Thrive! 15th Annual Prevention Celebration is more than a sober event celebrating a drug-free community: It is an opportunity for people of different backgrounds from across Tucson to come together and celebrate healthy communities.
“We encourage everyone to celebrate healthy communities. It is something everyone should be interested in. When we do that we are telling ourselves that we want a healthy community, which in a sense is self-fulfilling. We are inviting people to contribute to that,” said Manuel Abril, community engagement specialist with Our Family Services, which is partnering with 4R Communities Alliance, 4RCA, and other organizations and businesses to stage the free annual community health event.
Abril said Tucsonans can enjoy everything from free entertainment to fun and healthy food games and giveaways along with children’s activities. Mobile health units from the Pima County Health Department will provide dental exams; UA College of Pharmacy will provide free immunizations and other services while exhibitors such as Pima Prevention Partnership will present a variety of health-related information and education on substance abuse, violence and other social issues.
Changemaker High School and Flowers & Bullets will provide resources on sustainable living, gardening and other environmental topics.
“This is a way to bring the community together and those who attend will find out about many great services in the area that are available to help people. Plus, it is fun and free, and those are always good combinations,” said Mary Sanchez, managing librarian at Eckstrom-Columbus Library and a member of the board of directors for 4RCA.
4RCA evolved from the 29th Street Coalition and is comprised of five neighborhood associations: Alvernon Heights, Julia Keen, Roberts, Naylor and Myers.
“We address some of the issues within neighborhoods: Sometimes simple things like weeds blocking sidewalks to a bus stop or a wash that is overflowing because trees are growing in the arroyo,” said Abril, who became involved with 4RCA through Our Family Services and the Drug Free Communities Project dedicated to reducing the incidence of underage drinking and youth substance use.
Abril said the project utilizes a variety of approaches ranging from reducing access to substances in convenience stores and smoke shops through sticker shock campaigns to innovative art and film projects designed to stimulate creative pathways in the brain and engage young people.
Thrive! is a culmination of these efforts and the endeavors of dedicated community partners that seek to build an understanding of residents.
Ultimately, the goal is a multi-pronged approach to effectively tackle social issues, according to Abril.
Contact freelance writer Loni Nannini at ninch2@comcast.net
