The Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Program has waged a silent battle that has been effective in educating youth and keeping them from becoming statistics
The Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Program (YSAPP) based in the Avalon Carver Community Center has been a bedrock institution fighting the war against drugs for decades. It has been a silent battle but one that has been effective in educating youth and keeping them from becoming statistics. Darnell Bell is the director of YSAPP and spoke about the history and purpose of the program in the community.
“The program officially began back in 1977 and initially it targeted schools over on the eastside of L.A.,” said Bell. “In 1980, we got to give the program more of an afro-centric perspective.” The program found that most of the African-American community was centered in the Crenshaw/ Leimert Park corridor.
“In 1984, we began our program over at Tom Bradley Elementary, under then principal Dr. Shepard, we’ve been there for 34 years,” said Bell.
Today, YSAPP provides youth services on the campus of Tom Bradley Global Awareness Magnet Elementary and are members of the Cherrywood/Leimert Park Block Club. They offer multi-service resources to low-income individuals and families in South L.A. communities. Over the years, the center has grown to offer both private and public funded programs to families impacted by alcohol and other addictive substances.
“[YSAPP] is funded by L.A. County Substance Abuse and it’s an alcoholic and drug prevention program,” said Bell. “It was always my concept that you have to design a program that matched the needs and interests of your clientele so we designed a culture-specific alcohol and drug prevention program that is geared for Black children.”
YSAPP is in its 30th year working at Tom Bradley and believes that young people need strong and healthy sense of self, strong values and help to encourage youth to remain drug free. “We created a role model curriculum that instead of focusing on historical Black role models like Malcolm and Martin, people kids can’t touch, we try to identify community folks… real, live folks that they can see as role models.”
The program works with 4th and 5th graders and meet once a week for an hour throughout the school year. The assignments the program offers consist of creative writing to help develop self-esteem, self-identity, leadership and cultural heritage. They also have an after school program which provides tutoring and homework assistance, leadership development and drug awareness.
“We’re one of the best kept secrets in town,” said Bell. “Folks on campus, folks , who come to our programs know about us but no else does,” until now.
The Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Program is located in the Avalon Carver Community Center located at 4920 Avalon Avenue, LA, CA 90011. For more information, please call (323) 232-4391. You can also visit their website at www. avalon-carver.org.