Meet the 808s: Youth Empowerment thru Dance at their upcoming World Premier on Thurs night, 8/25
Just after the July 4th Holiday, my friend Thomas “Bud” Sanders asked if I could help out some young adults who live in the North of Howard area who wanted to create a nurturing and creative environment this summer to area teens who did not have much else to do.
Being impressed by their good intentions, their charisma and their spirit, I offered the young adults a little assistance, opening a few doors for them. Yet, these four to five young adults between the ages of 19 – 22 are doing the heavy lifting: offering twice/week dance classes at Willye B. Whyte and organizing an upcoming performance, one which they assure me is “tight.”
Read their letter below to learn more, and, if you can, attend their “World Premier” performance this coming Thursday evening, August 25, 2011, Willye B. White Center, 6:30PM.
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“Dear Friends and Supporters of 808s: Youth Empowerment thru Dance;
This email is from the founders of 808s: Youth Empowerment thru Dance: Jermaine Hawk; Jerrell Hawk; Jeremiah Henz; Dominique Johns; and (“Bud”) Sanders.
Around five weeks ago we had a vision: to create an outlet for some of the youth who are at risk in the North of Howard area, using dance as a form of expression.
With the help of some community members and organizations, and the dedicated staff of the Willye White Center, we have been able to conduct twice a week dance classes for youth.
For the first couple of weeks we were excited to have anywhere from 10 to 20 area teens participate.
We started rehearsal, with the goal being to put on a hip hop and urban movement performance on Thursday, August 25, 2011, under the name 808s: Youth Empowerment thru Dance.
Our practices were always well attended and we were overwhelmed by the energy level in the room and by how seriously the kids took to our focus on dedication, integrity and discipline.
Now, we are only three days away from our performance; we have had some phenomenal support from the community; and we can’t believe that we have successfully drawn a total of 25 kids (maybe 30.) We are excited, and, yes, a bit nervous, but we are ready!
We invite members of our community to attend our free performance, Thursday, August 25, 2011, 6:30PM, at the Willye B. White Center, 1610 West Howard Street.
Doors open at 6:00PM.
6:30: welcome
6:35: our guests, Twisted Elegance, a South Side urban dance group
6:50: Stay Fresh Kids: an urban teen rap group with North of Howard youth performing
7:00: 808s: Youth Empowerment thru Dance World Premier!
7:25: Awards
7:35: Q & A
8:00: adjourn
We will hand out brochures on Thursday thanking our advisory board, our sponsors and supporters, and telling you more about our program.
We have made arrangements with the 24th district police department for them to have a presence at this event.
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday and bring a friend.
Peace; Love; Unity
Jermaine, Jerrell, Jeremiah, Dominique and Bud”
Watch this interview of 808s founding member, Jerrell Hawk, and learn about a harrowing experience from earlier in his life, and how knowledge of hip hop and urban dance might have saved his life. Audio improves after around 30 seconds…”
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About the Author
Mike has a long term relationship with Rogers Park, having lived here at various times in his life, most recently returning to the neighborhood in August, 2009. While living here as a third year law student, he remembers drunken nights at Biddy Mulligan’s and hosting a couple of memorable parties that he, hypocritically, now forbids his own tenants from having. Years later, after completing his stint as a lawyer, Mike started investing in apartment buildings in Rogers Park (and elsewhere), and soon after, did what many newly divorced real estate investors do: he moved into one of his buildings. In 1992 Mike was one of the founding members of the Rogers Park Builders Group, an organization that he eventually headed for six years, until yielding those reigns three years ago. Around a decade ago, on a whim, he reserved the web site “Rogerspark.com,” which he has been developing ever since, and which co-hosts RP BizArts networking events. Mike is the proud father of three wonderful children, Amy, Mitch and Ella.
Mike Glasser
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