2009 Alcohol-Free Quinceañera!

COPE Coalition Alcohol-Free Quinceañera 2009

September 5th, 2009 at Carl Hayden Community High School

On Saturday, September 5th, COPE Coalition hosted the 1st Annual Alcohol-Free Quinceañera at Carl Hayden Community High School for 13 young ladies. The focus of the event was to demonstrate that a Quinceañera can be celebrated successfully without the influence of alcohol. Alcohol is the drug that is abused most by youth in Arizona. Youth that start drinking in their early teens are much more likely to become involved with illegal drugs, as well as increase their likelihood of becoming an alcoholic as an adult.

The first role models that youth have in life are their immediate family members. If a child sees their father drinking excessively at a family barbeque or a Quinceañera, then that child is going to associate drinking alcohol with family enjoyment. When that same child is influenced by peer pressure to drink alcohol, or smoke a joint, they are going to have less incentive to say NO because they have already associated drinking alcohol as an acceptable form of socializing through the observed actions of his or her father.

By hosting the Alcohol-Free Quinceañera, COPE Coalition is beginning a new trend that reinforces positive family values and a healthy lifestyle. Parents and other adult family members can learn from this example, and demonstrate an alcohol and drug free lifestyle for the children that look up to them.  

The Quinceañera is a coming of age celebration for young ladies in Latino cultures that acknowledges both the physiological and cognitive changes they are going through.  It is celebrated within the context of family, spirituality and culture.  TERROS/COPE Coalition selected this event because of the positive impact it can have on families and community.  Youth is a stage of identity formulation facilitated by the ability to conduct complex abstract thinking of the meaning of life and values of right and wrong.   The attachment to family and culture as a protective factor without alcohol is designed as a method of valuing the positive in families and culture without the negative impact of alcohol on youth and their families. 

In Arizona, the focus of diversity in prevention work has been lead by both the Governor’s Office of Substance Abuse Prevention and the Prevention Office of the Division of Behavioral Health. Their leadership and support allowed TERROS and COPE Coalition to tailor its work in a culturally appropriate manner.  Cultural Competence is a requirement in the Strategic Prevention Framework which all prevention work is supposed to include. TERROS and COPE Coalition will be pioneering a way to evaluate this prevention effort as it moves forward.

 


Alcohol-Free Quinceañera

2009 COPE Coalition Alcohol-Free Quinceañera

The following agencies & organizations helped to organize & support the 2009 COPE Coalition Alcohol-Free Quinceañera:

Azteca Wedding Plaza

MTV3

Universal Flowers

Nuevas Quinceañeras & Special Events

TERROS Behavioral Health Services

Other agencies:

 

 

 

Statements from:

Angela, 2009 COPE Coalition Alcohol-Free Quinceañera participant

  • "A Quinceanera is a really special day because its when a young girl turns into a lady."
  • "It is important to celebrate a quinceañera without alcohol because that way there are no fights."
  • "I think that people should wait until they are 21 years old or older (to drink alcohol), but it is betterif you decide not to drink alcohol for your own safety and for the safety of your family."
  • "Always appreciate the people that help you realize your dream and always try to stay alcohol-free and drug-free."

Laura, 2009 COPE Coalition Alcohol-Free Quinceañera participant

  • "(my Quinceañera) is special because my mom always wished for her daughters to have one. Plus we have had rough times and its time for some fun."
  • "I want to show that we can have fun without alcohol."
  • "Drinking at a young age can casue serious damage."
  • "Be grateful for what you have."

Reyna, 2009 COPE Coalition Alcohol-Free Quinceañera participant

  • "My Quinceañera is special to me because my sister had one and I wished to have one too."
  • "I want to remember this day because of all the right reasons, not because of some drunk that ruinded it by fighting, or being dumb."

Samara, 2009 COPE Coalition Alcohol-Free Quinceañera participant

  • "(my quinceañera) is once in a lifetime; an important day for me."

Idalia, 2009 COPE Coalition Alcohol-Free Quinceañera participant

  • "Since it is a tradition (of) my family and in my heritage to celebrate a young girl becoming a woman it has been my dream ever since I can remember."
  • "I just want my special day to be (an) alcohol-free environment with no problems, just happy people!"

Celeste, 2009 COPE Coalition Alcohol-Free Quinceañera participant

  • "Me gustaría tener una fiesta sin alcohol porque en las fiestas que hay alcohol las personas se reúnen solo a (hacer) eso, a emborracharse y yo quiero una fiesta solo con diversion, donde ho haya violencia ni accidentes, que luego son causados por el alcohol o otro tipo de drogas.

Yajaira, 2009 COPE Coalition Alcohol-Free Quinceañera participant

  • "I want to show my uncles that we can celebrate something and have fun without drinking."
  • "Having a Quinceañera is almost every girl's dream."

Ligia, 2009 COPE Coalition Alochol-Free Quinceañera participant

  • "Desde niña mi mayor deseo y mi meyor sueño fue que me celebraran mis 15."
  • "Me Gustaria una fiesta sana."

 

 

 

 

 

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