Throughout the week of October 20-26, IUSD schools, Irvine Unified Council PTA, the City of Irvine and the Irvine Police Department, parents and students will join forces to champion the Red Ribbon Week theme of “Life is a Movie – Starring Healthy Choices.”
Each school will be participating in various activities throughout the week, such as:
- Practicing connection with one another by writing gratitude notes to their friends, teachers and other staff
- Walk To School Day, which is a day to practice walking out on drugs and bad decisions
- Practicing scenarios on how to say no to drugs
- Taking the “Red-y to Pledge”
Red Ribbon Week provides an opportunity for individuals and communities to learn more about mental health and wellness resources and take a visible stand against drugs. In IUSD, the focus is on raising awareness about educational resources, programs and services that promote the well-being and full potential of youth, free from the influence of drugs.
Remembering Kiki
To honor Drug Enforcement Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was murdered by drug traffickers in 1985, the Red Ribbon Campaign® was established with a mission to present a unified and visible commitment towards the creation of a drug free America.
Kiki was a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Agent working in Guadalajara, Mexico in the 1980s. On Feb. 7, 1985, Camarena, a former Marine on the trail of a multibillion-dollar drug trafficking operation, was abducted by five armed men who forced him into a car as he left his office to meet his wife for lunch.
Camarena’s body was discovered a month later in the Mexican state of Michoacan. At 37, he was survived by his wife Mika and their three children.
Shocked and heartbroken, friends and neighbors mourned the violent slaying by wearing red satin badges, and “Camarena Clubs” popped up at schools in Kiki’s hometown of Calexico. Meanwhile, parents formed coalitions to stand against drug and alcohol abuse, and some of them adopted the red ribbon as a symbol of the DEA agent’s sacrifice and a pledge to pursue drug-free lives.
During Red Ribbon Week, the entire community is invited to wear red ribbons or wristbands to symbolize a commitment to celebrate life and promote well-being. Check with your schools for additional details on activities and initiatives.