M.A.D.E. Sponsors Screening Of "Race to Nowhere"

By Marcy Beatty

Madison Alcohol and Drug Education (M.A.D.E) Coalition will host a screening of Race to Nowhere, an award-winning documentary revealing the dark side of America's achievement culture on Wednesday, March 23 at Polson Middle School Auditorium at 7 p.m. A moderated discussion will follow.

The film has been hailed as a "must-see" by reviewers across the country. It focuses on how academic, social and extracurricular pressure is adversely affecting our kids, and how the high-stakes, high-pressure culture that has invaded our schools and our children's lives creates unhealthy, disengaged, unprepared and stressed-out youth.  The film focuses on these issues and then shares ways that parents, educators and community leaders can help kids be successful in the healthiest way.

Why did M.A.D.E. bring the film to Madison? Stress is one of the factors that teens and adults have cited in surveys as the reasons teens drink alcohol.

"We have learned from focus groups conducted with parents and kids that there is a general perception among some people in our community that the pressure on teens is sometimes what leads them to drink," said Laurie Ruderfer, Coalition Coordinator for M.A.D.E. "The question we wrestle with is how to acknowledge this, agree that it does not have to be so, and talk openly about the issue.  Race to Nowhere will be a conversation starter for ours and other Shoreline communities that focuses us on what is important: the health and well-being of our children."

To purchase advance tickets for $10, go to madeinmadison.org and click on the link. Tickets will also be available the night of the event, $15 at the door.

Marcy Beatty is the assistant coalition director for M.A.D.E.