For over 5 years, Project AWARE has been providing programs and services to empower young people to take the lead on issues that are concerning them. This has included substance abuse, prescription drug abuse, bullying / harassment, teen pregnancy, media literacy, and more.
Raising Awareness about the Impacts of Parental Role Modeling:
In the summer of 2008, Project AWARE held its first Summer Film Institute. Young people ages 11 – 19 created 3 powerful PSA’s about issues including peer pressure, teen pregnancy, and role modeling. The PSA on role modeling was picked up by a local producer who offered to work with Project AWARE to create a dramatic movie short on the subject. The PSA can be found at the following link:
Over the course of the following school year, PSA creators Aleah Graham and Josephine Cooper ages 12 and 14, worked with Project AWARE Players, staff and experienced community members to create a 30 minute direct-to-DVD dramatic movie short about how parents role model for their kids.
When Project AWARE hosted its second film institute last month it became a golden opportunity to support young people to really make a difference. 15 youth attendees were trained to crew the film shoot with Maine production company, GumSpirits . The movie now titled “Influenced” is written, directed and acted primarily by young people. Overall, 100 plus cast and crew made it possible and it addresses an issue that concerns all of us – how parents model for their kids.
This is a great model of service learning where teens put their creativity and ideas into action. Become a fan on Facebook and subscribe to the blog for updates.
