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teen hype Annual Theatrical Production Lines Blurred
Events
teenhypedetroit

DON’T MISS OUR 2020 THEATRICAL PRODUCTION!

teen hype Annual Theatrical Production Lines Blurred

Enmeshed with music, spoken word and dance⁠—this production inspires young people to envision and work toward a life of promising purpose.

EVENT DETAILS:

Friday, March 6th, 2020
VIP Night: March 13, 2020

Showtime
7:00 pm

Location
Marygrove College Theatre
8425 W. McNichols, Detroit, MI 48221

Description

What happens when intentions are blurred and lines are crossed? Four teens face some of life’s biggest challenges as they discover the importance of boundaries and maintaining healthy relationships. Through song, dance, step, and spoken word, “Lines Blurred” gives a powerful perspective on consent and teen pregnancy in today’s society.

Prevention
teenhypedetroit

#SLOWYOURROLL

“It doesn’t matter if it’s weed, alcohol, pills, or cigarettes; if it makes you change who you are and how you act, it’s a drug that can be misused.”

Teen HYPE Youth Advisory Council Member

By: Sarah Osen

Marijuana can be a sticky subject. Opening dialogue about using marijuana has been tricky. The time has come for our community to roll it all out on the table. Let’s be real. Promoting a “just don’t do it” message won’t do. You saw how Detroit voted last November; the political landscape is changing, effecting our social norms. With those changes, how do we tailor youth messaging to continue developing Detroit’s future leaders? To prevent marijuana misuse, we need to consider the underlying problems that cause it. To do that, Teen HYPE has launched a community-wide effort that teaches youth critical thinking skills in decision-making processes, promotes their ability to define individual beliefs and develops their refusal-skills to promote risk-avoidance.

Igniting 4/20/2019, Teen HYPE’s #SlowYourRoll social media campaign will spread awareness about the trauma that fuels youth’s marijuana misuse in our community, their choices that are affected by using it and the associated consequences. Working with Kenny Neal Shults, Principal Consultant and President of Connected Health Solutions, Inc. Teen HYPE’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) created a PSA video that will launch on Teen HYPE’s Youtube Channel. Accurately conveying young people’s feelings about marijuana in our community, this PSA appeals in a way that is fact-based, not fear-based. It shows youth’s thoughts of marijuana misuses including the risk of an STI or unplanned pregnancy due to impaired judgement, numbing and masking issues, peer pressure, not being eligible for employment, and prosecution. Expect a series of video clips leading up to the full PSA. The #SlowYourRoll social media campaign will lead into Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Prevention Week (5/12–5/18/2019), where Teen HYPE will parallel messaging to spark impact.

In 2016, Teen HYPE received a five-year grant from SAMHSA to fund the Greater Than Project. This project utilizes the SAMHSA Strategic Prevention Framework to address substance abuse and HIV prevention at a community level.

SAMHSA's Strategic Prevention Framework
SAMHSA's Strategic Prevention Framework

At the onset of the project, a community-needs assessment was performed to identify the community’s perspective about marijuana use and HIV prevention. The community-needs assessment was focused in the 48207-zip code, where Teen HYPE is located. Collaborating with David Cordova from University of Michigan, community leaders and Teen HYPE’s Youth Development Coalition, Teen HYPE’s Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships surveyed 5 focus groups and interviewed 21 key informants in the community. Those five focus groups and 21 key informants consisted of young people ages 12–14 and 15–17, adults and healthcare providers in the 48207 -zip code, teachers and administrators, organizations, and philanthropic groups. The Youth Development Coalition is comprised of key community members who either live, work or serve youth in the 48207-zip code, members from a preexisting core and the YAC .

Their findings show that youth use marijuana to deal with adverse childhood experiences, to cope or escape mentally and not necessarily as a gateway drug. Findings also show that youth and adults in the community do not see marijuana as an issue by itself. They determined that to understand underlying issues of marijuana misuse, the cause needs to be identified. They believe there needs to be more access to mental health support, medical support, stronger supportive systems of caring adults for youth, and more awareness about the personal and social risk of young people using marijuana. To do this, services need to be optimized in the perimeter of I-75, Warren Avenue, E, Grand Boulevard, and Belle Isle.

https://michigan.hometownlocator.com/
https://michigan.hometownlocator.com/

To help optimize these services, the Youth Development Coalition chose an evidence-based program (keepin’ it REAL®) to administer. The program’s narrative-based curriculum is intended for middle school students and those transitioning into 9th grade. It coaches youth on healthy communication, refusal skills, conflict resolution, social awareness, and social ecosystem identification. Teen HYPE staff are trained in the program and offer it as an in-school curriculum. As of today, 208 youths have completed the program with Teen HYPE.

When recreational marijuana use became legal in Michigan about halfway through the curriculum component of this grant, intrigue ensued surrounding the approach to this federally-funded project. Teen HYPE does not promote drug use. However, with the new laws we must address the ‘White Rhino’ in the room. To better understand Detroit community stakeholders’ perspectives on marijuana use, we turn to our youth to hear their voices.

 
GET INVOLVED

On 4/20/2019, catch the first video clip of the PSA, join the conversation online and to use the hashtag #SlowYourRoll. Be sure to follow Teen HYPE on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube @teenHYPEdetroit.

If you’re interested in joining Teen HYPE’s Youth Development Coalition, please contact Dee Smith, Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships, at dorothyhk@teenhype.org.

If you or a young person you know needs free, confidential HIV testing, please call Teen HYPE at 313-948-8427.

If your school is interested in Teen HYPE’s in-school health programming, please call 313-831-8336.

For behavioral health resources, call SAMHSA’s hotline: 800-662-HELP or visit https://www.samhsa.gov/find-treatment. You may also contact Teen HYPE at 313-831-8336 for a referral to one of our youth-friendly partners that provide these supportive resources in your community.

Ambra Redrick Teen Hype CEO
CEO Corner
teenhypedetroit

Ceo Corner

Close your eyes and think back to your teenage years, oh wait if your eyes are closed you can’t read this. OK, continue reading and circle back in your mind to your first love.  What did feel like?  What do you remember?  Now think about your first heart break, who helped you through it?  What about the crazy time you… Or what about when you were trying to figure out how your body works and what’s normal.  Who did you talk to?  Who did you trust with secrets and who held your hand through the roller coaster ride of adolescence?  If you are fortunate, maybe you had a rock star parent or a close family member that was your champion.

This is not the case for all teenagers and sometimes even good parents don’t have the capacity to give kids what they need during this critical period.  That’s where Teen HYPE comes in to fill the gap. Our social justice league of qualified youth development experts show up wherever young people are to serve as champions in development.  From classrooms to corner stores you can find our league on the ground helping young people get ready for the world. This year alone they will reach over 1300 youth in classrooms.  Since this month is all about love, I would be remiss if I didn’t express my deep love and gratitude for their commitment to Detroit’s youth.  It’s theater season for us and that means long days and weekends to support young people in the development of a quality production.  My love for our young people goes without saying …they hold a special place in my heart.  I am so proud of them and it’s truly a privilege to work in partnership with them.  Our youth leaders are game changers! They are on fire for this city and they are passionate about using their voice and their talents to raise awareness about the social justice issues that impact them daily.  If you want to see my loves in action, grab a couple of tickets and check out our upcoming theater production Hidden in the Shadows.  If you mention this blog, I will buy you a box of popcorn and you can tell me all about your first love and your teenage years.  ❤️😍

In partnership,

AMBRA REDRICK, CEO

CEO Corner
teenhypedetroit

THANK YOU!

We at Teen HYPE are grateful for supporters like you who keep us going, in good times and in lean times.

Because of your love, prayers, and kindness, we have been able leave 2016 with new opportunities on the horizon. From being awarded $2.5 million in federal grants to moving to a new facility, we are most thankful for our donors and friends who have supported us every step of the way.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Ambra Redrick
CEO, Teen HYPE

Ambra Redrick Teen Hype CEO
CEO Corner
teenhypedetroit

Ready for What’s Next

March, April and May have been extremely busy for Teen HYPE. In these three short months, we have completed multiple runs of our annual stage play, hosted an outstanding art show, and held our annual Build the HYPE fundraising breakfast.

I am grateful for the partners who are in this work with us — our play and art show would not have been successful without the guidance of Mrs. Franky Hudson and our program staff, and our breakfast was made possible by the support of our sponsors DTE Energy Foundation, Comerica Bank, and PNC Bank. We also appreciate the assistance of volunteers from Quicken Loans.

What we have learned during our busy season is that though there were times when it seemed tough, if we rely on each other and work hard, we can do impactful work that makes a difference in the lives of young people. The joy of seeing our students be received like celebrities after their play performances, or supporting them at their prom send offs, or seeing them prepare for their summer jobs is unmatched. There is still much work to do — more young people to reach with leadership, arts, and health education programming, more young people to test and educate about HIV, more community members to engage. But for now, we will celebrate what we have accomplished. Teen HYPE is committed to serving young people and giving them a platform to shine.

Sincerely,

Ambra Redrick
CEO, Teen HYPE