In a time when health educators are expressing concerns about abstinence-only programs, the 'Sex Police' are on the beat. In its 12th season, the AIDS-awareness hip-hop dance play called 'Sex Police' initiates conversation about condom use and its effectiveness at preventing the spread of HIV.
'Sex Police' is produced by School Street Movement and Project A.S.T.R.O., N.F.P. The two Chicago-based organizations are celebrating a merger of missions, combining the esteem-building qualities of the visual and performing arts to promote health and wellness among youth, with special emphasis on youth of color, those living in disadvantaged neighborhoods and youth in foster care.
Founded in 1992, School Street has produced AIDS-awareness and health-related plays and workshops for more than 150,000 youth. The vibrant, youth-oriented plays and activities engage young people and deliver important messages about avoiding HIV infection, drug use, teen pregnancy and at the same time, encouraging youth to raise their expectations and to go beyond the status quo.
Project A.S.T.R.O. seeks to raise esteem, build leadership qualities and promote a sense of family and community among young people in foster care by instilling in them the disciplines, innovation and creativity of the arts. Founded in 2002, A.S.T.R.O. strives to provide a wide array of arts programming, including acting, dance and visual arts classes and workshops in Haitian drumming and dance, writing, mosaic tiling and self-portraiture, to name a few.
The merger starts a new phase of growth for the now single, common mission of both School Street and Project A.S.T.R.O, creating a stronger entity, capable of reaching more at-risk youth with an expanding repertoire of arts-inspired, life lessons.
Contact ssmovement@yahoo.com or call Artistic Director Nancy Giangrasse-Markley at ( 773 ) 772-8237.