Friday Night Live
The Fresno Prevention and Early Intervention Program is divided into four health equity issue areas: underage alcohol use, underage marijuana use, prescription drug abuse, and Youth Leadership development on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD). Young people in these programs use the Friday Night Live curriculum to create campaigns that address ATOD.
yli leads this work in Fresno County in partnership with several key organizations, including the Department of Behavioral Health, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, and California Friday Night Live Partnership.
Reducing Alcohol Access to Youth (RAAY)/Reducing Marijuana Access to Youth (RMAY)/Reducing Prescription Drug Access to Youth (RPDAY)
These programs build the capacity of FNL program youth to implement campaigns that help their peers steer clear of alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs. In partnership with their adult allies, youth utilize media, social norms messaging, and community education and information dissemination to address the root cause of underage alcohol use in their communities.
Friday Night Live (FNL)
FNL is a statewide program that uses positive youth leadership development to address and prevent underage alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) use. At yli, we take a social justice lens to the work, shifting the focus from individual behaviors to the larger patterns of injustice that target low-income youth of color and encourage unhealthy behaviors. By helping youth identify issues in their communities, conduct research, and implement media and policy campaigns, yli doesn’t simply deter young people from substance abuse. We help to shape powerful advocates who create lasting change in their communities.
Fresno FNL Sites
FNL (high school)
- Roosevelt & Sunnyside — Valeria Salazar
- Kerman — Hilda Osuna Perez
- Tranquility — Hilda Osuna Perez
- Selma, Reedley Middle College & Orange Cove — Michelle Purnell
- Edison — Zyanna Maynard
- Mendota Unified – Mari Valencia-Figueroa
- Central Unified – Edith Martinez
- Fresno and McLane – JV Villarreal
Club Live (middle school)
- Gaston Middle — Zyanna Maynard
- Sequoia Middle School – Valeria Salazar
- Kerman Middle — Hilda Osuna Perez
- San Joaquin Elementary — Edith Martinez
- Mendota Middle- Mari Valencia-Figueroa
FNL Kids (elementary school)
- Hacienda Heights & The Parks at Fig Garden — Emily Rivas and Julio Lopez
- Summer Park & Fenix Apartments — Emily Rivas and Julio Lopez
FNL Mentoring
Friday Night Live Mentoring (FNLM) provides opportunities for young people to be in ongoing, mutually beneficial, caring relationships, which strengthen a young person’s resiliency to the challenges they face in life. FNL Mentoring pairs high school and middle school youth together for a year long peer-to-peer partnership that works on developing leaders as well as increase engagement of both the mentor and protege.
Youth-Led Campaign Wins
Our FNL youth leaders have led critical policy wins that protect youth and communities of color from predatory marketing.
In 2020, after an 8-year campaign, yli FNL youth claimed victory with the passing of The Responsible Neighborhood Market Act, which limits the number of liquor licenses that can be obtained by local markets. In parts of Fresno – which has gained notoriety as the “drunkest city in America” – there is one liquor store for every 500 residents, which is five times more than recommended by the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control.
In 2022, RAAY and RMAY youth came together to create a positive social norms campaign during graduation season. This campaign involved youth-led research that counteracted misperceptions of underage substance use and helped to normalize healthy activities.
Interested in Joining?
Programs are open to all youth at each site — please contact the site coordinator for more information about meeting times.