MIAMI GARDENS — The Universal Truth Center for Better Living in Miami Gardens will host the second annual City of Miami Gardens Red Ribbon Kick-Off Celebration from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 29.

 

It will launch Red Ribbon Week, an annual national campaign to promote drug prevention awareness that takes place Oct. 23-31.

The event will open with an “I Am Drug Free” parade that will depart from the church, 21310 NW 37th Ave., proceed south down Northwest 37th Avenue to 207th Street and then convene at Vista Verde Park for musical selections by school bands before returning to the church via 213th Street. The parade line-up will begin at 9 a.m.

Light refreshments and participation gifts will be distributed. Representatives from more than 15 community organizations will be available at the church to answer questions about their services and distribute educational literature about making healthy, sensible lifestyle choices. 

The festivities will culminate in a program featuring a guest speaker, entertainment by performing artists, and reflections from Miami-Dade County and Miami Gardens officials.

The UTC Enrique Camarena Award will be presented to an individual from the Miami Gardens police department who has made a significant contribution in the field of drug prevention in the local community. The honoree’s name has not yet been released.

The event is being sponsored by Informed Families/The Florida Family Partnership, with the support of the Miami Gardens police department, the Jessie Trice Community Health Center, The Children’s Trust, the Department of Children and Families, the Youth Violence Prevention Coalition of Miami Gardens/Opa-locka, the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Champion Learning Inc., the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex, and schools, churches and businesses.

For more information, call the program chairwoman, Jacqueline Hazél, at 305-801-8100 or e-mail j_hazel@bellsouth.net