>> get ready for "teen kids news." here's what's coming up. >> ever hear the saying "one person's meat is another person's poison"? for millions of kids, it's all too true. i'll explain. >> in most cities, graffiti is often a sign of vandalism, but i'll tell you why this graffiti is a sign of political freedom as well as a heartfelt tribute to the man who wrote "give peace a chance." >> the answer is "live free or die." the question is, which state? >> i'll tell you how a gospel-music program for teens is helping to change lives. >> ♪ this little light of mine >> that and more, next on "teen kids news."

>> welcome to "teen kids news." i'm mwanzaa. >> and i'm siena. we'll start with our top story. >> hard as it might be to believe, many foods you love to eat could be dangerous to some of your friends. tyler reports on the rising risk of food allergies. >> ♪ onto your hand ♪ and can't you hold back? >> meet heather braverman. she's a singer and actress with a promising career. she's been on tv, in a movie, and on stage at american girl place. but life's not all bright lights and applause. heather lives in constant danger of foods that can make her very

sick. >> i'm allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish, and i found out when i went to an ice-cream store when i was really young. i actually picked out these toppings that were peanut-butter cookies, and i had a full reaction. >> and she just started crying hysterically. and i knew something wasn't right, but i really was confused and unsure what it was. >> it can take many trips to a doctor to figure out what's wrong and just what foods are to blame, but the underlying cause is a problem with the body's immune system. >> immune system works to protect us from infections, like bacteria or viruses or parasites, but sometimes, it gets confused, and it starts recognizing foods as an enemy, and it starts mounting an immune response. >> that response can range from itching to rashes called hives, vomiting, even difficulty breathing. very severe symptoms are called anaphylaxis. anaphylaxis is not only scary -- it can be deadly, and it can happen in an instant.

>> your throat closes. hives all over your body. your eyes puff up. it's different for everybody, really, but it gets really fatal. [ siren wails ] >> every 10 minutes, someone in the u.s. is rushed to the emergency room with a severe allergic reaction. what's more, food allergies are becoming more common. peanut allergies alone have tripled since our parents were kids. >> i have a friend who's allergic to almonds. >> my friends are allergic to nuts, berries, and milk. >> my best friend is allergic to peanuts. >> one of my friends, she's allergic to peanuts. [ mid-tempo piano music playing ] >> unfortunately, many people don't realize just how serious food allergies can be. heather had to educate her friends and classmates and even a teacher who was using peanut candy for a science lesson. >> and she said, "how allergic are you?" i said, "i can't be in the room if we're doing this experiment." and she dismissed me from class, and that prevented my learning. some teachers, you know, really help me out, and some teachers

don't understand it. >> heather spoke about her condition at a conference in washington, d.c. she was invited by f.a.a.n., the food allergy and anaphylaxis network. >> it was really interesting 'cause i've never been with a group of people who all understand [chuckling] what i'm going through. >> kids like heather often carry a medical device to treat a reaction until they can get to a doctor. >> all of our friends know they can't bring cakes or cookies or things like that unless it's allergen-safe. >> if you know anyone who has food allergies, be a "pal." that stands for "protect a life." first, don't share food. be sure to wash your hands after eating foods like nuts. just touching someone can set off their allergic reaction. learn what triggers your friends' allergies and help them avoid it. and get help immediately if your friend starts having a reaction. >> the "pal" list is a good thing to know if you have a friend with food allergies to keep them safe. >> i think it's a good thing to tell kids. >> for heather's family, coping

with food allergies has become second nature. her sister has them, too. heather has learned to plan ahead. she often brings her own food to school or to a performance. if she's going to a restaurant, she even has an information card for the chef. >> we might go out to eat, but i'll bring the allergy card. >> whenever she travels, she brings along her medicines. and she always has to be careful to avoid danger, even when working with another actor on a movie set. >> i had to kiss somebody, and i had to ask him before, did you have any peanuts today? and he said, "you know, i actually had this candy." and i said [chuckling] "you need to get some mouthwash." so, you know, we did that, and then it was fine. >> it was just a make-believe kiss for the camera, but it could have created real problems for heather. so remember, if you have any friends with food allergies, be a "pal." >> there's more "teen kids news" coming up next. >> we'll be right back.

>> ever since the end of

world war ii, the iron curtain of communism darkened the lives of millions living in eastern europe. lauren reports on how a wall covered with graffiti came to become a symbol of freedom for those "back in the u.s.s.r." >> the heart of the czech republic is the beautiful city of prague. today, it's the capital of a democratic state, but for more than 40 years...prague was under the thumb of moscow. because of the communist influence, one would expect that there would be a monument here to lenin. there is. but not to this lenin, one of the founders of communism, but to this lennon, one of the founders of the beatles. the people of prague call it "the lennon wall." it's covered with graffiti honoring the singer. >> i think it's neat how the city almost encourages it, 'cause in the united states, graffiti is more of a -- it's kind of looked at as not an art form. but in prague, all over the

city, it's accepted as an art, which i think is interesting. >> graffiti has a special place in the hearts of people here. under communism, speaking out against government was forbidden, so graffiti was a form of political protest. when john lennon was killed in 1980, young people again turned to graffiti. to them, lennon stood for peace and artistic freedom. writing on the wall helped them express their sadness over his death as well as their own yearning to be free. although the authorities tried to stop the graffiti, they couldn't. >> under communism, they'd paint it every night to squash the protesting, and it would be interesting because they would continue to come back every day and still write. >> now the czech republic is a free country. people can say and write what they want. the lennon wall has become a popular place where everyone, including reporters from "teen kids news," is welcome to leave their mark. >> you can't kind of step back and take a picture of the whole thing. it's better to just slowly look at it and look at each little

detail, 'cause there's just so many different things and sometimes you can miss some things. >> china has the great wall. jerusalem has the wailing wall. prague has the lennon wall. for "teen kids news," i'm lauren. >> there's an entire history lesson in a state flag. you just need to know what to look for. >> when the american colonies declared their independence from england, one led the way with a rousing motto. >> the year was 1774, two years before the declaration of independence, and new hampshire declared their own independence from great britain. the motto at the time was "live free or die," and it's still the state motto today. >> another revolutionary first for new hampshire is pictured here on the state flag. in 1776, the warship raleigh was

the first to fly the new american flag. new hampshire is home to many other firsts. the first potato was grown here. america's first astronaut in space, alan shepard, was born here, as was the first free public library. >> new hampshire is known as "the granite state," and it's because their number-one natural resource is granite. this is a particularly good stone for building bridges, houses, even statues. and although the colony was first established for fishing, they quickly learned what they really had going on. >> those nine stars around the border signify an additional claim to fame. after the revolutionary war, our new constitution required approval by 9 of the 13 states. new hampshire made it happen by being the ninth state to ratify the famous document. with "flag facts," i'm brandon. >> ♪ and let it shine, let it shine, let it shine ♪

>> combine the power of prayer with the power of upbeat music. what do you get? gospel.

nicole takes us to a school dedicated to keeping the sound alive. >> ♪ this little light of mine, i'm gonna let it shine ♪ >> these kids are auditioning for "gospel for teens," a unique after-school program in harlem, new york. >> i love gospel music. >> i choose gospel over anything else. >> gospel means "to spread the good news." whatever that good news means to you -- the good news of god, the good news of jesus christ -- gospel music spreads that good news through the lyrics, through the hymns, through the feeling that you get when you sing. >> ♪ i sing because i'm happy >> i want to join gospel for teens because i think it's a great experience for children who want to be able to put their dreams out there. >> but for too many teens, those dreams are getting harder to reach. budget cuts are eliminating music programs in many schools

across the country. >> for those lucky enough to pass these auditions, they'll spend the coming months learning not just how to sing gospel, but how to feel it. >> this is not, you know [chuckling] "american idol." this is not "x factor." this is none of that. just come up here, and you just express your talent. >> 19-year-old elijah is both one of the judges and the musical director. he knows how these kids feel because he was once a student here himself. >> gospel for teens is a family, you know? we've been here running for about seven years now, and for each program and each semester that comes in, we've had this love kind of relationship while we teach, and everyone feels like home here. so it's also a working environment, but it's also a family environment. >> ♪ and i know >> ♪ and i know >> ♪ and i know >> ♪ and i know >> ♪ he watches

>> ♪ he watches >> ♪ me >> ♪ me [ cheers and applause ] >> gospel for teens was started by vy higginsen. >> gospel mumusic is religious, but we are a school, so we teach the art of gospel music. so it doesn't matter what religion you are. but i think that gospel music was birthed out of a need to be spiritual or to be religious or to have hope and possibility and joy in your life, you know, especially during those really difficult times. and it sort of takes us through a journey of our life in america, you know, whether you go from traditional gospel songs or slave songs or folk songs. >> vy explained that one of the goals of the program is to keep the spirit of gospel alive. >> as we audition people for events, we find out that they

were not able to sing a whole gospel song all the way through. so, therefore, we felt that it was important now to make sure that we infuse these young people with the history and culture and let them know who they are and where they come from musically so that they would be able to pass the music on for generation and generation to come. >> by the end of the audition, these teens are already learning to let their light shine. >> ♪ let it shine, let it shine, let it shi-i-i-i-ne ♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> the students who win a spot at the school are going to get the chance to see how gospel music can go mainstream. that and more when we return. [ upbeat music plays ]

>> it's saturday night, and the community is turning out to see the hit musical "mama, i want to sing." it's the longest-running show of its kind. >> ♪ mama, i want to sing, please, let me sing ♪ ♪ i wanna sing >> "mama, i want to sing" is the story of doris, a young girl who grew up singing in her church choir. but doris wanted to sing more than just gospel. against her mother's wishes, doris wanted to sing popular music, what people in the church call "secular music." >> she was torn between the church and the secular music -- [ record scratches ] >> hold it right there. did i mention this is a true story? there really was a girl named doris. in fact, she's the sister of vy higginsen. that's one of the reasons why vy helped to write the play. oh, and one more thing. knoelle is related to vy, as well. she's vy's daughter.

but in the show, knoelle plays the role of doris, who -- remember -- is actually her mother's sister and, therefore, knoelle's aunt in real life. [ bell dings ] got all that? okay. back to the story line. >> she went off and she sang the secular music, and then she became popular in america and europe with the famous song "just one look." >> ♪ just one look ♪ and i knew-ew-ew >> ♪ i fell in love with you, baby ♪ >> ♪ in just one look >> ♪ i fell in love, fell in love ♪ >> the lead role requires a powerful voice with an extraordinary range. >> ♪ just one... >> knoelle hadn't even been born yet when the show was written in 1983, but it turns out to be a role she was born to perform. >> ♪ ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ooh aah aah ♪ >> most of the young performers in the musical got their start in gospel for teens, including elijah, who plays the minister

of music. >> my audition...was very -- i was very scared [chuckling] and nervous. even though i sang in the church choir, i was a little nervous to sing in front of people, you know, but i got through it. and watching my audition tape today, it's kind of [chuckling] embarrassing, but it just shows how this program can take you and where it can guide you and bring you along to. >> in the audience for tonight's performance are the newest members of gospel for teens and their families. >> well, after the show, we had a sort of what we call a "meet and greet," and we invited the freshman class to see the show. so this is their first day of school, so it's welcome to the first day. this is what we do, and this is how you fit into the overall picture. you're just beginning the process. >> but you just have to believe in yourself. >> and so it was meant for them to be motivated, inspired, and uplifted by seeing other young

people sing. >> look! that's the look of success! [ cheers and applause ] >> me, personally, being in gospel for teens, it's been a life-changing experience. i have friends and colleagues who have made wrong choices in life, but being in this program, i've learned how to keep my head on the proper shoulders. >> and it's really my goal to have young people inspire young people. that's really what we're doing. >> ♪ well ♪ this little light of mine >> ♪ ohhhh >> for "teen kids news," i'm nicole. >> ♪ ohhhh ♪ this little light of mine >> ♪ ohhhh >> ♪ i'm gonna let it shine >> a lot of us have what's called "test anxiety." even when we've studied and know the material well, we may still get very nervous on exam day. according to a professor of psychology, a case of nerves can jam our memory, causing it to freeze up, sort of like a computer that has too many

programs running. so dr. beilock recommends positive self-talk. think of it as your own personal pep talk. when you feel yourself getting anxious, don't say "oh, no. i'm nervous." instead, make a positive statement. say "i'm psyched and ready to go!" here's another tip. shortly before the test, write about your feelings. it will help clear away the mental clutter, and that will let you focus on what's most important -- doing well on the exam. good luck!

>> to mark our 10th year on tv, each week, we take a look back at one of the stories we've covered. >> if you're good at video games and you're not scared of heights, we have a career you might want to consider.

people who control these giants are called crane-and-tower operators. some of the work is done on the ground, but a lot of it happens way up high.up to your n the sky, and you stay up there for hours, helping to move that big arm called a boom. this work takes a lot of training. you start on smaller machines and slowly work your way up -- literally. but some things about this job you have to be born with -- a sense of balance, a good eye for judging distances, and really, really good coordination between your hands, your feet, and your eyes. our "work it" reports use information from the government. you can find out more about this and other careers by going to acinet.org.

>> this report is brought to you by paramount pictures. >> now, are you sure about this? >> yes, those zany zoo-sters are back in "madagascar 3: europe's most wanted," and they're on a hilarious european adventure. >> wait! >> actually, you don't have to wait. "madagascar 3" is now out on a spectacular blu-ray/dvd combo pack that comes with a real rainbow wig like marty's. >> ♪ da da da-da-da-da-da-da, circus! ♪ [ spy-movie music plays ] >> featuring the voices of ben stiller, chris rock, jada pinkett smith, and david schwimmer, the movie became a massive worldwide hit. >> there it is -- the casino. >> still trying to get back to their home in new york, the pals wind up in monte carlo instead... >> that's where we'll find the penguins. >> ...where their adventure nearly turns into a "mission: impossible." >> i'm gonna lead. [ glass shatters ] >> and that's just the beginning. the movie is filled with lots of laughs and action as they

race to avoid being captured. >> tell me one conceivable way that extra-large animals like us are gonna be able to move through europe without attracting unwanted attention. >> the combo pack has a trainload of bonus features, including behind-the-scene featurettes, interactive fun, deleted scenes, interviews with the cast, and much more. >> ...so just go out, do what you do! >> only animals can join this circus, but you can own "madagascar 3: europe's most wanted" on blu-ray and dvd today! for "teen kids news," i'm scott. >> that's all for this week. thanks for joining us. >> we'll see you next time with more "teen kids news."

>> here's a shout-out to pr newswire for including "teen kids news" on their big screen in times square, new york city.