Looking Back

A Quick History of the San Luis Obispo County Friday Night Live Partnership

First SLO FNL County Coordinator Dale Magee and youth at TeenWork in the early 90's
1984 The California Friday Night Live (FNL) Program was developed in 1984 in Sacramento by the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP) and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). It began as a pilot program dedicated to reducing the number of deaths and injuries caused by teen motorists driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. By 1990, the number of counties with the FNL Program had increased 300%.
1988 Due to the overwhelming success of Friday Night Live, a middle/junior high school component was developed in 1988, and in 1990, the Friday Night Live Kids (FNL Kids) Program was developed, which focused on youth in the 4th through 6th grades. By 1994, 48 counties had also implemented the CL Program and /or the FNL Kids Program.
1991 An Advisory Committee was launched in San Luis Obispo County with input from parents, youth, educators, and drug and alcohol specialists to determine how best to implement FNL in SLO. A kick-off was launched at San Luis Obispo HS and Atascadero HS, with four other high schools soon after. To strengthen the program, a partnership was formed between the County's Department of Drug & Alcohol Services, and a newly established non-profit organization, Friday Night Live of SLO County!

Early fund-raising: Musical Chairs at the late, great, Central Coast Mall
1994 FNL County Coordinator, Frank Warren, is hired and soon the biggest haunted house on the Central Coast begins a five-year run!
1996 TeenQuest, the County's first youth development conference for high school and middle school youth is launched as a partnership with the County Office of Education and the National Guard.

In March of 1996, the California State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, through the request for proposals bid process, formed California Friday Night Live Partnership to assume the responsibility of providing leadership and field support to FNL/CL/FNL Kids programs in counties throughout the state.
1998 San Luis Obispo County Friday Night Live Partnership becomes on of five pilot Counties to launch FNL Mentoring, matching high schoolers with middle schoolers for academic and social asset building. In that year, SLO County also launched FNL Kids in the Lucia Mar Unified School District.
1999 The annual Countywide Mock Rock finals sell out at the newly established home of Mock Rock, the Performing Arts Center at Cal Poly!
2000 SLOFNLP hosts the premiere of local author Catherine Ryan Hyde's film version of "Pay It Forward."

Club Live is launched in San Luis Obispo County!
2001 San Luis Obispo County celebrates 10 years of Friday Night Live!

The Friday Night Live Board of Directors welcomes back youth to the Board and youth take intern staff positions at SLO FNL headquarters!
2002 Results from the Youth Leadership Institute's first Youth Development Survey of SLO County FNL/CL Members demonstrates that "participants average 2 activities per month;" "most youth (65%)stay involved more than one year;" "participants report feeling involved and able to contribute to their community;" "youth report FNL gives opportunities for challenging activities and specific skill building;" "youth report experiencing supportive relationships;" "the highest reporting was related to providing a safe environment for FNL/CL young people." All of the results correlate directly to AOD prevention and resiliency outcomes .
2003 SLO FNL is expanded to 8 rural schools as part of County Drug and Alcohol Services being awarded one of the State's Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities grants.

The Club Live Challenge Day is a huge success as middle schoolers and Cal Poly engineers partner up to conceive and build awesome teamwork events!

2004 The San Luis Obispo County Youth Council launches "Casey's Pledge," to honor Casey Goodwin and reduce alcohol-related issues amongst peers in our County and across California.

SLO FNL currently hosts over 30 Chapters countywide!