Honorable Mayor Rita Xavier
1383
1 San Pablo Ave, #1
San Pablo, CA 94806
September 16, 2022
Greetings Honorable Rita Xavier,
October 23‐31, 2022 is Red Ribbon Week, a week that creates the opportunity for the city of San Pablo to demonstrate its support in prevention of underage cannabis use, alcohol use, tobacco misuse and prescription drug abuse. It also provides an avenue to support the numerous youth affected by substance abuse issues. Moreover, it is a wonderful opportunity to educate San Pablo youth and its residents on the seriousness of and the prevalence of substance abuse amongst our youth. This year’s theme is Celebrate Life. Live Drug Free, and (organization) in collaboration with Contra Costa Behavioral Health- AODS prevention providers and Pride & Purpose Project would like showcase just that in our communities and amongst our youth.
The Pride & Purpose would be honored if you would sponsor an official proclamation to recognize October 23‐31, 2022 as San Pablo, Ca, Red Ribbon Week. A city-wide proclamation would lend official recognition to the important work of educating the public on abstaining and preventing addiction to substances and alcohol, as well as emphasize your personal commitment to raising awareness about the dangers of underage cannabis use, alcohol use, tobacco misuse and prescription drug abuse.
I have enclosed a sample proclamation which may help your office compose the appropriate proclamation for San Pablo, Ca. If you or your staff have any questions concerning the request, the sample proclamation, or Red Ribbon Week, please contact me at your convenience [email protected] or (510)
685-0449.
I will follow‐up with your office on this request in the next few days. As always, we appreciate your support of Red Ribbon Week.
Thank you for consideration on this special request.
Sincerely,
Enclosure: Sample Proclamation Language
Honorable Mayor Rita Xavier
13831 San Pablo Ave, #1
San Pablo, CA 94806
September 16, 2022
Greetings Honorable Rita Xavier,
My name is Shameka Bolds, Environmental Prevention Supervisor, and I would like to introduce you to a cannabis prevention program: Pride& Purpose Project, located in Richmond, Ca that I coordinate. The program services youth between the ages of 14‐18 who may be at risk or vulnerable to und erage
cannabis consumption. Cannabis use under the age of 21 can cause various problems socially and academically in a youth’s developing life. The Pride & Purpose Project educates youth on the harms and dangers of underage cannabis use, how to utilize refusal skills and how to motivate other to do the same.
Since our initiation, the Pride & Purpose Project has been very vocal and instrumental in the 2019 banning of vaping products in unincorporated Contra Costa County. The youth helped with community mobilizing, presenting data and providing public comment. All of which led to a unanimous vote to ban vaping devic e that contain flavor or THC and menthol tobacco products. In addition, the Pride & Purpose Project provided information for the amendment request to overturn the ban, Ordinance 2019‐ 34, this past July. Currently the Pride & Purpose Project is strengthening the youth protections in Contra Costa County as various cities and town s adopt, amend, and implement different aspects of cannabis ordinances, vaping policies, and the emergence of cannabis retail dispensaries.
We are writing you to solicit your support in our on‐going underage cannabis prevention efforts, by supporting a proclamation recognizing October 23‐31, 2022 in the city of San Pablo, Ca as Red Ribbon Week and possible p
articipation in our Red Ribbon community engagement campaign. The Pride & Purpose youth in collaboration with other CBO’s are embarking upon a history making by getting all of the cities in Contra Costa County to proclaim October 23‐31, 2022 as Red Ribbon Week. This ye ar the nationwide Red Ribbon Week theme is “Celebrate Life. Live Drug Free” and we want to showcase just how drug free San Pablo youth can be.
I have attached a copy of an official proclamation request letter and proclamation draft. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to con tact me: (510) 685‐0449/ [email protected].
Thank you for your continued support,
Sincerely
Shameka Bolds
Pride & Purpose Project
www.pridenpurpose.com