The Times, of Ottawa, Illinois
April 24, 2009
Marseilles students meet MWAH!
Jerrilyn Zavada, newsroom@mywebtimes.com, 815-433-2000
Young people these days are faced with a lot of peer pressure and choices to make.
That’s why MWAH! Performing Arts Troupe came to Marseilles Elementary School Thursday with a message of hope.
MWAH! stands for Messages Which Are Hopeful! The 12-member ensemble of students ranging in age from 9 to 18 put on a show for the school’s students in grades five through eight.
Using multiple genres of music and dance, the group touched upon such issues as peer pressure, cyberbullying, child abuse, relationship abuse, teen drinking and driving and the massacres that have occurred at Northern Illinois University and Virginia Tech. They promoted a message of each student making positive choices in their lives and standing up for themselves.
Jim Hovious, Marseilles police chief, also spoke, in particular about cyberbullying and teen drinking.
"When you talk face to face, you get to see people’s reactions, but when you chat or e-mail, what you write can hurt others, without you knowing it," Hovious told the students.
The students heard about a teenager in Missouri who committed suicide after the mother of one of her neighbors pretended to be a boy on the Internet who broke up with her.
The troupe did a skit on teen drinking and recalled a crash in Oswego on Feb. 11, 2007, that killed five teenagers. The driver was charged with reckless homicide and aggravated drunken driving. The students in the audience were challenged to think of the choices they could make to avoid such a thing from happening to them, such as not going to a drinking party, not getting in a car with a drunken driver, wearing seat belts and not cramming themselves into a car.
"This is a subject very, very difficult to talk about," Hovious said, referring to teen drinking and driving. "I can tell you one of our biggest fears when we get the call is who is in that car. I firmly believe in choices, but there’s also consequences. As a parent, it’s very difficult to let your child drive away. Every time I’ve been to an accident, there’s a sense of the finality of it. Friends and neighbors are changed forever. If you’re faced with the choice of getting a ride with a friend or your parents, call your parents.
"How senseless it all really is. Remember, you only have one life," he concluded.
"We have more than 200 students in grades six through eight with so many issues our kids are dealing with. This show deals with positive things," said Stacy Brannan, a teacher at the school, who arranged for the troupe to visit Marseilles. "About a year ago, the troupe was at IVCC for a teen showcase. One of my co-teachers said, 'You’ve got to get them here.' Her enthusiasm hooked me," Brannan told The Times.
Audience reaction was enthusiastic.
"It was good," said Tyler, age 12. "It was cool."
"I thought it was awesome!" said Haley, age 11. "I liked how the dancer could express himself in dancing. He is really good."
"I really liked it," said Danielle, age 11. "I can’t really pick out a favorite. All the issues were true to life. If I ever meet anyone with the issues I will talk with them."
Both girls are members of TNT, which stands for Teens and Teamwork, an anti-drinking and anti-drug group at the school.
"A main message that we try to convey is that we respect differences among people, and not make fun of them," said Ray Moffitt, executive director of MWAH! "The arts are a good way to reach people and you can convey various messages through that medium. A lot of what we do is based on true stories."
Chris Oeschel, a high school freshman at Benet Academy in Lisle, is a member of the troupe and says he also benefits from the presentations.
"Several kids have talked about how we’ve affected their lives. Some topics are pretty personal. You gotta be very open and see how you can help them. We become mentors for the kids and for each other in the troupe or others at school. I’ve become more self-confident and have been able to help friends who have troubles."
MWAH! is sponsored by the Chicago Area Project, and also supported by Kids Do Count. (See Web site at www.mwah.net.)
"It was a real upbeat program with a lot of good messages that effect kids of all ages, peers of this group. I think the program was outstanding," Hovious said.
The Times/Tom Sistak
A MWAH! troupe member asks a student at Marseilles Grade School a question about teens' use of texting Thursday. MWAH! stands for Messages Which Are Hopeful! and the 12-member ensemble of students ranging in age from 9 to 18 performed for Marseilles students.
The Times/Tom Sistak
A member of MWAH! sings about overcoming racial differences and accepting people for who they are.
Using multiple genres of music and dance, the group touched upon such issues as peer pressure, cyber bullying, child abuse, relationship abuse, teen drinking and driving, and the massacres that have occurred at Northern Illinois University and Virginia Tech. They promoted a message of each student making positive choices in their lives and standing up for themselves.
Copyright © 2009, The Times Publishing Co. of Ottawa, Illinois www.mywebtimes.com All rights reserved.
MWAH! seventh grader Alex Oechsel gets a response from an audience member concerning cyber-bullying during the troupe’s performance Thursday at Marseilles Elementary School. The 12-member ensemble, ranging in age from 12 to 18, focused on a variety of youth-related issues.
(photo by Tom Sistak)
In a performance opening number called ‘We Shall Be Free,’ MWAH! troupe member Michael Todd Emery, age 18 and a senior at Oswego East High School, sings about the importance of accepting differences among people. Michael Todd, who plans a career in the country music industry, has been a key member of the troupe for nearly four years.
(photo by Tom Sistak)