Daily Clay County Advocate-Press

February 24, 2006

MWAH!

By Mary Anne Maxwell

FLORA Illinois –A racial confrontation isn't a normal and usual occurrence in the North Clay High School Gym. But when the "incident" suddenly erupted Wednesday morning, North Clay High School staff quickly subdued the two individuals and brought them under control.
"Learn to accept and tolerate each other," a young troupe member advised. The two young men were subsequently encouraged to reconcile their difference and eventually hugged.
Although the "incident" was only a dramatization, the overflow of students in the gym seemed to be caught off guard, and many gasped audibly. One student asked, "Was that supposed to happen?"
Conflict due to racial difference was only one of the messages presented Wednesday to North Clay and Clay City High School and North Clay Junior High School Students by MWAH!--an anacronym for Messages Which Are Hopeful. The performance by young performing artists from throughout the Chicago area conveyed a message of hope and promise for the future through the use of popular music, dance, dramatization and narration.
Local students and the Louisville American Legion post assisted with a tribute to service men and women serving overseas in Iraq. FCCLA Chapter President Felicia Sowers spoke of her boyfriend who's currently serving in Iraq. She spoke of her fears and the uncertainty of not knowing what might be happening to him and other feelings about having a boyfriend deployed over there.
The dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol was brought home poignantly in a tribute to a local student who lost his life as a result of an alcohol related accident.
North Clay High School student, Hollie Fender, reminded students of the death of Shane Lewis, a little more than a year ago. She encouraged students to step back and think about the choices they make.
"We can choose to stand up against the crowd and be different," she advised."What's so wrong about being different? Stop and make a choice for Shane." The troupe continued in this vein with a tribute to Ryan Murdock, a graduate of Rockridge High School near the Quad Cities. A star baseball player,
Murdock died this past May at the age of 19 in an alcohol-related crash
during a visit home from his freshman classes at Southern Illinois University.
"He had been to a keg party at a farm house when he lost control of his mom's Jeep Cherokee," one of the troupe members explained.
"If Ryan were here today, he probably wouldn't tell is not to drink and drive," she continued. However, she added that he would probably tell them to step back and think
about choices before they make them.
"A critical event can determine the outcome of a game," another troupe member commented, using a baseball analogy to bring home the message that a wrong choice can also determine what happens in life, sometimes a final outcome much too early.
Other topics included dramatizations about peer pressure, bullying,
flirting, relationships and coping with emotions.
The song "You Raise Me Up" reminded students they are not alone and to look for the support of family and friends during times of emotional turmoil rather than giving in to thoughts of suicide or turning to alcohol and drugs for relief.
"You have control over the way you respond when you're down and out," a troupe member stated. "There's always someone to lift us up/"
"Don't Laugh At Me" pointed out the vast differences between everyone and the importance of accepting those differences.
"Think before you make fun of someone," one troupe member advised. "Think about how you might feel if you were in their shoes."
Combining real drama, high energy hip hop dance, and both original and cover songs, the seven-member troupe, primarily teenagers, ranging in age from 10 to 23, focus on issues such as bullying, conflicts stemming from racial diversity, teen dating relationship problems and finding what is hopeful and good in negative situations.
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 with an overall objective to inspire young people to face life's challenges and opportunities with knowledge, confidence and positive self-image. Their repertoire reflects the changing times teenagers live in today.
The troupe artists live in the western suburbs of Aurora, Wheaton and Naperville. The troupe is affiliated with the Chicago Area Project, a grass-roots service and advocacy agency based in downtown Chicago and part of a statewide community services network targeting at-risk youth and their families.
MWAH! executive producer is Ray Moffitt. Contributing in various creative and supportive capacities are the performing artists and their parents.
More information on the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe is available on the troupe's website: www.mwah.net.
The performance was planned by the North Clay and Clay City FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America). The event was financially sponsored by the North Clay FCCLA and the Clay City Excellence in Education Foundation.

Photo: Mary Anne Maxwell, staff photographer
Daily Clay County Advocate-Press
North Clay High School student Hollie Fender speaks about the death of student
Shane Lewis in an alcohol-related crash. On her right is troupe artist Andrew Hull.
On her left is artist Carlos Griffin. On the extreme right is a photo of Ryan Murdock,another Illinois teen who died in a crash following a keg party at a farm house.


Photo: Mary Anne Maxwell, staff photographer
Daily Clay County Advocate-Press FCCLA Section President Felicia Sowers speaks about her boyfriend beingdeployed to Iraq. Members of the Louisville American Legion post are behind Felicia.A close friend is on her right, and troupe artist Jessie Scarzone is on her left.