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Supporting the coalition of DanceSafe chapters, which includes PartySmart
DanceSafe is a coalition of harm-reduction groups operating throughout North America. It
relies on volunteers from these local chapters to take on projects that support the entire coalition. As
one of the most active and experienced chapters, with a strong base of volunteers, PartySmart has the
opportunity and the responsibility to organize and participate in projects that strengthen DanceSafe
overall.
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PartySmart works hard to help new harm-reduction groups get off the ground, and to become
DanceSafe chapters if they so choose. We moderate a
discussion forum
for rave harm-reduction groups, many of which become DanceSafe chapters. In this forum, we answer questions,
make connections, and offer encouragement to anyone who wishes to start a group, find a nearby group to join,
or share their experiences in organizing and running their group. We maintain a database of rave
harm-reduction groups around the world, and of people who have expressed interest in starting groups. We
use this to connect people with others in their local area who have the same interest. We work closely
with new groups in our region, mentoring them and helping them to become established. Some of the
DanceSafe chapters we have helped to establish are:
- Colorado Harm Reduction (Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, CO), May, 2000.
- People of Lubbock Understand Responsibility (Lubbock, TX), December, 2001.
- Unified Culture Awareness Program (Southern New Mexico
& El Paso, TX), February – May, 2002.
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The DanceSafe literaure, and especially the drug information cards, needs to be kept up to
date, accurate, relevant, and appealing to their intended audience. This literature is used worldwide, and
is unique for its honesty, non-judgemental tone, relevance to young people, and especially for its appealing
design. PartySmart participates in the DanceSafe literature development committee, and has taken
responsibility for updating the Heroin card. We will help to translate information into Spanish, to develop
new drug cards, and to design new literature for other areas of health and safety that meets the same
standards of honesty, tone, relevance, and appeal.
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PartySmart participates in and helps to organize meetings of the DanceSafe chapters. These
meetings are typically organized to coincide with harm-reduction or drug-policy reform conferences. In June,
2001, PartySmart hosted and helped to plan and facilitate the meeting of DanceSafe chapters in Albuquerque,
in conjunction with a drug-policy reform conference organized by the Drug
Policy Alliance. This meeting was attended by forty DanceSafe representatives from all over North
America. Special thanks go to PartySmart volunteers Amber (transportation), Dylan & Julie
(conference booth), Geoff (accommodations, entertainment, facilities, planning); and to DanceSafe
volunteers Bryan (Sacramento) and Jamie (Buffalo) for planning and facilitation. Some of the coalition
meetings that we have attended or plan to attend are:
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The mission of many DanceSafe chapters is broader than that of DanceSafe itself (“To promote
health and safety within the rave and nightclub community”). Many chapters have outreach projects that serve
other communities. For example, several chapters (including PartySmart) are involved in assisting schools and
colleges with drug education. Some chapters are naturally drawn into the area of drug policy reform.
PartySmart is helping to revise the DanceSafe mission to support these advocacy and outreach program
areas.
PartySmart is involved in development of new programs for drug education in schools and
colleges, emphasizing health and safety, and based on empowerment, honesty, and respect. This includes
development of program evaluation criteria, school curriculum, literature, and training programs. It
involves working with state departments of health and education, school district administration,
teachers, counselors, nurses, and students.
PartySmart is involved in development of DanceSafe’s
Safe Settings Program.
We moderate a discussion
forum for safe settings, and we maintain a collection of
internet resources from around the world, where work
has been done in the area of safe settings.
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In order to demonstrate success, we need to measure the achievements of our programs. While
each chapter may have a different mission and different programs, all chapters have some goals in common. We
need to develop common criteria and objectives to measure progress toward these goals. With the goals of our
Rave & Nightclub Health & Safety program as a guide,
PartySmart is developing such criteria and objectives. One thing is clear: we must go beyond measures of
individual health, and consider also the health of our communities.
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