The Native Stars Basketball (NSB) program continues to give back to the community. In 2001, the Native American Community Health Center, Inc. (NACHCI) in Phoenix requested our help in making a video. The NSB program agreed to participate in creating a youth video focusing on youth diabetes. It was agreed that the video would be a community service project for the NSB program.
When the auditions for the video were complete, many of our Native Stars Basketball members and parents were selected as actors and extras in the video. The main characters CJ (Brooke Youvella-NSB member), CJ's parents (Serafino & Sandra Youvella-NSB parents), Nurse (Melissa Evans), The Coach (Everett Largo-NSB Coach). The video NSB extras were: Coach Joe Torres, Laura Torres, Charlieann Chacon, Lauren Fluegge, Jessica Brody, Brittany Youvella, Vanessa Ballestero, Deanna D'Arcangelo, Frincine Pino, Sarah Leesman, Amanda Gonzales, Jennifer Herbert and the rest of the NSB program.
The video was taped in different areas in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa. The NSB program enjoyed the experience of creating the video. It gave our NSB members a look at how a video is made. The "behind the scenes" of putting on the makeup, checking the lighting, the sound check and finally capturing it all on film. The final product was released in August 2004. The name of the video is "Finding the Way".
"Finding the Way" (excerpt from video cover)
"Finding the Way was created to promote diabetes prevention to the youth through education and lifestyle changes. The main character, CJ, a young Native American youth is determined to make the basketball team. During a routine physical, she is told her health is in jeopardy. With the help of her family, friends and community, CJ finds her way back to good health. The purpose of the video is to help teach and empower young people to make responsible decisions for events that impact their daily lives".
"The Finding the Way video was funded through a grant from St. Luke's Health initiative to Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation and the Native American Community Health Center's Living Well Traditionally (LWT) Diabetes Prevention program of Phoenix, Arizona".
"Our gratitude and thanks to the many energetic and wonderful youth who helped make this project fun to produce. The project would not have become a reality without the enthusiasm and creative talents of the MCCD-LWT Advisory Committee, The Native Stars Basketball program, Cyclone Production and Funkamentals music group from Tucson".
For more information, contact the Native American Community Health Center, Inc. (LWT Diabetes Prevention Program) 3008 N. 3rd Street, Suite 310, Phoenix, Arizona 85012.
