Friday Nights Look Lively for Stockton Teens

There’s always a need to find positive and uplifting activities for teens. One such group has made a significant impact for Stockton Early College Academy and is receiving state and local recognition. Friday Night Live, or FNL, whose California headquarters are in Tulare, has been a positive outreach for teens and provides healthy and fun alternatives for student engagement such as games, service-learning projects, open mic nights and turkey trots.

FNL got its start in 1984 and was developed by the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, or ADP, now the California Department of Health Care Services. At its inception, FNL was geared toward promoting the dangers of drunk driving, through MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Over time the organization has extended to other preventive initiatives, including tobacco, vaping risks and forewarning the harmful effects of cannabis use.

Tom Hoang, a teacher at Stockton Early College Academy, or SECA, brought the club to his campus in 2012. Tom shared how the students have built a strong community through FNL. In addition to educating students on service projects that center around mental health and substance abuse prevention, the club partners with their Associated Student Body to put on safe and fun school events such as movie night, game night, Fun in the Sun and other healthy alternatives to encourage positive wellbeing. “We work with our student leadership to give kids a way to come together where they are supported in a fun and relaxing atmosphere,” Tom affirmed.

But the positivity doesn’t stop at SECA’s campus. For the last four years, SECA’s FNL chapter has received local and state recognition for their involvement in mental health projects and prevention. “We’ve won two grants for prevention awareness of underage drinking and cannabis use,” he continued. SECA’s chapter also won the ABC Award and received San Joaquin County recognition for their mental health presentations at their annual Leadership Summit, particularly geared toward helping kids with mental health strategies to come out of the pandemic and back into the classroom.

Senior Cesar Silverio-Garcia, who’s been in FNL for three years, acknowledged how the club brings teens together and educates. “I like that I get to connect to other people who have similar goals and similar ideas, especially when it comes to spreading awareness for certain projects.” Students are realizing that research and presentations are paying off and empowering others around them. “After researching and seeing just how little people know, it helped me realize that it is important to educate to help others and keep them safe,” said senior Amairany Garcia-Gallardo after presenting this past fall about the harmful effects of underage drinking. Junior Kamilla Mansilla also sees how the SECA campus is reaching larger audiences. “Our small community doesn’t stop at how big an impact we are making,” she confirmed.

FNL club is already planning ahead for 2026-2027, when their research and topics will center around the effects of cannabis use. Their presentations offer a unique way to connect with elementary communities that look up to high schoolers who serve as role models and positive influences. “I believe that we’re bringing awareness to the usage in younger communities,” reported FNL president Bailey Moore. “There are so many opportunities to get involved and become active; once you are involved, I feel like it never stops.”

To learn more about Friday Night Live or what the students of Stockton Early College Academy are doing for their service projects, check out the FNL State website at fridaynightlive.tcoe.org/about-us/cfnlp or Stockton Early College Academy at seca.stocktonusd.net.