School-based prevention

Mariposa

Mariposa is a life-skills and leadership program for fifth-grade girls, including any students who identify as female, in the Walla Walla School District.

The  curriculum focuses on skills and topics that will help students build healthy relationships and become effective leaders in their communities.

The program offers:

  • Goal setting
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Speaking assertively
  • Conflict resolution
  • Self-confidence

Mariposa is designed to equitably provide these lessons for girls in the district, regardless of race, socioeconomic class, or any other potential systemic barriers. Mariposa works to empower girls and eliminate racism by creating a new generation of confident female leaders.

Started in 1997 at the Farm Labor Homes as a response to the high Latina drop-out rate, Mariposa is now offered to all girls at Blue Ridge, Sharpstein, Edison, Green Park, and Berney elementary schools.

A complementary program for boys, in the works in 2019, was just getting off the ground when the Covid-19 pandemic forced all student programs to move to the virtual space. Mariposa leaders are looking ahead to a time when Mariposa content can be offered to all genders.

Raven

An outreach program for high school students is in development that will emphasize relationship skills and important conversations about social media and mental health.