PAACE
The Parker Area Alliance for Community Empowerment works to promote a drug free and violence free community. It is a 501 (c)(3) organization open to all youth and adults in our community who wish to work toward this mission. It runs the Players 9th Street Youth Center. Duce Minor, Zuky Hernandez, Melissa Wright and Taylor Brouillette are on staff.
Homepage: http://www.paace.org
Posts by PAACE
Parker Youth Off-Road Experience
Jan 25th
This is the chance to bring your kids to meet and support all our local Parker 425 racers! As of right we have six local racers (with possibly a few more!) for this event. If you know of anyone who would like to participate please let us know! Also, we are looking for donations to help cover the cost of soda/hot dogs etc. Contact Melissa or Zuky at 669-0175 or keep updated by checking our Facebook page (search PAACE).
This even is sponsored by PAACE Coalition and Players 9th Street Youth Center.
Thank You Community Members!
Dec 19th
Last week PAACE Coalition held an appreciation lunch to say thank you to coalition members and the wider community for all their help and support towards making La Paz County a drug free and violence free community.
Mayor Dan Beaver accepted a plaque on behalf of the Town of Parker for adopting a Social Hosting Ordinance, Maria Chavoya accepted a plaque on behalf of Cenpatico Community Reinvestment Program for funding two new air conditioning units for the youth center, Angela Meek on behalf of Apismellis Homecare for donating popcorn and sodas on a regular basis to Movies in the Park, Sheriff Don Lowery on behalf of Don Davis (who was not able to be present) for all his efforts in enacting the Social Hosting Ordinances throughout La Paz County, PUSD Superintendent Jim Lotts on behalf of Parker Unified School Districts for their support of PAACE programs and allowing us to use their facilities, Captain Stuart Harper on behalf of the Colorado River Indian Tribes for their support and contributions throughout the year, Tina Clapperton on behalf of Community Intervention Associates for donating popcorn and sodas on a regular basis to Movies in the Park, Clark Daniels on behalf of BlueWater Cinemas for their support and contributions throughout the year and Lieutenant Curt Bagby for his continued support of PAACE programs. Tracey Richardson is not pictured but also accepted a plaque on behalf of the Town of Quartzsite for accepting a Social Hosting Ordinance. A plaque has also been awarded to La Paz County for adopting a Social Hosting Ordinance but a representative was not able to be present.
Again, thank you to all those who attended! We appreciate all that you do in our community!
Thank you!
Nov 7th
Dear Editor -
“Caution: Drugs & Alcohol Zombify Your Brain” was the theme for an unbelievably successful Red Ribbon Week 2011. It was another record-breaking year for the number of individuals, businesses, organizations and agencies joining together to celebrate drug free, violence free youth in La Paz County.
Major supporters this year included Parker Area Alliance for Community Empowerment (PAACE), La Paz County School Superintendent’s Office, Arizona Western College, Cenpatico, Colorado River Indian Tribes, Walmart, Parker Police Department, Apismellis Home Health Care, La Paz Regional Hospital and schools throughout La Paz County.
The week-long campaign kicked off in Bouse with a Red Ribbon Parade and Fun Day. The Parker Area Chamber of Commerce headed up our Business Decorating Contest and awarded two grand prize baskets filled with donated items from Mary Kay, Bluewater Cinemas, Cyber D’s and Early Bird. Congratulations to the winners, La Paz County Sheriff’s Department and Parker Elks Lodge. We appreciate all the businesses who showed their support by decorating. Soroptimist Club of Parker “Painted the Parks Red,” with red ribbons, and National Bank of Arizona showcased a display in their lobby to inform the community about PAACE and Red Ribbon Week. BlueWater Cinemas donated prizes and hosted a Youth Film Festival showcasing drug and violence prevention videos created by local youth who participated in the UofA Cooperative Extension summer film camps.
Numerous activities took place throughout the week including events at Parker High School, Salome High School and Wallace Elementary School sponsored by PAACE, Youth 4 Youth 4-H Club, Walmart, Jonathan Landis, and Officer Cherre Hooper. A number of area businesses provided incentives to kids wearing their Red Ribbon Wristbands including; Burger King, Dominos Pizza, Taco Bell, KFC, BlueWater Cinemas and the Parker Elks Lodge. On Wednesday, KLPZ sponsored “Stand-Up Against Drugs and Violence,” a countywide event to remind students and others why we commemorate Red Ribbon Week each year. Schools decorated classroom doors and students at Blake Primary School took part in their own Red Ribbon Week assembly and parade, marching around their campus.
The highlight of the week were five Substance Abuse Prevention Presentations focusing on Prescription Drug Abuse. The presentations included valuable information from Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Special Agent Rockwell Herron and heartfelt testimony from Aaron Rubin and his parents. Aaron, once a healthy, athletic young man started abusing drugs and alcohol in high school, eventually overdosing on Oxycontin six years ago at age 23. Today Aaron is quadriplegic and completely dependant on his parents. The family shared their experience and urged young people to not make the same mistakes Aaron made and parents to be aware of what their children are doing.
As always the week culminated with our annual Family Fun Day. It was another overwhelming success with more than 1,104 people in attendance. Thank you to the more than 80 individuals and businesses who sponsored our t-shirts by donating $25 or more as well as those who also donated prizes for events throughout the week and for Family Fun Day including; David Plunkett Realty, Arizona-Mexico Border Health Foundation, Emerald Canyon Golf Course, Wallace Junior High, Christ’s Church on the River, Bashas’, Oasis Mini-Mart, and many others. The Parker Lions Club supported Family Fun Day by spending the day barbequing over 900 hot dogs and making cotton candy and popcorn. Soroptimists provided a bounce house/slide for the kids. Others taking part in Family Fun Day included, Carvel/Cinnabon, Subway, Youth 4 Youth 4-H Club, Colorado River Regional Crisis Shelter, La Paz County Career Center, CASA, Parker Fire Department, River Medical, Community Intervention Associates (CIA), Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), First Things First, La Paz County Sheriff’s Department, Parker High School FFA, Abbey Wolf – Miss Colorado River’s Outstanding Teen and Eddie Eagle (Gun Safe Program), Parker Public Library, Bashas’, Christ’s Church on the River, Cenpatico, Parker United Methodist Church, Healthy Choices, Parker Police Department and Explorers, U of A Cooperative Extension, PHEPP, Walmart, Grace Assembly of God Church, Oasis Mini-Mart, Don & DoRann Davis (Dunk Tank Sponsors), Wallace Junior High School and the Parker Pioneer.
No doubt, we could fill an entire page with thank yous! Short of that, we simply want to express again, our sincere appreciation to each and every business, organization and individual who found some way to support the 2011 Red Ribbon Week Campaign to celebrate drug free, violence free youth in La Paz County. Please remember, it is important to let the youth in our community know every day that we support them and encourage them to be happy and successful by living their lives drug free, and violence free. It’s true… Drugs & Alcohol do Zombify Your Brains!
Sincerely,
Duce Minor
PAACE Executive Director
If you would like more information on how you can be a part of PAACE Coalition call Melissa at 669 – 0175 or come to one of our meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at noon at Players Youth Center.
Thank you local businesses!
Nov 2nd
Thank you to all the businesses who participated in the Red Ribbon Week Business Decorating Contest! We really appreciate your support! Thank you also to the Parker Chamber of Commerce for putting together the prizes! To view more business photos go to our PAACE Facebook page.
La Paz County Sheriff’s Department
Parker Elks Lodge
River Rags
Betty Hunter Realty
Gingerbread
La Paz Counseling Services
CRIT Substance Abuse Prevention Program
Carvel/Cinnabon
Cyber D’lites
Look & See
National Bank
Cross Bonz
BlueWater Cinemas
La Paz Career Center
Superintendent’s Building
Parker Accounting
BIA
Nana Nena’s Custom Creation
Town of Parker
CPS
Christ’s Church on the River
Aaron & Sherrie Rubin to visit Parker
Oct 21st
I first heard the story of Aaron Rubin late one night last year while watching VH1′s Celebrity Rehab. Aaron had everything going for him, but was addicted to Oxycontin. In his early 20s he overdosed and was in a coma for 2 weeks. During that time his family planned his funeral, expecting the worst. After 2 weeks though, Aaron woke up. Aaron is now a quadriplegic, can’t speak and needs around the clock care BUT he is fully cognitive.
Aaron and Sherrie (his mom) travel around the Southwest speaking to schools and the community about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. It’s a moving story and has such a big impact on the areas they visit.
Aaron and Sherrie will be visiting La Paz County during Red Ribbon Week. They are visiting many of our schools with even more being bussed in from outlying areas to see the presentation.
Monday the 24th of Oct. at 6pm they will have a presentation at Wallace Dome for the entire community. You are welcome and encouraged to bring your children to this presentation as it will be slightly different from the one they hear in school.
