The Northwest Herald

January 25, 2007

Fellow Youngsters Encourage Students

By LEE ANN GILL

RICHMOND - With his guitar strapped on and black cowboy hat in place, 16-year-old Michael Todd Emery sang a twangy country song to Nippersink Middle School students Wednesday.

Aside from entertaining them, Emery hoped that his song “Wait Awhile” would stop teens from having sex.

Students listened for more than an hour as members of the Chicago-based MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe sang songs and performed skits about issues such as domestic abuse, racism and peer pressure.

The cast of kids, ages 10 to 17, encouraged students to be proud of who they are, stand up for themselves, and talk to someone about problems in their lives.

Two of the group’s members acted out a scene where a father abuses his son, drawing silence from the students.

“How he’s treated determines how he grows,” 10-year-old troupe member David Scarzone said.

“Parents as well as children have problems. Whenever any of you are feeling angry, hurt or frustrated, you shouldn’t keep your feelings inside. Talk to someone.”

It’s important that students know they can talk to adults at Nippersink School about their problems, Principal Tim Molitor said.

“We have your teachers here who you can go to and talk about your problems,” he told the students. “So that we here at school can help you with some of the things you might be struggling with.”

Social worker Ray Moffitt is the director of MWAH! (an acronym for Messages Which Are Hopeful). He started the troupe 14 years ago as a way for children to connect with other children about life’s issues.

“They need to know how to get help,” Moffitt said. “They need to know who they can turn to in their schools and communities.”

Having someone to count on in life is important, said troupe members, who asked the students who their heroes were. Answers included, “My parents because they give me advice,” and “My older sister because she helps me through hard times.”

Throughouttheshow, troupe members drilled into students that they should feel good about who they are.

“You must remember you’re all beautiful in different ways,” 13-year-old Jessie Scarzone said.

“It’s not what’s on the outside that counts. It’s what’s on the inside.”

editorial@nwherald.com