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Essay Contest: The Coalition presents an essay contest at high schools to encourage teens to write about the significance of cultural celebrations and to analyze how alcohol and tobacco industries market their cultures. This year's winner was Rebecca Kuan, a 9th grader from Torrey Pines High School, to read her essay click here.

 

 (left -right) Paulina Cadenas, Taja Tates,Rebecca Kuan andRemedios Gómez Arnau,Cónsul General of México in San Diego.


Cinco de Mayo con Orgullo Festival | May 5, 2010:
We celebrated the holiday in a family friendly and alcohol-and-tobacco-free event on May 5, 2010, this year we had between 1,000 and 1,500 attendees.







We had entertainment, youth and children fun zone, information booths and delicious Mexican food!


A Big THANKS to Our Sponsors

 


Postcard Campaign | Spring, 2010:
Local businesses joined us to change their business practices by reducing or eliminating alcohol advertisements focused on cultural holidays.

 

Participating Youth Groups this year are (by zip code & youth group name):

91910- Chula Vista

South Bay Youth 4 Change 

92115- College Area

College Youth Council 

92105- City Heights

Latino Youth Council

Cesar Chavez Club

92025- Club Live

Mission Middle School

92075- Solana Beach

San Dieguito Youth Partnership 

92028- Fallbrook

Fallbrook Youth Prevention Group

92021- El Cajon

Students Together Against Alcohol ‘N Drugs

92130- Club Live

Carmel Valley Middle School


Cinco de Mayo:
Do Your Kids Know More Than You Do?

Students Become Teachers, Showing Local Businesses How to End
The Explotation Of This Cultural Event
May 1st., 2010


Over the past few weeks, young people visited with the owners and managers of 47 restaurants,
markets, and liquor stores, to discuss how Cinco de Mayo symbols are exploited to sell alcohol. Businesses in eight communities around San Diego County were asked not to exploit this holiday. More than half of the businesses agreed not to use alcohol ads and displays with Cinco de Mayo themes.  This project taught the students the history of Cinco de Mayo, and why it is inappropriate to use cultural symbols to advertise alcohol.  In the process, the students became teachers by sharing their knowledge and creating partnerships with local businesses.  

Samples of Cinco de Mayo alcohol ads and displays were found in local businesses, Postcards that were sent to stores and restaurants, inviting them to meet with students.  Certificates given to responsible merchants, recognizing them for not using Cinco de Mayo themes to sell alcohol.