Public Service Announcement, Produced In Film, Stars Local Students And Community Members

ST. CROIX — The Virgin Islands Partners and Recovery (VIPR), widely known as The Village, and the Virgin Islands Coalition Against Underage Substance Abuse (VICAUSA), debuted two locally produced prevention public service announcements last week in commemoration of Red Ribbon Week, the longest-standing and largest drug prevention initiative in the nation, a press release VIPR issued on Tuesday makes known. Above, the short film discouraging drug use.

According to the release, it was a pleasure collaborating with the students of the St. Croix Educational Complex drama class and concerned residents living here.

The short film, titled “The Choice is Yours”, tells the story of Kareem, a star basketball player at the Educational Complex who decides to celebrate an important victory at a party with his friends. The night takes a turn for the worse when he decides to consume too much alcohol.

The film’s producer and director, Peter Sagnia, shot the short movie at the Educational Complex and Victorious Believers Ministries. “It was a fun experience working with the first-time actors,” he said. “They did an excellent job and really put their all into it. They are very disciplined kids.”

The short film debuted on The Village VIPR parent organization WestCare Videos YouTube page. The 60 second version will be aired before movie showings at the Sunny Isle Theatre and on Alpha Broadcasting, Inc./Channel 8.

Along with the short film, VIPR and VICAUSA also produced a second PSA titled “What is Prevention?”, featuring several community members, including Pastor Reginald Perry of Victorious Believers Ministries; Irene Cruz, executive director of Sister 2 Sister, a Speak the Word Ministries subsidiary; Dr. Ron Heron, clinical psychologist from VIPR; Marcos Soto, IT director at Department of Property and Procurement; Diane Hampton, VICAUSA member; Kendra Young, VICAUSA member; and students from St. Croix Educational Complex.

“We all need to become aware of possible consequences of underage alcohol and drug use in our community,” said VIPR Vice President Kendall Tutein. “The youth need to understand how important the choices they make are for their future and adults in our community need to know it takes all of us to keep our children safe from accessing alcohol and drugs.”

All of the prevention public service announcements were funded by the VI Department of Health, Strategic Prevention Framework- State Incentive Grant #5U79SP015592-05.