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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 11 OctOber 2019
'We're not alone' - 'Sesame Street' tackles addiction crisis

By MARK KENNEDY explaining that addiction is
Associated Press a sickness , and Karli telling
NEW YORK (AP) — "Sesame Elmo and Chris about her
Street" is taking a new step mom's special adult meet-
to try to help kids navigate ings and her own kids' ones.
life in America — it's tack- Karli also opens up about
ling the opioid crisis. her family to Abby Cadab-
Sesame Workshop is explor- by in another segment, and
ing the backstory of Karli, a Karli tells Elmo about how
bright green, yellow-haired she mistakenly used to feel
friend of Elmo's whose like her mom's addiction
mother is battling addic- was her fault. Karli, Elmo,
tion. The initiative is part of Rosita and Abby Cadab-
the Sesame Street in Com- by also sing "We're Special
munities resources avail- and So Are You." Viewers
able online. are referred to free online
"Sesame Street" creators resources in both English
said they turned to the is- and Spanish that include
sue of addiction since data videos, storybooks, digital
shows 5.7 million children interactives and games.
under age 11 live in house- Children's therapist Jerry
holds with a parent with Moe, the national direc-
substance use disorder. tor of the Hazelden Betty
"There's nothing else out This undated image released by Sesame Workshop shows 10-year-old Salia Woodbury, whose Ford Children's Program,
there that addresses sub- parents are in recovery, with "Sesame Street" character Karli. helped craft the segments
stance abuse for young, Associated Press and resources, saying he
young kids from their per- was grateful to help since
spective," said Kama Ein- going through it. But now The segment leans on care- looks good." there's been a paucity of
horn, a senior content man- I've met so many other kids fully considered language. Karli had already been in- resources for the preschool
ager with Sesame Work- like us. It makes me feel like Creators prefer "addic- troduced as a puppet in age-group.
shop. It's also a chance to we're not alone," the pup- tion" to "substance abuse" foster care earlier this year "These boys and girls are
model to adults a way to pet continued. and "recovery" to "sobriety" but viewers now will under- the first to get hurt and, un-
explain what they're going "Right, we're not alone," because those terms are stand why her mother had fortunately, the last to get
through to kids and to offer Salia responded. "And it's clearer to children. Despite to go away for a while. The help," he said. "For them to
simple strategies to cope. OK to open up to people the subject, the mood was introduction of her back- see Karli and learn that it's
"Even a parent at their most about our feelings." light in the room, largely story follows other attempts not their fault and this stuff
vulnerable — at the worst In the segment, Karli and thanks to Jenkins' calm and by entertainment compa- is hard to talk about and it's
of their struggle — can take Salia each hold up hand- empathic manner. nies to explore the issues of OK to have these feelings,
one thing away when they drawn pictures of flowers, "I know it feels awkward addiction, including "The that's important. And that
watch it with their kids, then with multiple petals repre- because people don't Connors" on ABC and "Eu- there's hope."
that serves the purpose," senting "big feelings" — like normally have conversa- phoria" on HBO. "Sesame Street," which
Einhorn said. anger, sadness and happi- tions standing shoulder-to- The online-only segments began airing in 1969, has
This summer in Manhat- ness. They offer ways to feel shoulder," she told Salia be- with Karli and Salia are a long history of tackling
tan, The Associated Press better, including art and tween takes. augmented with ones that topical issues in a way ap-
looked on as puppeteers, breathing exercises. "This is weird, but trust me, it feature Elmo's dad, Louie, proachable to children.q
producers and show cre-
ators crammed into a small
studio in the nonprofit's Review: Author crafts glimpse into the future in 'Synapse'
Manhattan headquarters
to tape some of the up-
coming segments. By JEFF AYERS baby during childbirth. On soul? What constitutes a liv- thought-provoking reading
"Synapse" (Thomas Nelson), her way home from the ing being?
Karli, voiced and manipu- experience.q
lated by puppeteer Haley by Steven James hospital she witnesses a ter- "Synapse" isn't a retread of
In "Synapse" by Steven rorist attack and is able to the Pinocchio story with the
Jenkins, was joined by a
young girl — 10-year-old James, it is 30 years into save the life of one of the character wanting to be
the future and artificial in-
bystanders. When she ar-
a real boy. It's the story of
Salia Woodbury, whose
parents are in recovery. telligence has advanced rives home, she learns that a created being that asks
to the point where robots her brother, who works for hard existential questions.
"Hi, it's me, Karli. I'm here
with my friend Salia. Both of called Artificials can look the company that creates Jordan's pursuit of answers
the Artificials, has given makes the reader contem-
human and can be pro-
our parents have had the
same problem — addic- grammed to experience her one as a gift. She re- plate deep philosophical
pain and emotion. People turns it, but changes her questions as well. What
tion," Karli told the camera.
"My mom and dad told me pay for these companions mind when she realizes she does it mean to be truly
for emotional support. The needs to talk to someone alive? What makes some-
that addiction is a sickness,"
Salia said. robots are indistinguishable about her grief. one truly human?
from humans at a casual The name of the Artificial The author has crafted a
"Yeah, a sickness that
makes people feel like they glance, and marriage laws is Jordan, and he's not like glimpse of a future when
have recently been passed the other ones of his kind. mankind and computer
have to take drugs or drink
alcohol to feel OK. My mom allowing unions between Once he's activated, he technology fully merge. This cover image released by
begins to question what it He immerses the charac-
humans and Artificials.
was having a hard time Thomas Nelson shows "Syn-
with addiction and I felt like Kestrel Hathaway is devas- means to exist. Is there a ters into a tense thriller, apse" by Steven James.
tated when she loses her God? And does he have a creating a unique and
my family was the only one Associated Press