“You Only Live Once!” These are the words of inspiration behind this spring’s Y.O.L.O. Be Proud! Be Responsible! Bash, sponsored by NH’s PREP (Personal Responsibility Education Program).  If health education sounds like something to yawn about, take a look at the 150 Roosevelt Middle School of the Arts youth who attended this lively and elegant affair at Discovery World on Milwaukee’s waterfront. Meeting face-to-face with health care providers and community health specialists, they not only found rich information on topics pertinent to their lives and futures, but they also had a really good time.

Among those sharing their expertise were: keynote speakers Gaulien Smith aka Gee from Gee’s Clippers and Camille Johnson of Toolkit;  Dr. Scott Dresden and Helena Dresden on nutrition and fitness; Dr. Chan Tran of Greater Milwaukee Dental Association; Dr. Arvind Ahuja, Neurosurgeon; Dr. Namrata Ahuja, Gastroenterologist; Tia Medley, Downtown Health Clinic Nurse Practitioner; Chef and Child Community Outreach; Milwaukee Health Services; City of Milwaukee Health Department; the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin; Zumba by Lisa Scharlau from the YMCA; Discovery World Membership; and Face By Ashley.

The young people participated in Zumba, and physical strength-building activities, learned about nutrition, healthy snacks (many ate hummus for the first time!), and how to read food labels for guidance on healthy choices. Guest speakers addressed personal hygiene and positive attitudes, and Dr. Ahuja presented on brain development and violence prevention.