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Messages Which Are Hopeful..... MWAH!

Messages which are hopeful...healthy...and hard to forget. Messages of energy...emotion...and creative thought. Messages from young people on a mission. A mission to stimulate others to think and to react in ways which are positive. A mission to influence others through the performing arts - dance...theatre...song...and mime - as well as through discussion and by example.



 Archives of Highlights can be found at MWAH! Highlight Archives.

Spring2013_1
Two appearances during the spring of 2013 by the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe in Menard County, northwest of Springfield - Athens High School in Athens on March 18th and PORTA High School in Petersburg on April 8. Athens and MWAH! dancers in upper left, PORTA and MWAH! dancers in lower left, and the troupe in upper right at Athens with (front row from left) Mary Kay Mace, Kay Daniel, and Bill Reed. Mary Kay Mace's daughter, Ryanne, was the youngest of the five students shot to death at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb on Valentine's Day of 2008; Kay Daniel heads the Menard County School and Community Task Force, sponsor of the troupe's two Menard County appearances; and Bill Reed is the principal of Athens High School and coordinator for the troupe's visit to his school.
(photo collage by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography)
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Snowflake 2013 1
Following its performance as part of the Livingston County Operation Snowflake retreat on March 9, 2013 the MWAH! troupe visited the Route 66 museum in downtown Pontiac, Illinois. From left are Chad Sype, Justice Henderson, Joshua Payne, Jacob Metoyer, Ashley Stonehouse, Sarah Saltiel, Taylor Oechsel, John Hix, Chris Oechsel, Jake Smith,
and Rob Delgado.
(photo by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography)
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Elgin IL 1
It was a snow day for the MWAH! troupe outside Abbott Middle School in Elgin, Illinois on February 28, 2013. In front (from left) are Chad Sype, Taylor Oechsel, Landon Ballard, and Luke Ballard. Standing behind them are Alex Oechsel, Rachel Plasch, Jacob Metoyer, Jake Smith, Leah Ballard, John Hix, Justice Henderson, Joshua Payne, and Rob Delgado.
(photo by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography)
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Davenport IA 1
MWAH! troupe members at a riverfront park in downtown Davenport, Iowa on January 23, 2013 following their keynote presentation and workshops as part of the 27th annual Quad Cities Youth Conference. From left are Joshua Payne, Alex Oechsel, Luke Ballard, Ashley Stonehouse, Leah Ballard, Justice Henderson, Taylor Oechsel, Landon Ballard, Rachel Plasch, Rob Delgado, John Hix, Sarah Saltiel, and Jacob Metoyer.
(photo by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography)
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For two separate video slideshows of additional photos of the MWAH! troupe's participation in the 2013 Quad Cities Youth Conference please click Here .
Davenport IA 2
Outside the River Center in downtown Davenport, Iowa - site for the Quad Cities Youth Conference on January 23-24, 2013 - are MWAH! troupe members (from left) Leah Ballard, Taylor Oechsel, Joshua Payne, Luke Ballard, Sarah Saltiel, Jacob Metoyer, John Hix, Rob Delgado, Ashley Stonehouse, Rachel Plasch, Alex Oechsel, Landon Ballard, and Justice Henderson.
(photo by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography)
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Davenport IA 3
MWAH! troupe members inside the Skybridge in downtown Davenport, Iowa on a frigid January 23, 2013 following their keynote presentation and workshops at the nearby River Center, site for the 27th annual Quad Cities Youth Conference involving high school and middle school students from throughout the Quad Cities area of southeast Iowa and northwest Illinois. In the background is the Centennial Bridge, which connects Davenport with Rock Island on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River.
(photo by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography)
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Palos Park MS 120312 1
Two views from a wooden foot-bridge near the Marseilles Elementary School in Marseilles, Illinois where the MWAH! troupe appeared September 10, 2012.

Shown standing (from left) are Leah Ballard, Jacob Metoyer, Alex Oechsel, Ashley Stonehouse, Taylor Oechsel, Jake Smith, Nick Miesuk, Rachel Plasch, Justice Henderson, Sarah Saltiel, and Rob Delgado.

(photos by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography)
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Palos Park MS 120312 1

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Palos Park MS 120312 1
The MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe following its performance for about 700 students and staff members on December 3, 2012 at Palos South Middle School in Palos Park, Illinois

In the front beneath the MWAH! banner is Landon Ballard.
Holding the banner are John Hix and Ashley Oechsel.
Behind the banner are (from left) Rob Delgado, Joshua Payne, Alex Oechsel, and Jacob Metoyer.
In the top row are Sarah Saltiel, Rachel Plasch, Leah Ballard, and Justice Henderson.

(photo by Lakeisha Davis-Brooks of V.O.E. Photography of Matteson, Illinois)
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Galesbury 1
The MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe following its presentation at Galesburg High School on October 9, 2012. Participating were the moms of two teenagers killed in a single car crash near Wataga, northeast of Galesburg, on August 10, 2011 - Dustin Frazier and Quinn Dombrow. The teens, who were best friends, had been GHS students. Dustin's mom, Cindy Burns, is second from left, and Quinn's mom, Heather Briscolino, is fourth from right. Kneeling behind a photo of Dustin and Quinn is Marcus Ross, a GHS senior who participated in the performance.
(photo by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography)

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Galesbury  2
A sunny day...a gentle breeze...and lots of falling leaves! It was beautiful fall weather outside Galesburg High School following a performance by the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe on October 9, 2012.
(photo by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography)
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Galesbury 4
The names say it all - both the troupe and the high school!
(photo by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography)
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Galesbury 5
A show of patriotism by the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe from the inside looking out at Galesburg High School following its presentation on October 9, 2012.
(photo by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography)
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Previously posted home page photos may be seen at MWAH! Home Page Photo History.


From throughout the Chicago area as well as other parts of Illinois, the youthful performing artists - because of their diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds - convey a message of hope and promise for the future. Their repertoire reflects the changing times in which we all live. Among the issues are finding healthy alternatives to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; resolving abusive relationship problems associated with bullying, jealousies, and control; eliminating discrimination stemming from differences among people; and developing coping skills when confronted with negative peer influences and low self-esteem.

A focal point for MWAH! is the importance of choices. An overall objective is to inspire young people to face life's challenges and opportunities with knowledge, confidence, and a positive self-image.

The troupe repertoire includes peer helper training and a workshop format in addition to a performance/presentation customized for:

  • schools
  • conferences
  • special events

MWAH! executive producer is Ray Moffitt. The troupe has been incorporated in Illinois as KDC/MWAH! Inc. (Kids Do Count/Messages Which Are Hopeful!), a not-for-profit, 501c3 registered charitable organization, and is an affiliate of the Chicago Area Project (CAP), which is part of a statewide community services network targeting at-risk youth and their families.

 TEEN HELP HERE!

Recent articles and videos about MWAH!

Blackhawk MS
For a video slideshow of a MWAH! appearance on May 6, 2013 at Blackhawk Middle School in Bensenville, Illinois, please click Here . The troupe is shown outside the main entrance to the school.
(photos and video slideshow by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography).

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Goose Lake
Dancers from both MWAH! and Northeast High School – Middle School in Goose Lake, Iowa following the troupe's issues–oriented presentation on April 22, 2013 inside the school's new auditorium. For a video slideshow from this appearance, please click Here . (video slideshow by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography)

Click Here to make the picture above Bigger

For a video slideshow of the troupe's presentation on April 8, 2013 at PORTA High School – an acronym for Petersburg, Oakford, Rock Creek, Tallula, and Atterbury) – Please click Here .
(photos and video by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography)


For a link to a video slideshow from an appearance on March 18, 2013 by the MWAH! troupe at Athens High School in Athens, Illinois in Menard County, northwest of Springfield, please click Here .
(photos and video by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography)


For a video slideshow of the MWAH! troupe's appearance on March 9, 2013 at the Livingston County Operation Snowflake retreat at Pontiac Junior High School in Pontiac, Illinois please click Here.
(photos and video slideshow by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography)


For a video slideshow about a MWAH! appearance at Abbott Middle School in Elgin, Illinois on February 28, 2013, please click Here. For a story in The Courier-News of Elgin on March 4, 2013, please click Here.
(video slideshow by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography)


A video slideshow of the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe from the FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) Section 11 conference on February 8, 2013 in Fairbury in central Illinois may be viewed Here.
(video and photos by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography)

Quad_1
The song 'Born This Way' featuring MWAH! artists Rachel Plasch, Alex Oechsel, Taylor Oechsel, and Justice Henderson during a keynote presentation at the 27th annual Quad Cities Youth Conference in Davenport, Iowa on January 23-24, 2013.
Please click Here for a link to a story of January 25 in the Quad-City Times.
(photo by Larry Fisher of the Quad-City Times)

Please click Here for a link to Facebook photos of the MWAH! troupe's participation in the conference.
(Facebook photos by Jeremy Reed of Impact Life Photography) Please click Here (60 and 61) for news videos from WQAD-TV (ABC) about the MWAH! troupe as the keynote for the 27th annual Quad-City Youth Conference on January 23-24, 2013.

The song 'Sticks and Stones' Here as performed November 17, 2012 by MWAH! artists Jacob Metoyer (keyboard and vocals) and Sarah Saltiel (viola) at the Homewood-Flossmoor High School Operation Snowball retreat at Camp Manitoqua in Frankfort, Illinois. The song was written by Jacob, based on some of his experiences as a teenager living in Texas, then later in Illinois.

Jacob M
(photo by Jeremy Reed from MWAH! performance on September 10, 2012 at Marseilles Elementary School in Marseilles, Illinois)

For a news video which aired on WCIS-TV (ABC, Channel 20 in Springfield) on the troupe's appearance November 5, 2012 at Glenwood High School in Chatham, Illinois please click Here (#57) .

For a story in The Register-Mail about the MWAH! appearance at Galesburg High School on October 9, 2012 please click Here.

  • A Video of the song 'Fix You' as performed October 9, 2012 at Galesburg High School by MWAH! artists Rob Delgado, Rachel Plasch, Jake Smith (vocalists), Luke Ballard, and Ashley Stonehouse (guitarists). (video compliments of Galesburg High School) Here – (Then click on video line #59)
  • and
  • A video of the song 'We Belong Together' from Galesburg High School Here – (Then click on video line #58)

For a news video from the Galesburg High School appearance which aired on WHOI-TV (ABC) and WEEK-TV (NBC), based in Peoria, please click Here (#56).

Please click Here for a WAND-TV (NBC) news video (#55) about the MWAH! performance on September 24, 2012 at St. Matthew Catholic School in Champaign, Illinois, involving students in grades 6-8 from St. Matthew School and Holy Cross School in Champaign and St. Thomas School in Philo.

For photos by Greg Taylor Photography from the St. Matthew Catholic School performance please click Here.

A radio news interview Here with MWAH! artist Jake Smith by Jason Thompson of WCMY (1430 a.m.) in Ottawa, Illinois about plans for a troupe performance at Marseilles Elementary School in Marseilles, Illinois on September 10, 2012

For a story in The Times about the MWAH! appearance in Marseilles on September 10, 2012 please click Here.

For a story in the Morris Daily Herald about the MWAH! appearance in Marseilles please click Here.


QuadCityTimes_072512
(photo by Larry Fisher/Quad-City Times) Bigger

News about MWAH! performance at John Deere Middle School in Moline, IL on August 27, 2012:
  • WHBF–TV (CBS - Channel 4) – (#54) Here
  • WQAD–TV (ABC - Channel 8) – (#53) Here
  • Quad–City Times – Here
  • The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus – Here
  • News release – Here
hug
(photo by Steve Smedley/The Pantagraph ) Bigger
For a story in The Pantagraph about the MWAH! troupe's participation in the Cebrin Goodman Teen Institute in Bloomington, Illinois on July 24, 2012, click Here
For a video slideshow from this CGTI performance please click Here.

News about the MWAH! performance at Blue Ridge Junior High School in Mansfield, Illinois on February 13, 2012:
  • Story from WCIA-TV (CBS – Channel 3) Here
  • Video from WCIA-TV (CBS – Channel 3) – #47 Here
  • Video from WICD-TV (ABC – Channel 15) – #48 Here
  • Story from The Pantagraph – Here
  • Story from LeRoy–Farmer City Press– in Champaign-Urbana Here

Photos from the MWAH! performance of April 16, 2012 at the High School of Saint Thomas More in Champaign, Illinois by Greg Taylor Photography may be viewed Here.

'Helping kids make good choices' – MWAH! performances at Timber Ridge Middle School in Plainfield, Illinois – column of 2/26/12 by Denise Crosby of the Aurora Beacon–News and Herald–News of Joliet may be seen Here .

A story published March 2, 2012 in The Enterprise newspaper of Plainfield, Illinois may be viewed Here

Recent news videos and articles about MWAH! appearance at Stark County High School in Toulon, Illinois on March 12, 2012
Videos:
  • WEEK-TV (NBC – Channel 25 in Peoria)
    video – Here – (Then click on video line #50)

  • WEEK-TV (NBC – Channel 25 in Peoria)
    video – Here – (Then click on video line #49)

  • WMBD-TV (CBS – Channel 31 in Peoria and Bloomington) 5pm news
    video – Here – (Then click on video line#51)

  • WMBD-TV (CBS – Channel 31 in Peoria and Bloomington) 6pm news
    video – Here – (Then click on video line #52)
Articles:
  • A story published in WEEK-TV (NBC) of Peoria, Illinois may be viewed Here
  • Stark County students cope with MWAH! help – Peoria Journal Star of March 13, 2012 – Here
  • MWAH! assembly hits close to home at Stark County High School – Star Courier of Kewanee, Illinois may be viewed Here

  • The Stark County News in Toulon, Illinois – March 22, 2012, may be viewed Here


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