11.22.2004 ET

(CSRwire) "I don't know how people can live with having to keep their emotions bottled up inside, cause I've always had this creative outlet." - Moby

This inspiring new episode of the PBS teen reality series In the Mix, co-hosted by popular musician and composer Moby, focuses on the importance of self-expression and mentoring as a way for teens to learn life skills such as self-confidence, creative thinking, effective communication, teamwork, goal-setting, and time management. The program, entitled "Self Expression Around the World," along with a companion Web site and discussion guide, was made possible by Make a Connection, a global youth development program of Nokia and the International Youth Foundation.

Viewers will see how aboriginal youth in Ontario, Canada, learn to make traditional drums, connecting with their culture and each other. The program then travels to Turkey, where trained teens volunteer as mentors to young children as they create confidence-building art projects in "Dreams Workshops." In China, we meet young reporters participating in the "Little Masters," a journalism program that empowers them to explore social issues while creating their own newspaper. In Mexico, children and teens work together to make short documentary videos focused on solving problems, like pollution, in their community.

Finally, in the U.S., the episode follows teens from De Zavala Middle School in the Dallas/Fort Worth area as they learn to use technology to create short digital stories on the topic of "Global Destiny," which they share on the Internet. This program, Make a Connection Thru Art, which is coordinated by Dallas-based non-profit organization, Big Thought, provides adolescents with an artistic outlet to illustrate how they view the world today versus how they'd like it to be.

In the coming months, Make a Connection Thru Art will expand to other areas of the country, including San Diego and New York. Each school site will create digital stories around a chosen theme weaving together art, poetry, and photography created by the students with guidance from well-known local artists, teachers, and Nokia volunteers.

Interspersed between the segments, Moby speaks out frankly about his music and the importance of self-expression in dealing with problems. This unique episode will encourage young people to express themselves through various forms of artistic expression; identify their talents; collaborate with their peers; think about the impact of present and future issues; and, above all else, make a difference in their lives and communities. It also makes a strong case for the value of arts education.

The program re-airs the week of December 25th. For information on Make a Connection, please visit www.makeaconnection.org.

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