Minneapolis actor-educators Sarah Rinner (left) and Adia Morris with CLIMB Theatre work with Luverne Middle School students Tuesday in the high school theatre to provide young people with substance abuse prevention information and drug refusal skills. CLIMB stands for Creative Learning Ideas for Mind and Body, and the group visited five southwest Minnesota schools this week with funding support from a Youth Risk Behavior Grant through Public Health. "They teach students that they have the right to a healthy life; that they can say ‘no,’" said Public Health Educator Paula Anderson, Luverne. "And, not only do they teach them how to say ‘no,’ they allow them to practice saying ‘no’ and voice their fears and concerns about saying ‘no.’" She said projects like this and many others will not be available if Gov. Pawlenty reallocates the entire Tobacco Endowment to other funds, as is in his proposal.
Photo by Lori Ehde
