Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 28, 1994 TAG: 9405310153
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By CAMERON HUDDLESTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Those who know Powell say he is usually quiet and shy. But Anthony Drakeford, a health educator with Planned Parenthood and director of Hurt Park Teen Advisory, said Powell played a key role in creating the mural and in motivating the seven other members of Teen Advisory who have worked on it. He was rewarded for his efforts with an art set.
``He was really dedicated to the project,'' Drakeford said. ``Maurice contributed a lot of concepts.''
The mural, on a privately owned building at Salem Avenue and Second Street Southwest, has offered these teens an outlet through which they could confront the problems they face. The mural also encourages others to be aware of the problems surrounding teen-age sexuality.
``I did it because it does something for the neighborhood,'' 15-year-old Kerry Jones said. ``It tells people to avoid teen-age pregnancy.''
The teens compiled their ideas for a design that was created by artist Robbie Muse. Painting began April 30 to correspond with National White Ribbon Campaign/Teen Pregnancy Week; the finishing touches are being added.
The mural depicts a girl and boy surrounded by a white ribbon pulling them toward the future, Muse said. Words like "sex," "pregnant," "abstain," "diseases" and "think" were chosen by 15-year-old Jaimmie Thomas to surround the mural.
``Those are my words, but you can't just say one word for everybody,'' Thomas said. ``I think people are going to look up at the words and say, `I'm going to use protection.'''
That is exactly the message Drakeford has been trying to get across to the members of Teen Advisory and the First Things First ``Sex or Not?'' program. Roanoke was ranked worst in the state in teen pregnancies in 1991. In 1992, the latest year for which figures are available, the city's teen pregnancy rate dropped for the first time in a decade.
``Sex or Not?'' began in March 1992 and is a five- or 10-week program for students ages 10 to 17. Graduates of the program go on to be members of Teen Advisory, which Drakeford formed in February.
The mural was painted with the help of six TRUST teen-line volunteers, an $80,000 grant from the Public Welfare Foundation and funding by Planned Parenthood and an anonymous donor. The money also supported an expansion of the First Things First program and an ad campaign. The teens and their mural are featured in two television commercials that aired Monday.
The mural will be dedicated June 13 at 3:30 p.m.
The Hurt Park teens have found their work has paid off in many ways. They were paid for the time they worked on the mural, but the money was not the only incentive.
``Most of them did it because they wanted something to do, because they're tired of sitting around,'' Drakeford said.
``I thought it would be fun for me to do, to get out of these projects,'' 13-year-old Shanita Beyers said, referring to Hurt Park.
The project also offered these teens, who Drakeford said are often seen in a negative light, a chance to show the community they are seeking a more positive image.
``It was worth it, because everyone thinks I'm famous,'' Thomas said.
by CNB