DEL NORTE— The Del Norte Youth Prevention Council (PYC) unveiled their new Dream station on Monday morning. PYC members Alycia Dupont and Dasiah Atencio introduced the mission of the new station, for “students to be able to express themselves and share dreams and goals with one another” in the relaxing setting provided.

The dream station idea was conceived and designed by the PYC members. The PYC is a division of the Rio Grande Prevention Partners and Communities that Care program. There are currently PYCs in both Del Norte High School and Monte Vista High School. 

Counselor Michelle Romero encouraged all the high school students to see the station as an opportunity to get away from the daily grind and remind themselves of what they hope to accomplish. She also reminded the students, teachers, administrators and board members that prevention isn’t just about “telling you not to use drugs or not to do this or that,” it’s also about encouraging and building up positive activities and opportunities for students to focus on what they have the potential to accomplish, which is what the dream station represents.

Nancy Molina, Rio Grande County Prevention Partners (RGPP) coordinator, explained the history of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment grant for the Communities that Care program, a five-step process to implement evidence-based prevention methods to address community risk factors for problem behaviors and substance use and build the existing protective factors against those issues. Molina explained how the RGPP community board, key leaders and youth councils came together to select the risk factors most pertinent in Rio Grande County, “low neighborhood attachment and community disorganization” and “early initiation of problem behavior (substance use).”

The Communities that Care program also focuses on youth-positive and youth-led activities using the social development strategy. Accordingly, Romero announced the PYC has $2,000 to develop positive activities to break the stigma of small-town life for youth and overcome the stereotypes that plague them, like “we live in a small town; there’s nothing for teenagers to do on the weekends but drink.” The PYC has organized several upcoming activities for Del Norte High School students to participate in, including paying for tickets and a school bus to take them to a free showing of “Maze Runner: The Death Cure” at the Vali Theater in Monte Vista this Friday. There will also be a spoken word/open mic night on Thursday, April 12 in the high school auditorium, pizza and a surprise concert in the commons on April 25 at noon and a free swim night at the Sand Dunes Pool on Thursday, May 10.

Members of the Del Norte PYC include Alison Lofley, Carlee Leroux, Chandler Mondragon, Dasiah Atencio, Gina Lujan, Isabella Arellano, Jacob Maestas, Max Garcia, Mayah Dominguez, Tristan Baca, Zane Palmgren and Alycia Dupont.