Students Advocate Teen Health Through Creativity
CHICAGO Six students in Chicago public high schools won over $14,000 for their participation in a peer-to-peer learning program by creating artistic projects depicting health issues facing teens
Students worked both individually and in groups to submit art, video/photograph or essay/poetry entries. The artistic creations allowed participants to raise awareness about sexual risks and how to make healthy decisions for their futures.
The Walgreens Expressions Challenge contest amplifies the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) current curriculum by focusing on not just sex education, but also other disciplines including art, English and health.
The awards ceremony was held at Gallery 37 with remarks from Ryan Chiaverini, co-host on ABC7s Windy City Live. Dr. Bechara Choucair, commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health was keynote speaker. Out of nearly 600 entries, (3) $2,000 grand prizes were awarded to students, along with $500 for their teachers and $500 for their school. Three students won second place winning $1,500 individually along with $250 for their teachers.
While our comprehensive sex education programs are growing, the statistics tell us that our students health needs are simply outpacing our impact. We have two staff members overseeing CPSs sexual health education across nearly 700 schools. Were making headway, but there is always room to make what we do great even better, said Kenneth Papineau, physical health manager, CPS.
Papineau added that the prizes given to teachers and schools is also a plus, saying that it is still common for teachers to come out of pocket to cover costs of materials to support curriculum in the classroom. Over 25 percent of the 2011 Expressions prize money goes directly to support the teachers and the schools. This goes along way, Papineau said.
The Walgreens Expressions Challenge is a student engagement initiative that helps CPS high schools boost efforts to address the alarming rates of teens irresponsibly engaging in sexual activity.
According to a 2011 report issued by the CPS Office of Special Education & Supports, Chicago ranks first and second for the highest rates nationwide of Gonorrhea and Chlamydia, respectively, for youth ages 15-19 and saw a 52 percent increase in the number of HIV diagnosis for this same age group from 2000-2009.
The Expressions Challenge began its partnership with CPS in 2007.
To date, the program has given away nearly $74,000 to students, teachers and schools and has reached more than 100,000 teens. This years Expressions Challenge offered larger cash prizes, and sought to directly address three key needs: 1) encouraging discussion promoting teen health; 2) boosting public school resources; and 3) cultivating student creativity; and leveraging new technology.
Our goal is to elevate the conversation, said John Gremer, director of community relations for Walgreen Co. One of the biggest contributors to these teen health epidemics is communication. Studies continually show that teens have challenges discussing sexual health with parents, teachers and other adults. Through this initiative, were giving them a safe and engaging place to talk about the challenges they face when making healthy sexual decisions and then the opportunity to be rewarded for it. This program matters a great deal to us, because it supports our commitment to prevention and early detection on many health challenges facing our community, Gremer added.
Teens interested in the initiative should visit www.expressionschallenge.com for more details.
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