On Saturday, August 21, the Vida Del Norte Coalition, along with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps and other community organizations, hosted the Kids Matter Music Fest in Questa near the old La Cienega School. This event was held as a fundraiser for a skate park in Questa for our youth. It was also an opportunity for the community to have a fun and festive time in an environment free from alcohol and drugs. People of all ages were in attendance, and it was a great success!
This past summer the Refuse to Provide Campaign was launched: The first phase of the project requests individuals to sign a pledge to never provide alcohol to minors. This pledge is available online at: www.taosalive.org/refuse. The second phase of the Refuse to Provide Campaign was “Redefining the Word Party.” The Kids Matter Music Fest was a great example of this.
Courtesy photo: Retired National Guard Sergeant Lola Gallegos and Sergeant Deandre Smith reunite at the Kids Matter Music Fest. 
Photo by Martha Shepp: Mariachi Cielo played their hearts out! 
Courtesy photo: “The Crew”—Some of the Vida Del Norte Coalition members pose for a group photo. 
Courtesy photo: Questa High School and Middle School Mariachi Band impress the crowd at the Kids Matter Music Fest.
The music lineup started with Mariachi Cielo (a four-piece Mariachi group from Taos), then Questa Schools Mariachi. This talented group of young people makes Questa proud! The headlining act, the UZ band (also from Taos) got people of all ages up and dancing.
Members of the New Mexico National Guard’s Joint Counterdrug Task Force were there, with an inflatable obstacle course and fatal vision goggles which simulate how a person sees out of their eyes when they are impaired by alcohol or other substances.
Vida Del Norte and the other organizers of this event offer their thanks to the National Guard for their participation, the bands for their wonderful performances, all the volunteers who helped make this event possible, everyone who helped advertise, and all of the families and individuals who came out to participate. Together we can “redefine the word party” and come together as a community to have fun without alcohol and drugs and help prevent youth substance misuse!
