When I was a teenager I did not make good decisions. Drugs and alcohol were my life. I barely survived.
Now with many years in recovery, and through Project AWARE, I can offer youth something I don’t remember having … the opportunity to make healthy choices. About anything – coming to school, getting involved, skipping that party, being kind to a schoolmate no one notices, and much more.
Do you have a story? Can you relate to being in pain as a teenager – shut out, shut up, feeling confused?
Project AWARE helps kids help themselves. To be leaders. To express. To live their passion in life. And we are in a good run … 7 years, 5 movies, hundreds of presentations and workshops, and thousands of lives changed. Our website links you to all the info.
But this coming year looks really challenging – funding is tight – and Project AWARE really needs a commitment from our greater community.
With your support we can continue to provide amazing programming that offers young people clear, healthy choices. Our goal is to raise $5,000 for our annual fund by December 31. Can you help? Teens please ask your parents to help too.
Click here for PayPal or drop a check in the mail to Project AWARE, PO Box 1244, Saco, ME 04072. You may also write to projectaware@maine.rr.com with your pledge and address and we will send you a self-addressed stamped envelope. Your donation is tax deductible.
Now is the time. And any amount will help so much.
Freeport Middle School began the year with 25 interested 8th graders in our Peer Leader program. The first project was to work as a group on ways they could educate their peers during the National Drug Facts Week. This turned into a very powerful project for the students in several ways. We were lucky enough to have one of our parents, who works in the graphic design field, volunteer to help the students create a dynamic large bulletin board which was designed to look like a graffiti wall. Our slogan was “Shatter the Myths about Drug Use”.
Peer Leaders
The students researched facts that would educate the school on the harms and facts regarding drug use. Students took turns hosting a Drug Facts table in the cafeteria during lunches. Students were asked to look into the mystery box to see what the one thing was that would keep them drug free ( A mirror inside the box showed the students their own reflection!) Several students began each morning with very catchy student written announcements using drama and music to capture the school’s attention.
After our week of activities some exciting things began to happen. We could feel the energy and enthusiasm building as students brainstormed ideas for the next project, Alcohol Awareness Day. We had 4 new students ask if they could join our group, making us a very lively group of 29! Two students mentioned that they have never been involved in a school club before and that Tuesday was the only day they like to come to school, because Tuesday is Peer Leader meeting day. One of these students has previously been very reserved, however now she has begun sharing at every meeting and is volunteering to stay after school to work on Peer Leader projects. Two other students had a conversation around how powerful and good they feel when they wear the Peer Leader t -shirts we supplied each member. We are continually impressed with the ideas and thought these students bring and know that by them being involved in educating their peers we are creating true leaders who feel empowered to make a difference.
Phyllis Latham, School Counselor, Freeport Middle School
The Freeport Middle School Peer Leaders Program fosters leadership that empowers FMS students to make good decisions in their lives as well as inspire them to follow their passions and strive to reach their personal goals. At this stage in adolescent development, decisions are made with significant influence from peers. FMS Peer Leaders are provided with training and skills to engage middle school students in meaningful discussions about critical issues including risky behaviors. Experience demonstrates that these discussions and resulting decisions impact the students academically, socially and emotionally in numerous settings including school, home and in the community.
This year the FMS Leaders will work with Project AWARE in developing initiatives to raise awareness and educate the school and greater community about issues that concern them. The goal is to create one high quality video public service announcement, host a Project AWARE Players presentation for the entire school, lead a poster campaign aimed at FMS students, and host three Peer Leader presentations for school staff, parents and other adults. All this along with daily education activities including an updated bulletin board, poster campaigns, lunchroom multi-media presentations, daily announcements through e-mail, office, and more … all aimed at improving the climate in their school and addressing issues identified by the FMS Peer Leaders including tobacco, drugs, alcohol, labels, abuse, eating disorders, internet safety, and stress.
The FMS Peer Leaders have often directly experienced the issues identified. For these young people additional very important objectives include, (1) to experience the power of creative expression and address one of the root causes of youth dis-empowerment – low self-esteem; (2) to inspire and act as role models while raising awareness among people of all ages about the issues faced by youth; (3) to support a plan for young people to use their boundless energy and awareness to make a lasting impact in their communities; (4) and to encourage and support a growing community of young people making healthy choices and engaging with their peers in a kind and respectful way..
For more information on this program and / or how you can do something similar in your school please contact Carl Lakari at 207-282-5598 or projectaware@maine.rr.com
Project AWARE is thrilled to be apart of a proactive plan to address bullying and harassment in a number of middle schools throughout Maine and Massachusetts.
Yesterday, the Project AWARE Players presented at the Cony Middle School, grades 6 – 8 in Augusta Maine as part of that school’s year-long prevention plan. After the 90 minute presentation, 6 Youth Empowerment Workshops were held for all of the students in grades 7 and 8. Young people were invited to use their creativity and passion to help make a difference.
The middle school students really see the Players – made up of high school students who are passionate about making a difference – as role models. The adults, including yours truly, become mere “flies on the wall” and take a back seat to these empowered teens.
Many of the current PA Players have been a part of the troupe and worked with Project AWARE for many years. Their confidence and high self esteem is palpable. They serve as powerful messengers to help make a difference, and stand in their truth thereby inspiring those around them.
And it is not only the middle schoolers they inspire!
(the program described below can address any youth issue … the intention is that they will LEAD!)
Project AWARE has served schools for over 7 years. We have worked with dedicated youth, educators and professionals to support young people taking the lead. We applaud their efforts! Their (your!) work is both challenging and rewarding. One of the many challenges is the issue of bullying including name-calling, teasing, harassment and more.
We want to help. And we want to do it in a coordinated and thoughtful manner that will dovetail with your existing programs and provide ongoing support that addresses the root issues of this challenge that youth and adults face.
For a limited time we are offering a discounted ½ or full year program focused on supporting the young people in your school in taking the lead in addressing this serious issue which effects so many of them. Check out the following example of a youth created (Project AWARE supported) PSA on this issue:
Please contact us! With absolutely no obligation, we will be happy to discuss this program with you and how it might work for your school or community. (projectaware@maine.rr.com or 207-282-5598)
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Where: at school or other community setting
Includes:
• Detailed planning and coordination with pre and post program activities
• 4 half day on-site workshops with youth and adults (or 2 workshops and 1 Project AWARE Players live presentation),
• 1 additional half day curriculum training workshop with staff and interested youth
• a copy of the DVD educational package, “Untold Stories: the Truth about Bullying and Harassment” or 2 copies of other Project AWARE educational DVDs.
• and a 50% discount on all other Project AWARE products including t-shirts, mugs, posters and DVDs.
Cost: $975 (not including travel)
This is a limited-time offer with a potential savings of over $500 and is good now through October 31. Please call now to reserve your space for this upcoming school year!
or by mailing an order form to Project AWARE PO Box 1244, Saco ME 04072 (contact us by e-mail at projectaware@maine.rr.com for a form) You may also contact James Harmon at Sanford High School and stop by there to pick up a copy.
Look for the April’s Heart movie website in December. The site will include ordering information, tons of resources including educational materials, curriculums, and down-loadable Public Service Announcements. Until then enjoy the trailer and information below. Thank you for your interest!
April’s Heart is based on real-life stories from a suburban high school. The characters in the movie are survivors … like their real-life counterparts in the cast and crew … like the young people who dared to put their stories on paper, and like teenagers everywhere who balance their immense challenges with unbelievable strengths.
The Safe Schools Healthy Students Initiative, Sanford (Maine) High School Film Club, Project AWARE and Gum Spirits Productions led a year-long production effort to create April’s Heart. The goals included empowered young people, safer schools and healthier teens. Ultimately over 200 students, staff and community members were directly involved, making it one of the largest after school programs the town has ever seen.
Project AWARE and Gum Spirits provided support to young people in 4 main areas: overall coordination and production; presentations to the student body and staff; training for cast and crew; and finally filming and post production for 4 Public Service Announcements and the 35 minute dramatic movie short, April’s Heart.
The Film Club started with some powerful questions: Do we really know teenagers? What is behind the faces we see every day? How are kids hurting? To get answers they offered, through fliers and presentations, each and every young person in school an opportunity to submit anonymous true stories as ideas for concepts, story lines and ultimately the script.
In addition, young people volunteered for a specific area of interest in the movie making process, ranging from acting to crew. Ultimately 22 young people trained with professionals to crew the movie and close to 100 actors attended 2 castings at the school. By the end of the project, April’s Heart included 120 cast and crew, many additional youth supporters and at least 3 school classes supported by their teachers … plus the outpouring of community support through donated time, money, food and more.
“April’s Heart is important because it reflects everyone. We normally do not know how a person really is until we see it from a different view … people make assumptions which may not be true (when) you see through the eyes of that person. In the movie, April is pretty much the eyes of everyone. “
“The movie will make people think differently … it will open their minds more to understanding how they should get to know someone before they judge them. The movie (story) takes place in every high school and all the characters reflect someone (we are or know) in a certain way. Everyone here (on set) including myself can relate to a character(s) in this movie – and (people who watch this movie) will get a different view and (ultimately) they will learn from each of those characters.”
Salinda Dong, Co-Director of April’s Heart and a senior at Sanford High School
The Summer Film Institute (SFI) is an intensive youth service-learning program held in beautiful Saco Maine which offers young people the opportunity to: a) increase their capacity to be leaders in their community, b) to use film as a vehicle to raise awareness among people of all ages about the issues young people face, and c) to encourage and support young people in making healthy choices. Over the week long hands-on experience, participants (a mix of youth ages 13-18) will connect with each other, Project AWARE youth leaders, adult instructors/staff, and film professionals to learn movie-making processes and skills. The participants will then put these skills to action as they create high-quality short videos which address pressing social issues they feel affect youth. These videos will not only be useful educational tools for the youth participants to bring back to their own schools and communities, but also to be shared with others in Maine and nationally.
Through their SFI experience, participants will develop numerous leadership skills which will benefit their schools and communities including: sharing their expertise and knowledge to help others, being willing to take risks and propose new ideas while supporting ideas of others, developing and nurturing positive relationships, teamwork, and cooperation. Participants will also experience the power of creative expression, become empowered with increased self-esteem, and be inspired to act as role models back in their schools and communities. The project will be a success if: a) participants are able to apply what they learned about film-making to the creation of awareness-improving videos on issues important to them, and b) participants report that after returning to their schools and/or communities, they have utilized these new skills and tools to address important youth issues.
What a few young people have to say about past institutes:
“I just want to thank you for such an amazing week. Before the film institute, I thought the highlight of my summer this year had been a trip to Colorado. Oh, it’s just another film camp where I’m going to learn the basics over again. I was sadly mistaken after going through this great experience and I will remember it forever. I truly had one of the best weeks of my life at Summer Film Institute 2009.” Liam, High School Junior
“The way it unfolded has been great – starting with the presentations and speeches, moving into the training, then into the production experience. It’s been a great experience for me and I’m sure for everyone else too.” High School Student
“This entire experience has been absolutely unforgettable for me. Not only have I learned about film, and had a chance to really express my creativity, I have also met so many wonderful people.” Summer Film Institute Youth Movie Director and Writer
Most of the problems currently confronting our society are, in my judgment, a consequence of a sleeping (or at the very least, distracted) citizenry. The growing economic inequality, the crumbling of our physical infrastructure, the deplorable state of our access to an affordable health care system, the degree to which money (and those who have it) can influence social and political decisions, the cost of access to education, the number of our citizens who are incarcerated in prisons, the obesity of our fellow citizens, the ongoing reliance on dwindling supplies of fossil fuels, the epidemic of reliance on mind altering substances, and on, and on, and on, are all manifestations of choices we have made together. Like it or not, in a nominally Democratic society, what we see is what we have chosen.
I hold the opinion (supported by a wide array of scientific data from fields as diverse as neurobiology, psychology, anthropology, sociology, and biochemistry) that the “normal” human being would not intentionally choose to allow the consequences of the above problems to exist. It is against our basic nature to watch a fellow human suffer without making some attempt to alleviate that suffering. While the scientific understanding of ALL of the mechanisms involved may remain incomplete, it is largely accepted that we truly do “feel” a physical sense of discomfort when in the proximity of others in pain. On a deep inner level we FEEL our connection with one another.
And yet we HAVE chosen to allow our broader community to devolve into a state where fear and distress and suffering are the norm. There are many eloquent writers and speakers who have shared their considerable study (and consequent wisdom) about HOW and WHY we have chosen to allow our society to come to this point. Many express the opinion that we have allowed ourselves to be hypnotized. Like small furry creatures immobilized by the weavings and mesmerizing dance of the cobra, we have ceased to think for ourselves. We choose to purchase and consume food that is bad for us, we have elected politicians who increase OUR taxes, while giving away the farm to people who already have more money than they will ever be able to spend, we have been lead into war under false pretexts. The single most important step we can make towards rectifying the problems we face is to become awake to the realities of those problems. And having become awake, to realize that we HAVE THE FREEDOM TO MAKE DIFFERENT CHOICES. If the critter can look away from the snake, it will see the hole into which it can scurry.
Project AWARE is about helping our youth see that there IS a choice. And the the selection of a particular option has consequences. And that those consequences in turn, offer more choices. The POSITIVE, life and happiness affirming choices which are available to us are almost endless. We need not be trapped into thinking that our only option is to say “NO” to things we do not like. We can actively engage with one another to find GREAT options for solving our puzzles. I believe that if we were all truly AWARE, we would reliably make choices which would support one another in creating a society which worked for ALL of our members, not merely the rich or powerful.
Please join with us by becoming AWARE… This is not just about supporting our youth, it is about learning a new way of social interaction alongside of our youth. This is about learning together.
Submitted by Bill Creighton, Project AWARE Board Member
The loss of hope, freedom and tapping into the creative inner life is a dilemma of our times. Luckily there are more forums encouraging people of all ages to connect with their inner wisdom and creative wellsprings. This is reflected in the explosion of interest in meditation, yoga, spirituality, alternative healing and opportunities for creative expression ranging from community theaters, open mics, music and art therapy, multitudes of free form dance and community art projects.
Unfortunately funding for the arts is being threatened. There is a misconception that the arts are expendable. In truth we are in the deepest need to free up creative thinking and develop minds that can help us evolve out of some HUGE challenges that we are facing on this planet. In order for us to successfully deal with issues like global warming, pollution, potable water shortages, overpopulation, hunger and war we need to think differently.
Genius comes in many forms that are not readily acknowledged in our current institutions. Imaginative, sensitive, energetic children are often demeaned or ‘corrected’ to fit into social situations better. It is a relatively new concept that young people have inherent wisdom that may in fact be what is needed for the future.
Empowering young people to lead is the mission of Project AWARE. We believe in the inherent goodness, wisdom and capacity of youth. When young people are listened to, respected and given support they can make a difference in the world. Project AWARE encourages youth to look at their lives, their community and the world and speak their truths about their hopes and concerns. Through the creation of skits, songs, dances, movies and more teens get to “do” something about their hopes and concerns.
Empowered young people are confident, know they have important perspectives and are willing to share their thinking. Most youth who feel good about themselves make healthy choices versus unhealthy choices that may endanger their lives and those of others. Young people who have been respected, listened to and supported are more able to share those skills with others.
We need to learn how to listen, be respectful and make the world a better place. Join this fun with Project AWARE!
Submitted by Katey Branch, Project AWARE Co-Founder
My name is Mary Graham and I am the mother of 13 year old Aleah Graham, a member of Project AWARE. I am sincerely grateful to Project AWARE for the opportunities that it has given to my daughter. Aleah has been a member of Project AWARE for the past 3 years and has been able to take part in the Project AWARE players as well as the movie projects that the group has done. I have seen enormous growth in Aleah through her experiences. Project AWARE has given her the opportunity to speak out about issues that are important to her and her peers. She has been able to combine her love for acting with activism. Aleah has been able to look deeper at issues that she and her peers face on a daily basis and brainstorm how to cope with these issues. Aleah has been able to connect with other youth from surrounding communities and work together to create strength in facing issues such as bullying and drug use and abuse. I admire that Project AWARE has provided her a place to voice her thoughts and feelings as well as outlets to express these. I am thankful for the adults that Aleah has connected with who are positive role models and give her opportunities to create ideas and see them through to fruition. I believe that Project AWARE has helped to create in our teenager goals and direction as well as the belief that she is capable of big things!
(Aleah Graham’s blog appeared on March 6, 2010 in the previous post)
Thank you.
