Photos: Mt. Hope Students Fight Substance Abuse With Project Purple

Members of the Mosaico Youth Experiencing Success (YES!) Program at Mt. Hope High School, led their peers in a show of support against substance use on Tuesday, April 24, by wearing the color purple. The project, started by former NBA player Chris Herren, has played a prominent role in the YES! program at Mt. Hope.

"Chris actually acknowledged Mt. Hope as the reason for the choice of the color purple," said Colleen Powers, Program Coordinator for the YES! Program. "And we had the most fun supporting the anti-substance abuse message."

Project Purple is an initiative of The Herren Project, a non-profit foundation established by former NBA basketball player, Chris Herren, that assists individuals and families struggling with addiction. Project Purple was launched to break the stigma of addiction, bring awareness to the dangers of substance abuse and shed light on effective treatment practices.

At Mt. Hope, students made purple ribbons for their fellow students to show their support, made purple posters for classroom doors and students signed their name in support, and decorated the outside of the school. Students also each decorated their own purple t-shirt to show their individuality while still unified in their anti-drug message.

"As the school that inspired you to use the color purple in your Project Purple message, we were proud to celebrate this day with you," Powers said in an email to Herren following the event. "We look forward to next year!"

Editor's Note: Thank you to Colleen Powers for sending in the great shots of the YES! program students at work!