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TUCSON - Teen pregnancy, drug abuse and bullying are some of the toughest issues facing teenagers today, and a local charter school is addressing it. Students are using media to promote healthy choices. The P.A.L. program: Promoting Abstinence through Life Skills.

Gabriel Catalan is a senior at Pima Partnership High School. At the age of 18, he's already a father. He tells Kristi's Kids, "I would to like to help other people to let you know, you can wait."

Catalan joined the Media Club, a voluntary after-school activity, where they produce comic books and videos. During our visit, they were reading through scripts. Students choose the issues they think are important.

"What's going on out there in life," says Jeanette Garcia, a junior. "So we try to bring it in here and we try to do a script, so we can explain it to other kids and let them know, what's going on."

Professionals from Dreamco, a local media company, guide them through the project.

"It's very different to actually produce media as opposed to consuming it," says Greg Lomeau, Dreamco CEO. "The kids then become the actors in the video. And they become the characters in the comic book. And they tell their stories."

The healthy message gets through as students from the Media Club reach out. They want to have "... a healthy relationship and change the way they've acted in the past," says Renee Romero, Project Associate with Pima Prevention Partnerships.

Another benefit? Some Media Club members are considering video production and graphic design for their career.

"I think it helps their self esteem. It helps their creativity. And it gives them possibilities," says Lomeau.

At the end of the year, the kids have a red carpet event where they get to see the finished videos and comic books.
For more information about the project visit the websites below.

www.thepartnership.us
www.dreamco.com
www.desertvalleyhigh.com