Oct. 21, 2005 – Community activists on St. Croix have banded together to present a week of Red Ribbon activities aimed at heightening the awareness of the fight against drugs and violence.
Joyce Brown is a passionate human activist and a prevention specialist with the Village Virgin Islands Partners in Recovery. Brown is spearheading the effort and coordinating public and private partners hosting Red Ribbon Week activities in various locations around the island.
Red Ribbon Week started nationally in 1985 as a tribute to Drug Enforcement Agency Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who was killed while working undercover on a drug cartel investigation. The national Red Ribbon Week is sponsored and promoted by the DEA, and during the week people promise to be drug free and help their communities be drug free as well.
Scheduled school and youth organization activities include a "Too Good For Drugs" banner contest and a "I Listen to My Own Voice – I Don’t Do Drugs" and "That’s My Choice" poetry contest. On Saturday, the public is invited to a Family Day – Kids Fest beach party at Fort Frederik beach. For a complete list of activities, see schedule below.
Both the St. Thomas and St. Croix UVI campuses will host activities such as a drug-free pledge day, open mic and campus decorating competitions and more. The Office of the Associate Chancellor on the St. Thomas campus, and the Health Services Department and the Residence Hall on the St. Croix campus are sponsoring the events. (See "UVI Red Ribbon Week Starts Monday".)
Brown is asking the community to support St Croix Red Ribbon Week by taking part in daily events.
"We would like to see everyone on the island wear red on Friday, in support of a healthy lifestyle," Brown said.
For more information, call Brown at 719-9900
Here is the Red Ribbon Week schedule
— Sunday, Oct. 23
Worship Day
–Monday, Oct. 24
Students sign pledges at the schools
School and youth organization Drug Free banner contest
–Tuesday, Oct. 25
Decorate your door competition
–Wednesday, Oct. 26
School assemblies. Guest speakers will talk to students about the dangers of drugs
–Thursday, Oct. 27
Family Day. Families are encouraged to have dinner together and talk about not using drugs and preventing violence in their lives.
–Friday, Oct. 28
Island-wide school poetry contest /Wear Red Day. Wear red and/or red ribbons.
–Saturday, Oct. 29
Family Day Beach party at the Fort Frederick beach
–Sunday, Oct. 30
March and Rally through Sion Farm, followed by activities at the Sion Farm ballpark
Organized by the 7th Day Adventist Church
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