This paper tells the story of the multi-layered translational process of the Drug Resistance Strategies Project. The Drug Resistance Strategies Project provides an exemplar of translational scholarship, translating adolescent narratives about their substance use experiences into an efficacious, substance abuse prevention middle school curriculum. The curriculum, called "keepin' it REAL," was developed using the principle of cultural grounding and translational performances and has been found to reduce adolescent substance use. The authors tell the story of this project from its inception to its current role as a model substance abuse prevention program. (Contains 1 figure and 2 notes.)