Drama ptmpa?HOO selors. Substance abuse problems most common in the community - alcohol, marijuana, heroin, other opiates and cocaine or crack - were included in the drama. One goal of the project was to educate the audience that drug abuse is a disease. The play also educated par ticipants about protective factors, such as parental monitoring and involve ment. The six performances of "Tunnels" were attended by more than 700 people. Of those, more than 250 adult members of the audience residing in the Durham area agreed to complete a 22 question survey both before and after the play that assessed their attitudes and knowledge about substance abuse and their involvement in substance abuse preven tion. Three months later, a telephone survey assessed their attitudes about sub stance abuse as a disease and whether the audience had participated in sub stance abuse prevention activities during the time since they had seen the play. The after-play survey revealed that the drama met its education objectives and also increased intent to par ticipate in substance abuse prevention activities. Of participants who strongly or somewhat disagreed that drug use is a disease prior to the play, nearly half changed their opinion to somewhat agree and strong ly agree after viewing it. After seeing the play, participants were less likely to agree that alcohol and other drug use is a choice, and more likely to agree that addicted people must go through treatment to stop using. Of those who had report ed before the play that they How leu never or sometimes volun teered time, talked with oth ers in the community or donated money, after view ing the play 43 percent reported intentions to volun teer, 55 percent intended to talk about substance issues, and 40 percent intended to donate money to organiza tions. The telephone survey revealed that participants followed up on their inten tions and did discuss the play with others and increased their participation in substance abuse preven tion activities, especially donating money to organi zations. In the follow-up survey, 81 percent of respondents reported having talked to their family or friends about alcohol or other drug abuse and 43 percent reported hav ing donated money to organ izations involved in sub stance abuse prevention. The project was support ed by grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and an EXPORT grant from the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities.' Co-researchers were Aileen Stephens-Hernandez, lead author, and Amura Cameron, who are both stu dents, Jonathan Livingston, Ph.D., and Steven Franklin, Ph.D., both faculty members at North Carolina Central University, Howard Craft, the play's author, and Karen Dacons-Brock, the play's director and producer. LaChanze from page AW ing the Smart Spot Dance! initiative that intends to empower and motivate the Latino and African American communities to adopt healthier, more active lifestyles," said Ernest McFadden, PepsiCo manager of community affairs. "We'll engage the community through dance, which is a fun, culturally relevant way for fam ilies to get active and we'll edu cate our consumers about our Smart Spot products that can contribute to healthier lifestyles. The Smart Spot Dance! ini tiative also includes a partner ship with the National Council of La Raza to reach out to Latino communities to encour age physical activity through dance and educate the commu nities about healthier eating. Mario Lopez from Dancing with the Stars and Claudia Gonzalez, a registered dietitian, will visit several cities targeting the Latino communities. The Smart Spot Dance! ini tiative will also travel to Houston, Los Angeles. Miami, St. Louis and Washington, DC. PepsiCo says it recognized its responsibility to encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyles - beginning with its products. In 2004, PepsiCo launched the Smart Spot sym bol - the green symbol of Smart Choices Made Easy. This sym bol is a simple labeling system that makes it easier for con sumers to identify PepsiCo products that contribute to a healthier lifestyle and explains why each product is a better choice. Kidwell flvm page Alb ~ can also help to create a bridge between the intellectu al and scholarly resources of tne university ana the Indian communi ties in North Carolina." The American Indian Center at UNC-Chapel Hill, which will be housed in Abernethy Hall, will be one of the only centers on the East Coast to focus solely on American Indian issues and research. As director, Kidwell will collaborate with faculty, students and staff to initiate new programs, continue out reach to American Indian communities and raise funds Gray-Little for the center. The objectives of the cen ter, as outlined by the Provost's Committee on Native American Issues, include: ? establishing a leadership institute for North Carolina tribal leaders, in collab oration with the UNC School of Government; ? helping fac ulty and student researchers part ner with native communities; ? including native perspec tives and cultures in UNC research projects; ? communicating regularly with American Indian tribal leaders and communities; ? sponsoring and facilitat ing activities that give visibil ity to and provide learning opportunities regarding American Indian cultures, his tories and perspectives; and ? promoting inclusion of native people and perspective in campus dialogues. North Carolina is home to the largest American Indian population east of the Mississippi River. In 2005. the U.S. Census estimated the state's total population at just under 8.7 million, with 1.3 percent, or approximately 113,100, listed as American Indians and Alaskan natives. In fall 2006, American Indian students at UNC numbered 219, nearly I percent of total enrollment. American Indian students and faculty at Carolina include members of the state's eight tribes as well as tribes from across the United States and Canada. ALIVE AFTER FIVE MAY 10 BACKBEAT BEMUS TRIBUTE BB&T 4TH ST JAZZ & BLUES STARTS MAY 18 LOIS DELOATCH TRIO SUMMER ON TRADE f wihitmk STARTS MAY 12 MEU/A HOUSTON TRIO ,v$ 6 Birdhouses help build people-houses HabitatForsyth event continues to be major fundraiser BY LAYLA FARMER THE CHRONICLE Since its inception in 1984, Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County (HabitatForsyth) has changed the lives of hun dreds of local families, giv ing them a chance to realize air American dream they never thought possible. With more than 230 houses built to date, HabitatForsyth is among the top-producing Habitat affiliates nationwide. "We are committed to continuing to serve families within the community," said Executive Director Sylvia Oberle. "We are doing as much as we can to eliminate substandard housing." HabitatForsyth uses funding from a variety of sources in order to make homes available to families who need them, but is best known for its annual Birdfest fundraiser. A three-day event, held May 3 5, Birdfest is a unique affair that relies upon the wealth of artistic talent that this city is known for to make it a success. More tnan DlK) artists donat ed their creations that were sold or auctioned off at the 2007 Birdfest. "A lot of times, artists in our community don't have the kind of disposable income to contribute to Habitat, but they wanted to be part of the mission," Oberle explained. "(Birdfest is) a way for artists to ... provide financial resources to Habitat." Even school-age kids were able to lend their sup port to the project, by donat ing hand-painted birdhouses to be sold as "Buy 'n Fly" Moore Elementary School Photo by Lay la Fanner Moore Elementary was among the schools thai contributed to this year 's Birdfest. items, or items that are avail able for immediate purchase, last Thursday and Friday. Parkland and Glenn high schools partici pated in the Birdfest, as well as Hanes Middle School and Brunson and Moore elemen tary schools. Students at non participating schools were allowed to sub mit their pieces individually. "'Things range from the $5 and $10 birdhouses that are done by school children here locally, to. artists' work that sometimes brings in thousands of dollars," Oberle commented. "Everything has sort of a bird or garden theme." The ongoing theme of the Birdfest holds special signif icance to the organization. "The birds are sort of a fun, whimsical way to make a point." Oberle explained. "Birds need houses and so do people - families deserve houses." Proceeds from the Birdfest are, on average. enough to cover the cost of building one full home, Oberle says. "Our goal this year will be very similar to last year - to raise around $70,000 for a Habitat house," she stated. Leo Rucker, a well-known painter and Winston-Salem native, was among the throngs of people who contributed to the 2007 Birdfest. "I always want to do something to support the community, as far as giving back'," said Rucker, who worked as a Habitat volun teer with a group from Greater Cleveland Avenue Christian Church earlier this year. "It's good giving back, and this is a good cause, because you're helping peo ple who need to get homes that they may not, in other ways, be able to afford it." Rucker donated a Latin dance-themed painting - which he created onsite - to be sold at the silent auction. "It's a community coop erative event, and people get to see my work as well," he said. "It's good exposure, and just being able to give back is the ultimate key, I think, in life - service and things like that. It's very important to be able to do that." Glassblower Jeff Wilson was also on the scene, donat ing his colorful glass jewelry to Birdfest for the first time. "I think it's a great cause," he said. "It's a won derful, wonderful way to give back to a community that supports you as an artist." Wilson, who teaches his craft at the Sawtooth Center and other venues citywide. had more than 50 pieces on sale for Birdfest, all of which he created in about two weeks. He said he planned to make his appearance at the fundraiser an annual tradition. "I'm certainly going to try (to come every year)," he stated. "It's some thing that I do believe in very strongly." The 2007 Birdfest has already surpassed last year's gross earnings of $82,000. The money will be used to construct a house in the Glenn Oaks development, where Habitat volunteers are currently working on their 236th home. For more information on volunteering or donating to HabitatForsyth, call S36. 765. 8854, or visit www.habitatforsyth .org . I*ituall\ S t t\ii}y I In- Iritttl .?/ rrf//A The Chronic i ? W M/irn ton- Salem \ r COMMUNITY W*^^**N^E\A/Sr>A.nEFl For Advertising Hi 01 S*il>scrii>ti