Raising the Bar: Keep Youth Events Substance Free by the Lisa Kline, Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships (A Community Center partner in our Youth Substance Use Prevention efforts) When the Whole Village Shows Up
That's what Raising the Bar is really about: showing our kids that connection, joy, and celebration don't need alcohol to be real or meaningful. The Ripple Effect When parents skip the alcohol at the soccer game, when caregivers choose spar- kling water at the school fundraiser, when families celebrate tournaments with picnics instead of tailgate parties—kids notice. They absorb the message that fun doesn't require a buzz and that adulting doesn't mean automatic drinking. There are other ways to unwind, connect, and celebrate. This isn't about giving up adult beverages. It's about being thoughtful about when and where . It's about recognizing that youth events—games, performances, school celebrations—are spaces that belong to kids. And in those spaces, our choices as adults matter deeply. Collective Impact Every single school district in Marin County has joined Raising the Bar, along with private schools and nearly two dozen youth organizations. That's hundreds of schools, thousands of events, and countless moments where adults are choosing to model something different. Why does county-wide participation matter? Because consistency creates culture. When kids see substance-free youth events as the norm everywhere they go—not just at their school, but at their cousin's school across town, at the regional tourna- ment, at the county-wide performance—it stops feeling like a rule and starts feel- ing like reality. It Really Does Take a Village Raising the Bar provides the tools—signage for fields, conversation starters for par- ents, research to back up why this matters. But the real work happens in the small, everyday choices: choosing what goes in the cooler, deciding how to celebrate after the big win, thinking twice about what you're modeling when young eyes are watching. Every time an adult chooses a substance-free celebration at a youth event, they’re creating a different kind of normal. They're telling kids: You deserve spaces that are fully about you. Your achievements, your joy, your community.
Picture this: It's a crisp Saturday morning. Kids are warming up for the game, par- ents are setting up snacks, and there's that familiar excitement in the air. Someone pulls out a cooler. Inside? Water bottles, juice boxes, and yes—beer for the adults.
It seems harmless enough. Just a casual drink while cheering on the team, right?
But here's what we've learned: our kids are watching. And what they see shapes what they believe is normal, expected, and even cool. This realization hit home back in 2017 when we looked at some troubling local data. Adult drinking rates were high. Youth drinking rates mirrored them closely. The con- nection became impossible to ignore: when kids consistently see adults drinking at their events, it sends a powerful message about when and where alcohol belongs.
That insight sparked a change at youth-centered events with the creation of Raising the Bar.
The goal wasn’t only to remove alcohol from kid-focused spaces, it was to support parents in navigating the why and the how. Through the Raising the Bar Parent Toolkit, families get clear, research-backed guidance that tackles common myths around substance use, along with practical tools for real-life moments. The toolkit helps parents to confidently set expectations for kid-centered parties, invite guests to alcohol-free events, and have calm, respectful conversations that keep the focus where it belongs: on the kids. Because, for many parents, the hardest part isn’t agreeing with the idea; it’s knowing what to say and how to say it without tension or awkwardness. What Marin Does Differently Fast forward to today, and every school here has joined Raising the Bar, choosing to model a different kind of celebration at youth events. Not because anyone's being judged or policed, but because we're choosing to be intentional about what we're showing our kids. Think about the last time you really celebrated something—a birthday, a promo- tion, a friend coming home. What made it special? Chances are, it wasn't what you were drinking. It was the people, the stories, the moment itself.
If you’re curious about parent modeling, want to get involved with Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships programs, or simply learn more about underage substance use in Marin, we’d love to connect. Reach out anytime at info@mhyp.org. For practical tools to help you plan kid-focused events, confidently communicate with other families, and better understand what’s happening locally, visit rtbmarin.org to explore our resources. The Desert Story. by Aiden Olsen.
VAST Tutoring by Lori Ramirez
As the VAST Manager, I’m pleased to feature the writing of Aiden Olsen, an 8th-grade student in the Valley After School Tutoring (VAST) program. Aiden has been meeting weekly with his tutor, Julie Egger, where he has been working to strengthen and refine his writing skills. The story below reflects his creativity, growth, and commitment to developing his voice as a writer. Aiden’s publication is a wonderful example of how hard work and dedication pay off. Congratulations to Aiden on this accomplishment and on the persistence he has shown throughout the process. VAST provides low-cost, affordable tutoring for students in our community who want to build confidence, strengthen academic skills, or fine-tune areas of inter- est—even if they’re not struggling in school. We work alongside teachers, students, and parents to create goals and support student success. For more information about the VAST program, please contact Lori Ramirez at lramirez@sgvcc.org.
One day, we were traveling across the vast desert under the blazing sun, wondering about our existence. We were driving across a road, we crashed, then we ended up here, in the desert, clawing on just to stay conscious. It was dreadful being exposed to this exhausting weather and wondered if we would exist in the morrow. We stumbled upon a mysterious shack, just sitting there, waiting for others to explore it. However, there was no other inhabitants in the vicinity, so it was up to our party, entering with premonition. There wasn’t much in the shack, a couch, chair, coffee table, and many jugs of water, but there was a door leading into another room, the number one written on the front. We hesitantly tried to open the door, however it was jammed shut with a sledge hammer. We moved the hammer aside and opened the door. To our sur- prise, a small man, smoking a cigar, was behind the door, holding onto a wild lion. “Hello weary travelers” the man said in a hoarse voice, “My name is Finn. Now who are you, you contemptible scoundrels?” “Oh! Excu…se u..s, We j…st c…ame in f…rom th..e hor..rendous h..eat”. The man sat up slowly, lighting another cigar, “I see, I see, but this is no excuse to come into my house unannounced”. “Well, we are sorry. Can we talk about this later???” This room wasn’t nearly as bland as the last, it had a couch, a dining table in the middle, and a few other nice decorations. We decided, hesitantly, to come in and find out the particulars of this place and Finn. “I would suggest you run” the man shouted, as he released his lion. “It will hurt tremendously if you don’t, TRUST ME!! ”
Now, enjoy Aiden’s story…
VAST tutoring is looking for tutors! If you have time, interest and energy and would like to help a student academically succeed, then VAST is the place for you. Seeking tutors for all subjects especially Middle School Math. $25/hour.
To be continued……
If interested please reach out to lramirez@ sgvcc.org
SGV Community Center Stone Soup Page 7
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