AN INTERVIEW WITH DAVID DHILLON,
FOUNDER OF THE 1ST CAMARENA CLUB

By Jennifer Brady for The Guidance Channel

GC: What inspired the Camarena Club and when did it begin?

Mr. Dhillon: I was a first year teacher at Calexico High School and was working with the school`s Just Say No program. Just a few months into the program, Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, a DEA agent from Calexico, was kidnapped and killed by Mexican drug lords. Congressman Duncan Hunter came down to the campus and asked me if I would change the name of our club to the Camarena Club.

There was absolutely no debate about dedicating that movement to him. Kiki was born and raised in Calexico. My uncles who were involved in law enforcement knew him personally -- everyone knew him. He was someone who basically gave up his life to try to prevent drug addiction -- the most deteriorating disease in our society, especially amongst kids. He represented something that I had to stand behind then and still stand behind today.

GC: What was the mission of the Camarena Club?

Mr. Dhillon: The club brought a coalition of youth together on campus to promote drug-free activities. It was geared around a positive message -- not a scare tactic approach. It was designed to promote anti-drug behavior and to let young people know that they didn`t need to engage in drug use.

GC: How did the Camarena Club evolve into the National Red Ribbon Week campaign?

Mr. Dhillon: Following Nancy Reagan`s lead on wearing red to tell everyone that you are drug-free, we initiated a red ribbon parade. It evolved in our community to the point where they are still doing it every year. We were told that what we did inspired many other communities.

GC: What steps do you attribute to the success of the Camarena Club?

Mr. Dhillon: I believe that the fact that it honors a hometown native makes it work.

GC: Because it`s personal to the people in your community?

Mr. Dhillon: I think so. In our community, if you didn`t know Kiki Camarena -- you knew someone who did. People are still compelled by the loss of Kiki, even though he was killed fifteen years ago. I think that`s kept the movement going strong and it will probably remain strong for many decades to come. And now it is being passed on through the generations, as the graduates of the club now have their own children and will hopefully keep them off of drugs.

GC: What advice can you offer other prevention clubs around the country?

Mr. Dhillon: Keep the message simple and be inclusive of people that have used drugs in the past. Drug usage is a weakness of mind and a weakness of heart. We have to understand that. Don`t condemn the users. It isn`t always their fault -- be patient. I have seen the power of people who have struggled through this horrible nightmare for years who later became drug prevention spokespersons.

GC: How can we take a tragic loss, such as the murder of Kiki Camarena, and transform it into something positive?

Mr. Dhillon: The murder of Kiki Camarena was indeed transformed into something positive. I think that the beauty of our society is that anytime there is something catastrophic it is possible for something to follow that is absolutely fabulous. While it is extremely unfortunate that this man was brutally killed and his family was put through tremendous anguish, it has become a vehicle to educate our youth that drugs are a brutal game.

There are a lot of pressures on young people today. We have to try to put our arms around them and make them realize that people do care -- there is a brighter day ahead. They can withstand the pressures to use drugs. If Kiki Camarena can die for this country and his family can go through such anguish for this nation, we can at least do our best to say no to these dangerous chemicals that shorten our lives.

GC: How does Red Ribbon Week help to keep young people off drugs?

Mr. Dhillon: I like to compare Red Ribbon to going to church. I always feel better coming out than going in. Red Ribbon parades give people the opportunity to coalesce in a march they can feel good about. You realize that there is a strong -- not a passive -- movement to say no to drugs. There is power in numbers. It provides us with a way to reinforce the positive and to educate people that a drug-free lifestyle is a priority of this nation.

That was my approach in forming the first red ribbon parade. I wasn`t looking for people to race up to us and say, "I use cocaine, but now I am not going to." I knew that wasn`t realistic. But to let them know that we are not afraid to say we are drug-free, that it`s cool to be drug-free. I have never used a drug in my life and I always tell the kids that I have never given myself an opportunity to inhale. It is important to be a role model and to let young people know that life is fine without drugs. They are on the winning team by staying drug-free. That was always the concept behind the red ribbon -- and it caught on!

GC: What do you envision for the future of the Red Ribbon Week campaign?

Mr. Dhillon: I would hope that it grows everywhere. Our national, state and local leaders have to continue to put money into prevention. As a local politician, I believe that a dollar spent on prevention today saves six, seven, or eight spent tomorrow. I hope that local governments working with school districts and nonprofits emphasize promoting drug-free behavior and self-empowerment. Drugs affect all aspects of life, from employment to education. They also impact all segments of our society. I hope that Red Ribbon Week can unite politicians, faith communities, nonprofits, schools and communities to collaborate on addressing this critical issue.

ABOUT DAVID DHILLON

David Dhillon a lifelong resident of El Centro, California has spent his entire professional career as a public official. He was elected to the El Centro City Council in 1985 and has served as Mayor for three of those years.

During these 16 years, Mr. Dhillon has taught at Calexico and Central Union High Schools. Calexico High School is where he founded the Kiki Camarena Club. Dhillon has also represented the Diocese of San Diego as the Imperial Valley Director of Catholic Charities. He ran nine separate non-profit programs ranging from youth and homelessness, emergency food programs, Senior Citizen programs and counseling. Dhillon was responsible for obtaining over $350,000 in grants awarded to Catholic Charities and over 200 tons of food products donated.

Dhillon is currently the founder of the project for Immigrant Lives, an agency of the Southern California Association of Governments, promoting awareness to immigrants dying in the Imperial Valley deserts in the quest to find employment in America.