May 7th, 2017 - 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Be in the spotlight for the right reasons!
WHAT: Delaware Teen Idol Auditions
WHERE: St. Peter’s Parish Hall, 211 Mulberry Street, Lewes 19958
WHEN: Sunday, May 7, 2017 from 1 to 3 p.m.
CONTACT: Lorri Camilleri, Director of Family Ministry
302-645-8479, ext. 202 or email: [email protected]
If you can sing, rap or perform spoken word this is for you. Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lewes will host AIDS Delaware’s Delaware Teen Idol auditions on Sunday, May 7, 2017, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Parish Hall (located at 211 Mulberry Street in Lewes). All teens (both individuals and groups) ages 13 to 18 are invited to audition. Persons/groups auditioning must perform original raps, songs, or poetry. All qualifying performers must address the topics of Safe Sex, Fatherhood Involvement, Anti-Drug Use, Anti-Violence, or Anti-Crime. Saint Peter’s facilities are handicapped accessible. For additional information, please call (302) 645-8479).
History. Delaware Teen Idol is a project that was created out of a need for youth to have an outlet to voice their concerns regarding some of the issues taking place in Delaware. Since its beginning in 2005, the program has become significant for the City of Wilmington. Youth consistently need to hear and see messages about safer sex, abstinence and the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. But this issue is prevalent throughout the state and we are now trying to spread the word in all counties!
The program consist of youth singers, rappers, and poets displaying their talents in one of the seven Wilmington Health Planning Councils prioritized health initiatives (Healthy Wilmington 2010): Access to Preventive Health Care, Chronic Disease Prevention: Early Detection, HIV/AIDS, Mental Health, Responsible Sexual Behavior: Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Substance Abuse, and Violence Prevention.
By utilizing this peer-to-peer approach youth will be given educational messages that will challenge them toward behavior change.
Today’s youth are impacted by numerous negative influences that promote anti-social behavior, and lifestyles consisting of crime, violence, drug dealing, drug/alcohol/tobacco-use and other maladaptive responses. Poor parenting, disruptive environments and unstable living arrangements have contributed to this dilemma. Moreover, recent proposed interventions aimed at addressing minority contact with the criminal justice system appear punitive and may actually contribute to the dilemma.
The aforementioned factors have likely contributed to Delaware’s frustratingly high school drop rates (News Journal, October 29, 2006) e.g. 57% of boys and 58% of girls enrolled in the 9th grade dropped out in year 2004-2005. Minority youth, who are overwhelmed with anxiety and/or depression, tend to lack the skills-set and support systems to endure the pressures associated with their adolescent stage of development and emotional drain.
Key to finding a solution is allowing youth the opportunity to voice their opinion regarding the issues taking place. Two of the goals of Delaware Teen Idol’s overall approach are 1. Provide youth an outlet to voice their concerns regarding societal issues through creative expressions and 2. Be a catalyst to prevent juvenile delinquency and recidivism.
Our goal is to:
• Encourage safer behaviors regarding drug and alcohol use
• Have youth seek HIV counseling and testing early
• Increase awareness about HIV, drug/alcohol use, teen pregnancy and mental health
• Increase awareness of HIV resource centers
• Increase awareness of HIV/AIDS, STD issues and other challenges that youth encounter
• Increase the number of youth that are linked to youth friendly services and programs- AIDS DE provides clients with referrals to teen pregnancy prevention programs, substance abuse counseling and other necessary services
• Provide youth an outlet to voice their concerns regarding societal issues through creative expressions
• Be a catalyst to prevent juvenile delinquency/recidivism
For additional information, please contact Lorri Camilleri (302-645-8479, ext. 202 or [email protected]), Family Minister at St. Peter’s Church.