After Prom Party

Teen Advocacy Coalition plans substance free after party.

                The Teen Advocacy Coalition, TAC, is planning an After Prom Party for the three north county high schools. This gathering would happen directly after the Tri-District Prom on May 2nd. Any high school student who attends the prom is invited to the event. TAC’s Youth Arm has been meeting monthly to deliberate and brainstorm exciting ways to end the evening.

                This is the first time an event like this has been proposed in north Pacific County. Wellspring Community Network, located on the Peninsula, holds an after prom breakfast at The Lost Roo. After some discussion, TAC decided to bring idea to the Youth Arm.

                “Initially, we presented the proposal to our youth,” Gracie Manlow, TAC Project Coordinator said. “They were incredibly eager to being the planning process.”

 TAC’s monthly Youth Arm, which is open to any student in north Pacific County, has begun early brainstorming on the party. Students have been suggesting ideas that would be entertaining for everyone attending.  Some of the activities include: karaoke, a bouncy house, carnival style games with prizes, and, of course, plenty of food.

                “When we suggested the idea of doing a candy bar, using plastic bags to fill with bulk candy, the students were ecstatic,” Tanya Schiller, TAC Administrative Assistant said.

                Some other suggestions thrown around by students were: pizza, breakfast burritos, fruit trays and tacos. At this point, TAC staff and youth are considering various locations to host the party. However, as an effort to keep all students as safe as possible, students attending the party must arrive in their prom attire and must stay for the duration of the event.

“We know substance abuse is a problem after big events like prom or graduation,” Manlow said. “By giving the students a healthier option to socialize, we can reduce the amount of drinking and drug use in teens.”

                TAC will be funding the After Prom Party using their Drug Free Communities, DFC, Grant. In their 2nd year of the grant, TAC is hoping this event will spark interest in the coalition and provide a platform for other youth activities in the community.  

“Part of TAC’s mission is to “promote pro-social activities that will reduce substance abuse in teens’” Manlow said. “We want our youth to have a good time, but we also want them to stay safe. Now is the time to work together as a community to make it a reality.”