The Beacon-News - Aurora, Illinois

May 25, 2010

MWAH! brings fun but serious messages to Yorkville

By STEVE LORD slord@stmedianetwork.com

YORKVILLE -- The discussion points sound familiar: diversity, personality, violence, bullying, America with an African-American president.

But this is not CNN, Rachel Maddow nor Rush Limbaugh. It's Monday morning at Yorkville Middle School, and the "commentators" range in age from 10 to 20.

They are members of MWAH! (Messages Which Are Hopeful), a performing arts troupe that puts on a quick-moving, entertaining and informative revue that covers topics important to pre-teens, teens and even adults.

"Sometimes the way we're treated determines what we think," one group member tells the Middle School assembly. "What I'm asking of you guys here at Yorkville Middle School is please, let's respect each other for our differences ... and for what we have in common."

MWAH! is made up of students from throughout Illinois, including Aurora, Sandwich, Naperville, Plainfield and even Yorkville. Troupe member Mason Ridenour, an eighth-grader at Yorkville Middle School, got the chance to perform in front of his fellow students.

"I love it," he says. "Everyone knows me, so they shout out when my name is called."

The fun program has a definitely serious overtone, dealing with issues such as a student committing suicide because she was bullied, a young driver dying in a car accident because she was texting while driving, and a young girl who is physically abused by her father.

There is even discussion about people not liking an African-American president, just because he is black.

MWAH! makes appearances throughout the state during the school year. The troupe came to Yorkville Monday to help kick off the Academic Olympics, a week of academic and athletic activities.