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Involvement in the arts is a wonderful alternative to drug abuse and crime. The Foundation for a Drug-Free world works with like-minded groups who use the arts and other cultural activities to encourage a drug-free life. Each year a dedicated group in Clearwater, Florida performs The Chocolate Nutcracker musical with a large cast.
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FLORIDA, December 7, 2007 – On December 7th in Clearwater, the 2007 cast of the Chocolate Nutcracker musical production were sworn in as Drug-Free Marshals, pledging to live a drug-free life and to help others in the effort to achieve a drug-free world.
The Drug-Free Marshals is a youth drug-education and drug-prevention campaign begun in 1993 by the Church of Scientology and now supported and forwarded by other churches, businesses and social betterment organizations. The program educates children as young as 6 on the dangers of drugs, and challenges them to remain drug-free.
In Clearwater, the Drug-Free Marshals are sponsored by Foundation for a Drug-Free World. The youth of the Chocolate Nutcracker cast happily signed the pledge and were given a Drug-Free Marshal badge and a copy of a booklet entitled “The Truth About Drugs.”
The Chocolate Nutcracker is a lively and uplifting version of the “The Nutcracker Suite” ballet with music and dance inspired by African-American traditions of music and dance. Created by dancer/choreographer LaVerne Reed, the show was first staged at the University of Southern California in 1994. Since then it has been performed during the holiday season in numerous venues around the country.
Worthwhile activities such as this, which uplift the culture and give young people an alternative to a life of drugs and crime, are vital in the effort to prevent drug abuse. The arts are a vital component in any effort to improve conditions. As humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists.”
About the Foundation for a Drug-Free World
The Foundation for a Drug-Free World is a secular, non-profit organization based in Los Angeles, California. It was established to meet the increasing demand for the international “Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Life” drug prevention program, which has been conducted around the world for more than 20 years by members of Scientology churches in collaboration with the interfaith community, volunteer organizations, educational institutions and government agencies.
The purpose of the Foundation is to empower youth and adults with the facts about drugs so they can make an informed decision to say no, and help others make the same decision.
To find out more about the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, visit www.drugfreeworld.org
Original: CHOCOLATE NUTCRACKER CAST HELPING TO MAKE A DRUG-FREE WORLD