Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 12, 1 December 1996 — Allan Silva is making "Positive Connections" [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Allan Silva is making "Positive Connections"

The popular dance song "Macarena" plays, and kindergarten through fifth grade students perform its well-known motions in their seats at this Allan Silva presentation in the cafeteria of Pu'uhale Elementary. Allan Silva has under an hour to convey his message to wriggling children who await a recess break. Six feet seven inches tall, Silva's appearance alone commands attention. Silva has played a lot of different roles in his 39 years — college athlete, counselor, teacher, eoaeh, and financial consultant, to name a few. Now he just talks to people, primarily kids. Silva talks to them about self worth and making eommitments to self improvement. He also talks to their parents, teachers, counselors, and other authority figures. When he was in high

by Barbra An Pleadwell

school a coimselor told Silva he was average. "And I believed it," he said. This is one of the reasons Silva talks to kids. "Positive Connections," Silva's program, is partially funded by AlohaCare, a health care provider with roots in the community health system. He mostly visits

schools, but he also meets with community groups and youth centers. He holds parenting workshops, works with teachers and counselors , and puts on a show for younger audiences. Besides promoting seif esteem, Silva's message is anti-drug and anti-gang. "I am one ineh

taller than Miehael Jordan," Silva tells the students, and | they respond with oohs and aahs. He goes on about how he didn't feel very tall when he played basketball for Chaminade University against many taller players. Then he tells thestudents about one of the toughest players he eneountered who was only five feet four inches. "The person sitting next to you could be the future governor of Hawai'i," is the ^ next Silva declaration. This one brings on throes of laughter as the students look in disbelief at their neighbors. "These kids are our future," says Silva. "I want to help them realize what that could mean for them and for us." Silva has spoken to thousands of Hawai'i youths. On a given day he speaks

figures, and other celebrities. Earlier this year many of these celebrities joined Silva on Dare Day Silva to speak to 22,000 students gathered at Aloha Stadium. Marlene Baldueza, 20, a singer with the loeal group Forte, spoke to the Pu'uhale Elementary students about her accomphshments and the obstacles she faced. Then she sang "Let's Give Them Something to Talk About," the song she sang to win a Hawai'i Stars competition. At

other presentations, Miss Hawai'i Melissa Short and drug-free body builder Mike Moniz have spoken to groups. Silva's appointment book is filled, and his pager sounds constantly. As the word spreads about Positive Connections, Silva finds that not only are his days filling up, but nights and weekends, too. In the 1970s, then a new teacher at Campbell High School, Silva witnessed a 16-

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to groups ranging from just a few to several thousand. To help him make his point, Silva brings in entertainers, sports