As part of the MWAH! troupe's issues–oriented presentation, troupe member Justin Smusz discusses the execution–style death of Tyshawn Lee, age 9, in retaliation for the gang involvement of Tyshawn's father.
(photo by Luke Smucker of the Pontiac Daily Leader)

Various Prairie Central Junior High students and staff were recognized as "heroes" for their responses to special personal challenges.
(photo by Luke Smucker of the Pontiac Daily Leader)

Story By Luke Smucker – Staff writer

FORREST, IL – After taking in a horrific news story, some people may find comfort in the fact that they can focus on something else and feel removed from these happenings. Although there are comforts to be found in small–town living, reality is proving that tragedy happens when people remain uninformed.

"Just because we're in a little town doesn't mean we're different," Jonnita Vogel, co–student council advisor at Prairie Central Junior High School said. "In a lot of cases, we deal with the same issues as the rest of the world.

"From bullying to drugs and domestic violence, there are so many different things going on. We want students to think and process what#150;is going on around them in a different way, hopefully a way that benefits them."

PCJHS students attended an all–school assembly by the Messages Which Are Hopeful! Performing Arts Troupe Monday. The event was an issues–oriented presentation that took around two hours to cover topics including drug overdose, child abuse in the home, teen relationship issues, youth violence, police mistrust, bullying and the importance of making positive decisions.

The 14 members of the troupe are generally located in the Chicago suburbs, ranging from 9 to 16 years
The performers also spent an hour in a debriefing–type discussion session after the event that involved a mix of students, including those who have experienced some of the issues the assembly presented.

"We want them to have a hopeful message they can spread around their community," Sophie Michael, a troupe member, said. Troupe member, Zorian Schiffman, added, "There is a unique level of trust and companionship when you have someone your own age talking about going through something you just went through or are going through."

Another focus of the assembly was teen and young adult–related violence, as well as families losing a loved one to gunfire. The segment included a discussion on the death of 9–year–old Tyshawn Lee, a retaliation for his father's gang involvement that occurred in Chicago last month.

"Our director, Ray Moffitt, does a really good job of staying on top of current events, so every show is different," Schiffman said. "We try to stay up to date on current events. We feel if kids are hearing something from the news or their parents, we want our presentation to trigger the thoughts about those conversations again."

Also participating in the assembly was Jennifer Higgins from Geneseo, near the Quad Cities, whose son, Joshua Wilson, took his own life at the age of 12, and Joel Clousing from Wheaton, whose teenage adoptive son, Keenan, died of a heroin overdose after multiple stays at treatment facilities and jails.

"It's such a gift to have Jennifer Higgins and others come to speak at all of our shows," Michael said. "That's why we include the piece about her son in all of our shows. We're also really thankful to have schools like Prairie Central, who know our show and are open to the performance time."

"They know how impactful our message is and they want to give us as long as we need. Some schools ask us to cut it short, but there are a lot of subjects kids need to know about. "

Vogel said the junior high first asked the troupe to perform around eight years ago. She said after students returned from the annual student council state convention that year, they were impressed by the troupe's performance.

"The students were so impressed with what they saw that wanted to have them here, so every other year we have been having them come. I think this is their fourth performance," Vogel said. "What appeals to us about this presentation, is the way the troupe incorporates our kids into their program to help the students own the issues they are facing. It allows each child, if they have something going on in their life, or they know of someone with a problem, to take home a personal message that applies to their situation."

The goal, for both the troupe members and the staff at PCJHS, is action. Vogel said because some topics are tough for parents to talk about with their children, it may be hard for students to discern how to react when something wrong is going on around them.

"Bystanders don't always know what to do," Vogel said. "So it's important at a young age, that we start to figure out how to handle these situations, so that they don't escalate into something big or traumatic."

Further information about the MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe may be found on its website at www.mwah.net