Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition Holds Fifteen-Year Anniversary Celebration

The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA) and its partners invited Alexandrians of all ages to join the community celebration, “A Trend to Get Behind: Celebrating 15 Years of Prevention."
Page updated on October 5, 2023 at 3:07 PM
Translate icon

SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION HOLDS FIFTEEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 

October 4, 2023: The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA) and its partners invited Alexandrians of all ages to join the community celebration, “A Trend to Get Behind: Celebrating 15 Years of Prevention.” This celebration of SAPCA’s fifteen-year anniversary included games, music, a photo booth, and highlights of community efforts to educate, inform, and empower Alexandria youth to make informed choices about their health and future. 

Following an informal reception, the event program kicked off with an ensemble performance by elementary-school students from Sympatico, a music education program underwritten by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and provided in partnership with the Alexandria City Public Schools. The event also featured a special recognition of SAPCA community partners and Prevention Champions for their dedication to advancing substance use prevention: 

  • Vilma Zefran, TV/Media Production Teacher at Alexandria City High School 

  • Dr. Stacey Swartz, Owner of the Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray 

  • Alexandria City High School Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program 

SAPCA is an alliance of parents, youth, schools, city health and recreation agencies, media, nonprofits, businesses, policymakers, and law enforcement. Our mission is to engage diverse sectors of the community in collaborative, cross-cultural, and comprehensive substance abuse prevention efforts that result in a reduction of underage substance use and abuse in the City of Alexandria. 

Visit alexandriava.gov/SAPCA to learn more about the coalition, including ways to get involved. 

SAPCA’s 15 year anniversary 2023_1
SAPCA’s 15 year anniversary 2023_2
SAPCA’s 15 year anniversary 2023_4
SAPCA’s 15 year anniversary 2023_5
SAPCA’s 15 year anniversary 2023_7
SAPCA’s 15 year anniversary 2023_3
of
Grid View Close Modal
SAPCA’s 15 year anniversary 2023_1
From left to right: Noraine Buttar, Youth Development Team Leader, DCHS; Felicia Parks, Youth Engagement Specialist, DCHS; Councilman Canek Aguirre; David Ulloa, Alexandria Mentoring Partnership Coordinator
SAPCA’s 15 year anniversary 2023_2
The event featured a special performance by Cantamos, an ensemble of elementary school-aged students involved in Sympatico. Sympatico is a music education program underwritten by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and provided in partnership with the Alexandria City Public Schools.
SAPCA’s 15 year anniversary 2023_4
Keep It 360 Peer Advocates Chloe Yokitis, a senior at Alexandria City High School (ACHS), and Khamille Muhammad, a sophomore at ACHS, kicked-off the event program. The Keep It 360 Peer Advocates are a group of Alexandria youth that work closely with SAPCA, ACAP and the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center to support prevention and outreach efforts.
SAPCA’s 15 year anniversary 2023_5
Back row from left to right: Sheriff Sean Casey; Noraine Buttar, Youth Development Team Leader, DCHS; SAPCA Chair Allen Lomax. Front row from left to right: Vice Mayor Amy Jackson; Melissa Riddy, Director, Eastern Region, Government & Community Relations at Inova; Councilmember Sarah Bagley; Kate Garvey, Director, DCHS; Mayor Justin Wilson.
SAPCA’s 15 year anniversary 2023_7
SAPCA recognized some of our community's Prevention Champions for their dedication to advancing substance use prevention efforts in the City of Alexandria, including: Alexandria City High School Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program (pictured); Dr. Stacey Swartz, Owner of the Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray; Vilma Zefran, TV/Media Production Teacher at Alexandria City High School
SAPCA’s 15 year anniversary 2023_3
SAPCA Chair Allen Lomax recognized SAPCA's school and community partners for their collaboration in preventing youth substance use