A Catalyst in the Community

By VIP Leader, Erin Rea and VIP Fellow, Mahriana Collins at Napa County Office of Education

At the Napa County Office of Education one of our partner sites is Catalyst Coalition. Through Catalyst Coalition many programs are run on a daily basis. The two AmeriCorps members we have in prevention work with Mariposa groups: programs empowering young women to make their own smart decisions and giving them the resources and knowledge to resist peer pressure. In addition to Mariposa groups, which happen at the local middle schools one day per week, Catalyst has also been working on an anti-marijuana campaign helping kids to “use your head, not weed” and to “be ahead of the crowd." This effort is just beginning and has already made positive changes. Catalyst also works with gang prevention, tobacco prevention, and alcohol prevention.

Mariposa is an exemplary effort in Napa County towards girl empowerment, as well as underage youth substance abuse awareness and prevention.  Johana Guzman, Catalyst Coalition’s Prevention Coordinator, with the help of AmeriCorps members, has expanded the group from a few dedicated female youth to over 50 girls at the local middle and high schools. Through their participation in activities, programs and events, the Mariposa members have brought attention to vital issues in their community. Last summer, several of the original/founding members were recruited to serve as Mariposa Leaders called the official Mariposa Advisory Council. The Mariposa Peer Volunteer Leaders, high school students,  completed 30-hours of training to run the Mariposa group in middle schools. I (Mahriana) was honored to help several Mariposa Leaders at Napa High School in creating an underage drinking and driving awareness exhibit called “Wasted.” After installing the exhibit on the walls of a common space at their high schools, the girls continued to reach out to their peers during lunch via a Casey’s Pledge awareness table. The exhibit was called ‘Wasted’ not because the lives of innocent victims of underage drinking and driving are wasted, but because drinking and driving is a choice that teens choose to make. The girls wanted to educate their peers about the power that they hold in making that choice, and to give them vital information towards making that decision.

As powerful mentors to their younger peers, the volunteer Leaders address topics that affect young women such as online safety, alcohol and drug abuse and violence prevention. During bi-weekly planning sessions, the Advisory Council members develop agendas based upon important topics to be discussed during their after school sessions. These girls are leaders in their community, inspiring adults to take action around the issues that affect all youth. Furthermore, the Mariposa group members have reached out to members of the community, youth and adults alike, to help sponsor and volunteer during community events aimed at increasing awareness and honoring Prevention Champions!