Municipal Alliance seeks songs for anti-drug CD
By:Emily Craighead
This year’s Red Ribbon Week, a community effort battling drug and alcohol abuse that starts next week in Hillsborough schools, may end next spring with a CD of Hillsborough’s "greatest hits."
Soon, the campaign will have a soundtrack written and performed by local artists.
As part of a new project, "Power Up with the Arts," the Municipal Alliance is asking residents from Hillsborough and Millstone to submit original songs about substance abuse.
"People use art and music therapy as a way of expressing themselves, especially in families with addiction because family communication can be pretty shut down," said Nancy Speelman, chairwoman of the Municipal Alliance, organizers of the Red Ribbon Week activities.
That might not be easy for everyone, but Ms. Speelman, a certified alcohol and drug counselor, said it can be an important part of the healing process. "People have to be in a space where they feel ready to share their story."
In the spring, the Municipal Alliance will compile a compact disc of the performances which will also feature cover art by students from Auten Road School and Hillsborough Middle School and host a talent show to raise money for other prevention and education events.
"Throughout the year, we have all kinds of events, but this is one week when we ask the entire community to hang up red ribbons so it gives one clear united message," Ms. Speelman said.
In the meantime, several other Red Ribbon Week activities will take place throughout the community, including a visit to Hillsborough High School by songwriter Jim Dugan, who will share his music and discuss his recovery from substance abuse next week.
Oct. 27 is "Wear Red Day" and the "Red Ribbon Halloween Dance" will be held Oct. 29 at the middle school.
Also on Oct. 29, Woods Road School will sponsor a food collection for Somerset County with the theme, "I Can, You Can, Be Drug Free."
ShopRite provided 6,000 grocery bags for "What’s Your Bag" for grades K-4 to draw a drug-free message.
The middle school is also donating items to the Social Services Department for "Getting High on Helping Others Campaign."
Organizers of Red Ribbon Week said community participation is essential to making the nationwide anti-drug campaign a success.
"I think saying ‘it takes a village’ is really true," said Minda Maggio, a parent volunteer on the Red Ribbon Committee. "It’s hard when kids are exposed to things at school, in the mall, at the movie theater … but it can open the door for conversation."
For more information about the CD project or to send a tape of a song, write to HMMA/Power Up with the Arts Project, Hillsborough Municipal Complex, 379 South Branch Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844.