Ntarupt’s W.A.P. campaign is on DART buses and billboards. Photo by Ntarupt.

The North Texas Alliance to Reduce Unintended Pregnancy in Teens (Ntarupt) has designed a provocative new campaign to grab the attention of young people in Lake Highlands and across Dallas County. They’re using DART buses – and pop culture – to cut teen pregnancy rates and protect students.

Sign up for our newsletter!

* indicates required

The “W.A.P.” campaign is short for “We Always Use Protection,” but teens know “WAP” as a sexually-explicit song by Cardi B. (If you don’t know what WAP means, ask a 15-year-old. Better yet, don’t.)

The 75231 ZIP code, which includes Vickery Meadow and portions of Lake Highlands, has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in Dallas County, so 21 DART buses will circulate here and in 75203, 75212, 75220, 75215, 75216, 75217, 75219, 75227, 75228, 75240 and 75172. Dallas had the highest teen birth rate of any major city in Texas in 2019, and Texas had the 5th highest rate in the nation, according to Ntarupt.

The organization says unplanned pregnancy is not the only danger faced by teens who opt to become sexually active. Almost 50% of gonorrhea and 60% of chlamydia cases occur in persons aged 15-24 years old, they warn.

“We needed to go where the youth are,” explained Ntarupt CEO Terry Greenberg of the W.A.P. message. “We needed to reach them using the phrases they understand in order for us to really make a difference in their lives.”

Ntarupt’s Talk About It Dallas site for teens discusses issues such as consent, abstinence and birth control.

Author

  • Carol Toler

    Blogger CAROL TOLER and her husband, Toby, are the parents of four LHHS graduates. She has an MBA from SMU and is the proud recipient of the Exchange Club of LH's Unsung Hero Award and Councilman McGough's Blake Anderson Public Service Award. She received LHHS PTA's Extended Service Award, FMJH PTA's Charger Award and a Life Membership from the LHFC PTA. She has moderated candidate debates for Dallas Mayor, Dallas City Council and RISD Trustee races and taught seminars on garnering publicity for nonprofits. She completed training with Dallas Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation and Inside RISD, and she's a sustaining member of LH Women's League. She has served on the boards of After8 to Educate, Dallas Free Press, Healing Hands Ministries and Camp Sweeney and chaired fundraisers for multiple Dallas nonprofits. Email ctoler@advocatemag.com.