♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME BACK.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME BACK.

TO MUTUALLY INCLUSIVE MY NAME IS TO MUTUALLY INCLUSIVE MY NAME IS MARIANO AVILA AND THE TOPICS WE MARIANO AVILA AND THE TOPICS WE GENERALLY DISCUSS ARE HEAVY AND GENERALLY DISCUSS ARE HEAVY AND WE CHOSE ONE THAT WE AGREE IS WE CHOSE ONE THAT WE AGREE IS WORTH CELEBRATING KIDS WITH WORTH CELEBRATING KIDS WITH ARTISTIC TALENT WITH ARTISTIC TALENT WITH PERFORMANCES FROM FOUR YOUNG PERFORMANCES FROM FOUR YOUNG ARTISTS AND SHOWCASING TALENT ARTISTS AND SHOWCASING TALENT AND TALK TO OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE AND TALK TO OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE AT THE MEIJER BROADCAST CENTER AT THE MEIJER BROADCAST CENTER AND WE WILL START WITH NIKKI AND WE WILL START WITH NIKKI DYNAMITE WITH 616 AND INTERVIEW DYNAMITE WITH 616 AND INTERVIEW AND PERFORMANCE HAVE A PRETAPED AND PERFORMANCE HAVE A PRETAPED CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF THE CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF THE INSTRUCTORS WHO COULDN'T BE HERE INSTRUCTORS WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE WE RECORD WHILE TONIGHT BECAUSE WE RECORD WHILE THEY ARE TEACHING.

THEY ARE TEACHING.

SO WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY HELP ME SO WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY HELP ME WELCOME BACK.

WELCOME BACK.

OUR YOUNGEST ARTIST NIKKI OUR YOUNGEST ARTIST NIKKI DYNAMITE.

DYNAMITE.

♪ ♪ I AM NIKKI.

I AM NIKKI.

I AM 11 YEARS OLD.

I AM 11 YEARS OLD.

I'M IN THE SIXTH GRADE AND GO TO I'M IN THE SIXTH GRADE AND GO TO MILL SHRIEK CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL MILL SHRIEK CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I GOT IN DANCING BEING IN MY AND I GOT IN DANCING BEING IN MY HEAD AND THE SPIRIT IS IN MY HEAD AND THE SPIRIT IS IN MY HEAD WITH DANCING AND STARTED HEAD WITH DANCING AND STARTED ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO AND WHAT I ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO AND WHAT I LIKE ABOUT DANCING IS YOU CAN LIKE ABOUT DANCING IS YOU CAN EXPRESS YOURSELF.

EXPRESS YOURSELF.

IT IS NOTHING BUT YOURSELF.

IT IS NOTHING BUT YOURSELF.

IT CAN BE COOL IF YOU CAN IT CAN BE COOL IF YOU CAN EXPRESS YOURSELF BY EXPRESSING EXPRESS YOURSELF BY EXPRESSING MORE THAN THE OTHER PERSON.

MORE THAN THE OTHER PERSON.

WHILE WE DO THINGS CALLED WHILE WE DO THINGS CALLED BATTLES AND SOMETIMES WHEN LIKE BATTLES AND SOMETIMES WHEN LIKE ONE PERSON DOES A MOVE AND THEN ONE PERSON DOES A MOVE AND THEN YOU HAVE THAT MOVE THAT IT'S YOU HAVE THAT MOVE THAT IT'S BETTER IMPROVED AND GO OUT AND BETTER IMPROVED AND GO OUT AND DO IT AND IT'S CALLED AN ANSWER DO IT AND IT'S CALLED AN ANSWER AND YOU HAVE A BATTLE AND AND YOU HAVE A BATTLE AND AFTERWARDS YOU SHAKE HANDS AND AFTERWARDS YOU SHAKE HANDS AND YOU GO UNTIL THE FINALS.

YOU GO UNTIL THE FINALS.

THIS IS IN A CARING COMMUNITY.

THIS IS IN A CARING COMMUNITY.

IT PUSHES YOU BUT NOT TOO FAR IT PUSHES YOU BUT NOT TOO FAR AND IT LET'S YOU KNOW THAT YOU AND IT LET'S YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO IT AND IT'S AWESOME.

CAN DO IT AND IT'S AWESOME.

♪ ♪ [MUSIC] [MUSIC] THANKS FOR JOINING US COULD YOU THANKS FOR JOINING US COULD YOU START BY TELLING US YOUR NAME START BY TELLING US YOUR NAME AND A LITTLE ABOUT 616.

AND A LITTLE ABOUT 616.

>> MY NAME IS ANTHONY AND ALL OF >> MY NAME IS ANTHONY AND ALL OF THE STUDENTS AND MY FRIENDS CALL THE STUDENTS AND MY FRIENDS CALL MY ANT.

MY ANT.

616 STREET DANCE ACADEMY HAS 616 STREET DANCE ACADEMY HAS BEEN HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS FOR BEEN HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS FOR SIX YEARS.

SIX YEARS.

IT WAS ORIGINALLY STARTED FROM IT WAS ORIGINALLY STARTED FROM THE GROUND UP BY A GOOD FRIEND THE GROUND UP BY A GOOD FRIEND OF EVERYONE IN THE CREW AND MOST OF EVERYONE IN THE CREW AND MOST OF THE STUDENTS REMEMBER HIM OF THE STUDENTS REMEMBER HIM DUSTIN PIKE HE WENT BY WAZE.

DUSTIN PIKE HE WENT BY WAZE.

UNFORTUNATELY HE IS NO LONGER UNFORTUNATELY HE IS NO LONGER WITH US NOW AND A YEAR AFTER THE WITH US NOW AND A YEAR AFTER THE STUDIO STARTED, KEGAN SOUL LOY STUDIO STARTED, KEGAN SOUL LOY AND MOST STUDENTS JUST CALL HIM AND MOST STUDENTS JUST CALL HIM SOUL TOOK OVER AND HE IS STILL SOUL TOOK OVER AND HE IS STILL THE CURRENT OWNER AND OPERATOR THE CURRENT OWNER AND OPERATOR OF THE STUDIO AND HE AND MYSELF OF THE STUDIO AND HE AND MYSELF AND ONE OTHER PERSON TEACHES AND ONE OTHER PERSON TEACHES THERE, BRIAN URBANE AND WHAT WE THERE, BRIAN URBANE AND WHAT WE TEACH IS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC TEACH IS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC BREAK DANCING BUT WHAT WE REALLY BREAK DANCING BUT WHAT WE REALLY TEACH IS CONFIDENCE AND TEACH IS CONFIDENCE AND PERSEVERANCE AND PROBLEM PERSEVERANCE AND PROBLEM SOLVING.

SOLVING.

>> I GUESS IN ORDER TO DO BREAK >> I GUESS IN ORDER TO DO BREAK DANCING YOU HAVE TO HAVE A DANCING YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONFIDENCE, IT'S LITTLE BIT OF CONFIDENCE, IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU JUST KIND OF NOT SOMETHING YOU JUST KIND OF START DOING IS IT?

START DOING IS IT?

>> YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE.

>> YOU HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE.

BUT IT BUILDS CONFIDENCE FOR BUT IT BUILDS CONFIDENCE FOR SURE.

SURE.

>> I'M ASSUMING THE KIDS HAVE >> I'M ASSUMING THE KIDS HAVE FUN TOO.

FUN TOO.

>> THE KIDS LOVE IT YES.

>> THE KIDS LOVE IT YES.

>> NIKKI LOOKS LIKE SHE IS >> NIKKI LOOKS LIKE SHE IS HAVING A BLAST.

HAVING A BLAST.

>> NIKKI IS SPECIAL.

>> NIKKI IS SPECIAL.

SHE HAS A BLAST AND THAT IS SHE HAS A BLAST AND THAT IS CONTAGIOUS WITH HER.

CONTAGIOUS WITH HER.

SO I THANK FOR HER THAT AND I SO I THANK FOR HER THAT AND I THANK ALL THE KIDS.

THANK ALL THE KIDS.

THEY GIVE ME JOY AND THAT GIVES THEY GIVE ME JOY AND THAT GIVES ME MORE ENERGY TO POUR INTO THEM ME MORE ENERGY TO POUR INTO THEM SO IT'S JUST TONS OF FUN.

SO IT'S JUST TONS OF FUN.

>> SO I'M ASSUMING THAT THIS IS >> SO I'M ASSUMING THAT THIS IS NOT A FREE.

NOT A FREE.

>> IT IS NOT A FREE SERVICE.

>> IT IS NOT A FREE SERVICE.

IT IS $60 A MONTH AND THAT WILL IT IS $60 A MONTH AND THAT WILL GET YOU FOUR CLASSES.

GET YOU FOUR CLASSES.

THROUGHOUT ONE WEEK SO NORMALLY THROUGHOUT ONE WEEK SO NORMALLY IT'S ONE CLASS PER WEEK AND IT'S ONE CLASS PER WEEK AND THROUGHOUT THE WEEK EACH DAY HAS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK EACH DAY HAS DIFFERENT SKILL LEVELS AT DIFFERENT SKILL LEVELS AT DIFFERENT TIMES SO HOPEFULLY DIFFERENT TIMES SO HOPEFULLY THAT CAN PLAY TO PARENTS THAT CAN PLAY TO PARENTS CONVENIENCE.

CONVENIENCE.

IF YOU MISS ONE CLASS LET'S SAY IF YOU MISS ONE CLASS LET'S SAY YOU COME EVERY TUESDAY AND YOU YOU COME EVERY TUESDAY AND YOU MISS A TUESDAY THAT SAME SKILL MISS A TUESDAY THAT SAME SKILL LEVEL WILL BE A DIFFERENT TIME LEVEL WILL BE A DIFFERENT TIME AT DIFFERENT DAYS OF THE WEEK SO AT DIFFERENT DAYS OF THE WEEK SO YOU CAN MIX AND MATCH.

YOU CAN MIX AND MATCH.

$60 A MONTH WILL BUY YOU FOUR $60 A MONTH WILL BUY YOU FOUR CLASSES AND WE CAN GO UP FROM CLASSES AND WE CAN GO UP FROM THERE AND DO DROP IN CLASSES AND THERE AND DO DROP IN CLASSES AND JUST GO FROM THERE.

JUST GO FROM THERE.

>> SO DO THOSE $60 COVER ALL OF >> SO DO THOSE $60 COVER ALL OF 616'S EXPENSES?

616'S EXPENSES?

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> SO YOU ARE SELF SUSTAINED.

>> SO YOU ARE SELF SUSTAINED.

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE SOME >> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IN WORKING ON OF THE CHALLENGES IN WORKING ON DANCING BREAK DANCING WITH KIDS?

DANCING BREAK DANCING WITH KIDS?

>> THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE I THINK >> THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE I THINK WITH THIS KIND OF DANCE WITH WITH THIS KIND OF DANCE WITH KIDS IS THAT IT'S VERY KIDS IS THAT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

DIFFICULT.

BREAK DANCING IS NOT SOMETHING BREAK DANCING IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I CAN SHOW YOU THE MOVES THAT I CAN SHOW YOU THE MOVES AND THEN GIVE YOU YOUR OWN TIME AND THEN GIVE YOU YOUR OWN TIME AND YOU CAN WORK ON THEM AND AND YOU CAN WORK ON THEM AND JUST GET THEM.

JUST GET THEM.

YOU HAVE TO PERSEVERE AND YOU YOU HAVE TO PERSEVERE AND YOU HAVE TO TRY HARD AND THE KIDS HAVE TO TRY HARD AND THE KIDS HAVE TO PUSH THROUGH THOSE HAVE TO PUSH THROUGH THOSE THOUGHTS THAT THEY HAVE THAT OH, THOUGHTS THAT THEY HAVE THAT OH, THIS IS HARD, I CAN'T DO IT.

THIS IS HARD, I CAN'T DO IT.

WE HAVE A RULE THAT IF YOU SAY WE HAVE A RULE THAT IF YOU SAY THE C WORD EVERYONE IN THE CLASS THE C WORD EVERYONE IN THE CLASS DOES TEN PUSH UPS TONIGHT AND DOES TEN PUSH UPS TONIGHT AND THAT WOULD BE CAN'T.

THAT WOULD BE CAN'T.

SO IT'S JUST A REALLY DIFFICULT SO IT'S JUST A REALLY DIFFICULT DANCE.

DANCE.

ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE ONLY DIFFICULT THING IS THAT ONLY DIFFICULT THING IS THAT FIRST BREAKTHROUGH WITH PUSHING FIRST BREAKTHROUGH WITH PUSHING YOURSELF TO JUST TRY IT AGAIN YOURSELF TO JUST TRY IT AGAIN AND PUSH THROUGH, THEN IT CAN AND PUSH THROUGH, THEN IT CAN ALL COME TOGETHER AND THE ALL COME TOGETHER AND THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT BREAKING BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT BREAKING IS THERE IS A FOUNDATION TO IT IS THERE IS A FOUNDATION TO IT AND YOU BREAKTHROUGH AND YOU CAN AND YOU BREAKTHROUGH AND YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH FREE STYLE AND DO PRETTY MUCH FREE STYLE AND DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITHIN THAT WHATEVER YOU WANT WITHIN THAT REALM.

REALM.

IT'S NOT LIKE OTHER DANCES WHERE IT'S NOT LIKE OTHER DANCES WHERE YOUR FORM HAS TO BE PERFECT AND YOUR FORM HAS TO BE PERFECT AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

STUFF LIKE THAT.

THE KEY IS TO HAVE YOUR OWN THE KEY IS TO HAVE YOUR OWN STYLE SO EVERYONE SHOULD LOOK STYLE SO EVERYONE SHOULD LOOK DIFFERENT BUT A LOT OF THESE DIFFERENT BUT A LOT OF THESE MOVES TAKE A LOT OF PHYSICAL OWN MOVES TAKE A LOT OF PHYSICAL OWN ENDURANCE.

ENDURANCE.

>> IF I DON'T HAVE $60.

>> IF I DON'T HAVE $60.

>> TEN PUSH UPS PLEASE.

>> TEN PUSH UPS PLEASE.

>> SO IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR ME TO >> SO IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR ME TO DO $60 A MONTH DO YOU GUYS HAVE DO $60 A MONTH DO YOU GUYS HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS, DO YOU GUYS HAVE, SCHOLARSHIPS, DO YOU GUYS HAVE, YOU KNOW, OTHER ARRANGEMENTS FOR YOU KNOW, OTHER ARRANGEMENTS FOR KIDS WHO WOULD LOVE TO BREAK KIDS WHO WOULD LOVE TO BREAK DANCE BUT MAYBE CAN'T, THEIR DANCE BUT MAYBE CAN'T, THEIR PARENTS CAN'T AFFORD THE $60 A PARENTS CAN'T AFFORD THE $60 A MONTH?

MONTH?

>> AS OF RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE >> AS OF RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE A SCHOLARSHIP PUT IN PLACE BUT A SCHOLARSHIP PUT IN PLACE BUT WE DO WORK WITH PARENTS ON WE DO WORK WITH PARENTS ON DIFFERENT LEVELS, SO JUST DIFFERENT LEVELS, SO JUST CONTACT US AND COME AND TALK TO CONTACT US AND COME AND TALK TO US AND WE CAN ALWAYS WORK US AND WE CAN ALWAYS WORK SOMETHING OUT.

SOMETHING OUT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH ANT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH ANT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> GOOD LUCK WITH 616.

>> GOOD LUCK WITH 616.

A POEM WITH AN AGE MOMENT FOR A POEM WITH AN AGE MOMENT FOR ALL OF US IS 12-YEAR-OLD ALANA ALL OF US IS 12-YEAR-OLD ALANA JOHNSON FROM THE CREATIVE YOUTH JOHNSON FROM THE CREATIVE YOUTH CENTER AND LET'S MAKE HER FEEL CENTER AND LET'S MAKE HER FEEL WELCOME BACK.

WELCOME BACK.

.

.

>> I'M ALANA JOHNSON I'M 12 >> I'M ALANA JOHNSON I'M 12 YEARS OLD AND I'M IN THE SIXTH YEARS OLD AND I'M IN THE SIXTH GRADE AND I GO TO A PUBLIC GRADE AND I GO TO A PUBLIC MUSEUM SCHOOL AND WHAT I LIKE MUSEUM SCHOOL AND WHAT I LIKE ABOUT CYC IS YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU ABOUT CYC IS YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT AND WRITE ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT AND WRITE ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE WANT AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE POETRY, IT CAN BE LIKE A STORY POETRY, IT CAN BE LIKE A STORY OR WORDS OR YOU CAN DRAW AND PUT OR WORDS OR YOU CAN DRAW AND PUT WORDS IN THERE.

WORDS IN THERE.

WHEN DID I START THINKING ABOUT WHEN DID I START THINKING ABOUT POETRY?

POETRY?

WELL, WHEN I WAS IN THE FOURTH WELL, WHEN I WAS IN THE FOURTH GRADE I STARTED GOING TO CYC AND GRADE I STARTED GOING TO CYC AND THE FIRST SEMESTER WAS ABOUT THE FIRST SEMESTER WAS ABOUT POETRY SO, YEAH, I STARTED POETRY SO, YEAH, I STARTED THINKING ABOUT POETRY.

THINKING ABOUT POETRY.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT POETRY IS THAT WHAT I LIKE ABOUT POETRY IS THAT YOU GET TO RHYME.

YOU GET TO RHYME.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO RHYME.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO RHYME.

YOU CAN JUST MAKE WORDS AND THEN YOU CAN JUST MAKE WORDS AND THEN PUT WHAT THEY MEAN TO YOU, SO, PUT WHAT THEY MEAN TO YOU, SO, YEAH.

YEAH.

WELL, I AM HAVING POEMS ABOUT ME WELL, I AM HAVING POEMS ABOUT ME AND MY MOM AND HOW I'M LIKE HER AND MY MOM AND HOW I'M LIKE HER AND HOW I'M NOT LIKE HER, HOW AND HOW I'M NOT LIKE HER, HOW I'M ME.

I'M ME.

I AM HAVING LONG HAIR, DON'T I AM HAVING LONG HAIR, DON'T CARE.

CARE.

BROWN SKIN DANCER.

BROWN SKIN DANCER.

I AM A BIG SIS, BEST FRIEND I'M I AM A BIG SIS, BEST FRIEND I'M NOT A POET I'M A READER AND NOT A POET I'M A READER AND WRITER.

WRITER.

I'M 12:30 WAKE UP AND DINNER I'M 12:30 WAKE UP AND DINNER EATER AND A PLUS AND TOP GIRL EATER AND A PLUS AND TOP GIRL AND WILLIE NILLY WHO HATES AND WILLIE NILLY WHO HATES LILLIES I'M MY MOTHERS DAUGHTER LILLIES I'M MY MOTHERS DAUGHTER AND FIRST AND I'M THE TINY AND AND FIRST AND I'M THE TINY AND WHO CARES AND ATE THE JELLY BEAN WHO CARES AND ATE THE JELLY BEAN I'M MY MOTHER'S DAUGHTER AND I I'M MY MOTHER'S DAUGHTER AND I WATCH THE MOVIE INSTEAD OF WATCH THE MOVIE INSTEAD OF READING THE BOOK.

READING THE BOOK.

I'M A NIGHTTIME EATER, I'M MY I'M A NIGHTTIME EATER, I'M MY MOTHER'S DAUGHTER WHO PLAYS THE MOTHER'S DAUGHTER WHO PLAYS THE VIOLIN.

VIOLIN.

I KNOW WHO SINGS IN THE CAR.

I KNOW WHO SINGS IN THE CAR.

I AM MY MOTHER'S DAUGHTER BUT I AM MY MOTHER'S DAUGHTER BUT INSTEAD OF MY MOTHER I AM ME.

INSTEAD OF MY MOTHER I AM ME.

I AM THE ONE WHO HATES JAZZ.

I AM THE ONE WHO HATES JAZZ.

I'M THE TAPPER.

I'M THE TAPPER.

I WON THE BEST DAUGHTER AWARD I WON THE BEST DAUGHTER AWARD WELL IN MY HEAD.

WELL IN MY HEAD.

I AM THE ONE WHO HATES 6:00.

I AM THE ONE WHO HATES 6:00.

I'M A DOG LOVER.

I'M A DOG LOVER.

I'M THE PERSON WHO LOVES GHOST I'M THE PERSON WHO LOVES GHOST WHISPERER.

WHISPERER.

I'M A HERO.

I'M A HERO.

I'M THE ONE WHO DOES NOT LIKE I'M THE ONE WHO DOES NOT LIKE POPCORN.

POPCORN.

I KNOW HOW TO SLEEP IN A BED AT I KNOW HOW TO SLEEP IN A BED AT A SLEEP OVER.

A SLEEP OVER.

I AM THE GO GETTER.

I AM THE GO GETTER.

I AM MY MOTHER'S DAUGHTER BUT I I AM MY MOTHER'S DAUGHTER BUT I AM ME.

AM ME.

>> WHAT AMAZING TALENT WITH ME >> WHAT AMAZING TALENT WITH ME ON STAGE TO TALK ABOUT CREATIVE ON STAGE TO TALK ABOUT CREATIVE YOUTH CENTER IS CARPENTER YOUTH CENTER IS CARPENTER PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE CYC AND PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE CYC AND WELCOME BACK.

WELCOME BACK.

.

.

>> THANKS.

>> THANKS.

>> SO YOU GUYS ARE NOT A FOR >> SO YOU GUYS ARE NOT A FOR PROFIT VENTURE.

PROFIT VENTURE.

NO, WE ARE NOT, WE ARE A 501C3 NO, WE ARE NOT, WE ARE A 501C3 AND WE SERVE KIDS IN GRAND AND WE SERVE KIDS IN GRAND RAPIDS PRIMARILY STUDENTS WHO RAPIDS PRIMARILY STUDENTS WHO ATTEND GRPS.

ATTEND GRPS.

>> DO THEY PAY FOR THE SERVICE?

>> DO THEY PAY FOR THE SERVICE?

>> THEY DON'T.

>> THEY DON'T.

OUR PROGRAMMING IS FREE TO ALL OUR PROGRAMMING IS FREE TO ALL STUDENTS WHO ATTEND GRPS AND WHO STUDENTS WHO ATTEND GRPS AND WHO ARE LIVING IN GRAND RAPIDS.

ARE LIVING IN GRAND RAPIDS.

>> SO HOW DO YOU GUYS DO THAT?

>> SO HOW DO YOU GUYS DO THAT?

.

.

>> WE GET OUR FUNDING FROM >> WE GET OUR FUNDING FROM GRANTS AND PRIVATE DONORS.

GRANTS AND PRIVATE DONORS.

>> OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS POETRY AND >> OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS POETRY AND YOU KNOW THERE IS A FORM OF IT YOU KNOW THERE IS A FORM OF IT BUT LET'S HEAR A LITTLE BIT BUT LET'S HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE, I WAS AT YOUR PLACE AND MORE, I WAS AT YOUR PLACE AND SAW A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS SAW A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND YOU ARE HOLDING ONE OF THEM.

AND YOU ARE HOLDING ONE OF THEM.

>> ONE MAIN THING WE DO OUR >> ONE MAIN THING WE DO OUR MISSION IS TO AMPLIFY MISSION IS TO AMPLIFY OPPORTUNITY VOICES AND ONE WAY OPPORTUNITY VOICES AND ONE WAY WE DO THAT IS PUBLISHING STUDENT WE DO THAT IS PUBLISHING STUDENT WORK AND SO WE ARE GETTING READY WORK AND SO WE ARE GETTING READY TO RELEASE THE 6TH BOOK OF TO RELEASE THE 6TH BOOK OF EXPLOSIONS THIS MAY, THIS IS THE EXPLOSIONS THIS MAY, THIS IS THE ONE FROM LAST YEAR AND THE COVER ONE FROM LAST YEAR AND THE COVER OF THIS BOOK ACTUALLY CAME FROM OF THIS BOOK ACTUALLY CAME FROM ONE OF THE POEMS THAT ALANA ONE OF THE POEMS THAT ALANA WROTE LAST YEAR IN PROGRAMMING WROTE LAST YEAR IN PROGRAMMING BUT IN ADDITION TO PUBLISHING BUT IN ADDITION TO PUBLISHING STUDENT WORK IN THE BOOK WE ALSO STUDENT WORK IN THE BOOK WE ALSO DO A LOT OF COLLABORATIONS LIKE DO A LOT OF COLLABORATIONS LIKE CROSS GENRE COLLABORATIONS WITH CROSS GENRE COLLABORATIONS WITH ARTISTS IN THE COMMUTETY AND ARTISTS IN THE COMMUTETY AND WORKING WITH AN ACADEMY WHERE WORKING WITH AN ACADEMY WHERE STUDENTS WROTE POEM AND STUDENTS STUDENTS WROTE POEM AND STUDENTS AT THE ACADEMY WROTE MUSIC AT THE ACADEMY WROTE MUSIC INSPIRED BY THE POEMS AND INSPIRED BY THE POEMS AND PRODUCING AN ALBUM THAT IS GOING PRODUCING AN ALBUM THAT IS GOING TO COME OUT IN MAY AS WELL.

TO COME OUT IN MAY AS WELL.

AND IN ADDITION TO WRITING AND IN ADDITION TO WRITING POETRY WE ALSO WRITE SHORT POETRY WE ALSO WRITE SHORT STORIES, RIGHT NOW WE ARE STORIES, RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING ON CREATIVE NONFICTION WORKING ON CREATIVE NONFICTION WITH THE YOUNGER STUDENTS.

WITH THE YOUNGER STUDENTS.

WE ARE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT WE ARE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND FORCED IMMIGRATION AND FORCED IMMIGRATION AND GOING TO BE IMMIGRATION AND GOING TO BE WRITING COMIC BOOKS AND PROCEEDS WRITING COMIC BOOKS AND PROCEEDS FROM THE COMIC BROOK BOOKS ARE FROM THE COMIC BROOK BOOKS ARE GOING TO BE SPLIT WITH SAVE THE GOING TO BE SPLIT WITH SAVE THE CHILDREN AND THEY DO SOMETHING CHILDREN AND THEY DO SOMETHING AND HEAR WHAT IS GOING ON AND AND HEAR WHAT IS GOING ON AND WANT TO GIVE BATH SO MIDNIGHT WANT TO GIVE BATH SO MIDNIGHT HAS INVITED TO COME TO THEIR HAS INVITED TO COME TO THEIR COMIC BOOK FAIR AND SELL THEM SO COMIC BOOK FAIR AND SELL THEM SO WE ARE OUT AND ABOUT AND DOING A WE ARE OUT AND ABOUT AND DOING A LOT OF DIFFERENT COOL STUFF.

LOT OF DIFFERENT COOL STUFF.

>> HOW DO YOU APPROACH THINGS, >> HOW DO YOU APPROACH THINGS, YOU DON'T JUST WORK WITH HIGH YOU DON'T JUST WORK WITH HIGH SCHOOLS YOU WORK WITH SOME SCHOOLS YOU WORK WITH SOME PRETTY YOUNG KIDS BY FORCED PRETTY YOUNG KIDS BY FORCED MIGRATION THAT IS A PRETTY BIG MIGRATION THAT IS A PRETTY BIG CONFLICT.

CONFLICT.

>> WE HAVE PROGRAMMING FROM >> WE HAVE PROGRAMMING FROM FIRST GRADE THROUGH MIDDLE FIRST GRADE THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEY ARE DIVIDED BY SCHOOL AND THEY ARE DIVIDED BY AGE SO FIRST AND SECOND GRADERS AGE SO FIRST AND SECOND GRADERS COME TOGETHER, THIRD THROUGH COME TOGETHER, THIRD THROUGH FIFTH COME AT THE SAME TIME AND FIFTH COME AT THE SAME TIME AND MIDDLE SCHOOLERS COME AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS COME AT THE SAME TIME.

SAME TIME.

AND IT IS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AND IT IS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FORCED MIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION FORCED MIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION WITH THIRD THROUGH FIFTH WITH THIRD THROUGH FIFTH GRADERS.

GRADERS.

THE FIRST AND SECOND GRADERS WE THE FIRST AND SECOND GRADERS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FAIRYS AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FAIRYS AND WE ARE MAKING OUR OWN FAIRYS AND ARE MAKING OUR OWN FAIRYS AND HIDING THEM AND A GUIDE BOOK TO HIDING THEM AND A GUIDE BOOK TO FINDING FAIRYS AT THE CYC SO FINDING FAIRYS AT THE CYC SO THEY ARE DOING THAT.

THEY ARE DOING THAT.

THE THIRD THROUGH SIX GRADERS THE THIRD THROUGH SIX GRADERS POST ELECTIONS STARTED ASKING A POST ELECTIONS STARTED ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

LOT OF QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE STUDENTS FROM MYRIAD WE HAVE STUDENTS FROM MYRIAD BACKGROUNDS, SOME STUDENTS WHO BACKGROUNDS, SOME STUDENTS WHO HAVE FAMILIES WHO ARE BEING HAVE FAMILIES WHO ARE BEING IMPACTED BY FEARS ABOUT IMPACTED BY FEARS ABOUT IMMIGRATION COURT, THEY STARTED IMMIGRATION COURT, THEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT AND DO YOU KNOW TALKING ABOUT IT AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL WHAT IT'S ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT AFTER SCHOOL THINGS ABOUT AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND OUT OF SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND OUT OF SCHOOL TIME IS THAT I HAVE THE TIME AND TIME IS THAT I HAVE THE TIME AND THE ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING THE ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING CREATIVE AND GIVE THEM THE CREATIVE AND GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT THIS THING THAT THEY ARE ALREADY THING THAT THEY ARE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT AND THEN DO THINKING ABOUT AND THEN DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL, YEAH.

SOMETHING MEANINGFUL, YEAH.

>> AND HOW DO YOU RECOUP THEM?

>> AND HOW DO YOU RECOUP THEM?

>> A LOT OF STUDENTS WORK >> A LOT OF STUDENTS WORK CLOSELY WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING CLOSELY WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, OUR CENTER LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, OUR CENTER IS BASICALLY AT THE CORNER OF IS BASICALLY AT THE CORNER OF EASTERN AND WEALTHY AND TWO EASTERN AND WEALTHY AND TWO BLOCKS FROM MLK SO WE DO A LOT BLOCKS FROM MLK SO WE DO A LOT OF RECRUITING AT MLK AND A OF RECRUITING AT MLK AND A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STAFF THERE.

STAFF THERE.

MORE THAN HALF OF OUR STUDENTS MORE THAN HALF OF OUR STUDENTS COME FROM MLK AND THEN THE REST COME FROM MLK AND THEN THE REST OF OUR STUDENTS WE ARE OUT AND OF OUR STUDENTS WE ARE OUT AND ABOUT AT SUMMER FAIRS.

ABOUT AT SUMMER FAIRS.

WE PUBLISH OUR EVENTS AND STUFF WE PUBLISH OUR EVENTS AND STUFF IN THE REPEDIAN AND ABOUT TOWN IN THE REPEDIAN AND ABOUT TOWN AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND ALSO IF AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND ALSO IF YOU HAVE A KID WHO IS LIKE YOU HAVE A KID WHO IS LIKE SITTING AT HOME AND THEY HAVE A SITTING AT HOME AND THEY HAVE A NOTEBOOK LIKE A FANTASY SERIES NOTEBOOK LIKE A FANTASY SERIES THEY ARE WRITING AND MY KID THEY ARE WRITING AND MY KID NEEDS TO BE DOING SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DOING SOMETHING WHERE THEY ARE, LIKE WHERE THEY WHERE THEY ARE, LIKE WHERE THEY CAN WRITE BOOKS, PARENTS LOOK CAN WRITE BOOKS, PARENTS LOOK ONLINE AND CREATIVE WRITING ONLINE AND CREATIVE WRITING GRAND RAPIDS AND WE COME UP SO A GRAND RAPIDS AND WE COME UP SO A LOT OF THE STUDENTS WE HAVE FROM LOT OF THE STUDENTS WE HAVE FROM AROUND GRAND RAPIDS THEIR AROUND GRAND RAPIDS THEIR PARENTS HAVE FOUND US BECAUSE OF PARENTS HAVE FOUND US BECAUSE OF THE PASSION THAT THEIR STUDENT THE PASSION THAT THEIR STUDENT HAS FOR STORY TELLING AND FOR HAS FOR STORY TELLING AND FOR POETRY.

POETRY.

>> I WISH YOU WERE AROUND WHEN I >> I WISH YOU WERE AROUND WHEN I WAS A KID.

WAS A KID.

>> IT IS MY DREAM.

>> IT IS MY DREAM.

>> EXCELLENT SO THANK YOU FOR >> EXCELLENT SO THANK YOU FOR FOSTERING A NEW GENERATION OF FOSTERING A NEW GENERATION OF GOOD WRITERS.

GOOD WRITERS.

AND I WOULD NOW LIKE TO AND I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO A ONE CAT INTRODUCE YOU TO A ONE CAT ARTIST SHE IS A 14-YEAR-OLD ARTIST SHE IS A 14-YEAR-OLD SINGER WITH A LOVELY VOICE AND SINGER WITH A LOVELY VOICE AND THE COURAGE TO SING ACAPELLA FOR THE COURAGE TO SING ACAPELLA FOR US THAT IS PRETTY BRAVE AND US THAT IS PRETTY BRAVE AND TRINITY KIRKLAND EVERYBODY.

TRINITY KIRKLAND EVERYBODY.

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] I'M TRINITY KIRKLAND I'M 14 IN I'M TRINITY KIRKLAND I'M 14 IN NINTH GRADE AND GO TO INNOVATION NINTH GRADE AND GO TO INNOVATION CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL.

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL.

I WAS REALLY LITTLE AND I DON'T I WAS REALLY LITTLE AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN I STARTED SINGING AND KNOW WHEN I STARTED SINGING AND EXACTLY I DON'T KNOW WHEN BUT I EXACTLY I DON'T KNOW WHEN BUT I ALWAYS LOVED SINGING AND LIKE ALWAYS LOVED SINGING AND LIKE BEING AROUND PEOPLE LIKE BEING AROUND PEOPLE LIKE AUDIENCES AND I LIKE TO SING AND AUDIENCES AND I LIKE TO SING AND I JUST LIKE TO PERFORM, IT IS I JUST LIKE TO PERFORM, IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO.

THEY TOLD US ABOUT THIS AND I THEY TOLD US ABOUT THIS AND I WAS LIKE THAT IS COOL.

WAS LIKE THAT IS COOL.

I WANT TO GO DO THAT BECAUSE I I WANT TO GO DO THAT BECAUSE I WANT TO GO DO THIS BECAUSE OF WANT TO GO DO THIS BECAUSE OF THE ARTS AND I DO ART STUFF.

THE ARTS AND I DO ART STUFF.

LET'S GO SEE WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

LET'S GO SEE WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

SO I WENT AND THIS IS LIKE INTRO SO I WENT AND THIS IS LIKE INTRO ILLUSTRATION BUT THEN I WAS LIKE ILLUSTRATION BUT THEN I WAS LIKE WE CAN SING, IT WAS A REALLY WE CAN SING, IT WAS A REALLY SMALL CLASS AND IT WAS REALLY SMALL CLASS AND IT WAS REALLY FUN.

FUN.

WE GOT TO CHECK OUT SOME COOL WE GOT TO CHECK OUT SOME COOL THINGS THERE AND WE GOT TO DO THINGS THERE AND WE GOT TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS ON LIKE EDIT DIFFERENT THINGS ON LIKE EDIT VIDEOS AND AUDIO.

VIDEOS AND AUDIO.

[SINGING] [SINGING] WHAT AN AMAZING TALENT.

WHAT AN AMAZING TALENT.

PRESENTING THE PROGRAMS ARE PRESENTING THE PROGRAMS ARE BRAWN DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS, BRAWN DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS, WELCOME BACK.

WELCOME BACK.

.

.

SO YOU GUYS DO A LOT.

SO YOU GUYS DO A LOT.

>> WE DO.

>> WE DO.

WE ARE A NONPROFIT HERE IN TOWN WE ARE A NONPROFIT HERE IN TOWN AND WE PROVIDE AFTER-SCHOOL AND WE PROVIDE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM IN INDIVIDUAL ARTS AND PROGRAM IN INDIVIDUAL ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY TO GRPS HIGH SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY TO GRPS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SO IF YOU ARE A GRPS STUDENTS SO IF YOU ARE A GRPS STUDENT 9-12 YOU CAN COME TAKE STUDENT 9-12 YOU CAN COME TAKE CLASSES TUITION FREE, WE PROVIDE CLASSES TUITION FREE, WE PROVIDE TRADITIONAL STUDIOS AND FINE TRADITIONAL STUDIOS AND FINE ARTS AREAS LIKE PHOTOGRAPHY, ARTS AREAS LIKE PHOTOGRAPHY, CEREMACS AND FIBER AND FASHION CEREMACS AND FIBER AND FASHION AND VIDEO GAME PROGRAMMING AND AND VIDEO GAME PROGRAMMING AND VIDEO GAME DESIGN AS WELL SO A VIDEO GAME DESIGN AS WELL SO A MIX.

MIX.

>> HOW DO YOU MIX THOSE WITH THE >> HOW DO YOU MIX THOSE WITH THE ARTS?

ARTS?

.

.

>> ACTUALLY WE WERE FOUNDED WE >> ACTUALLY WE WERE FOUNDED WE ARE MODELLED AFTER A PROGRAM OUT ARE MODELLED AFTER A PROGRAM OUT IN PITSBURGH AND PAUL IN PITSBURGH AND PAUL STRICKLAND SAID ENVIRONMENT STRICKLAND SAID ENVIRONMENT SHAKES BEHAVIOR SO IF YOU COME SHAKES BEHAVIOR SO IF YOU COME TO OUR SPACE IT'S ABOUT HAVING A TO OUR SPACE IT'S ABOUT HAVING A FIRST-CLASS SPACE TO LEARN IN FIRST-CLASS SPACE TO LEARN IN AND IT WAS ALSO ABOUT WHAT WAS AND IT WAS ALSO ABOUT WHAT WAS AVAILABLE, HE BELIEVED THE ARTS AVAILABLE, HE BELIEVED THE ARTS WAS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY AND WAS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY AND SO THAT WAS THE ART SIDE OF SO THAT WAS THE ART SIDE OF THINGS AND THE TECHNOLOGY PIECE THINGS AND THE TECHNOLOGY PIECE ALSO CAME FROM THE NEED THAT HE ALSO CAME FROM THE NEED THAT HE SAW AT THE TIME FOR TRAINING SAW AT THE TIME FOR TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS SO IT KIND PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS SO IT KIND OF STARTED IN THAT WAY SO WE OF STARTED IN THAT WAY SO WE ALSO HAVE AN ADULT PROGRAM AS ALSO HAVE AN ADULT PROGRAM AS WELL.

WELL.

I'M OVER THE TEEN PROGRAMS AND I'M OVER THE TEEN PROGRAMS AND WE JUST SAW ALSO OVER THE YEARS WE JUST SAW ALSO OVER THE YEARS THAT MARRIAGE OF ART AND THAT MARRIAGE OF ART AND TECHNOLOGY TOGETHER, THEY DO -- TECHNOLOGY TOGETHER, THEY DO -- THEY CAN GO HAND IN HAND.

THEY CAN GO HAND IN HAND.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

VIDEO GAMES.

VIDEO GAMES.

>> PERFECT EXAMPLE, PERFECT >> PERFECT EXAMPLE, PERFECT EXAMPLE.

EXAMPLE.

>> WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP >> WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GRPS, YOU SAID IT'S FREE WITH GRPS, YOU SAID IT'S FREE FOR GRPS STUDENTS?

FOR GRPS STUDENTS?

>> GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC IS OUR >> GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC IS OUR PRIMARY PARTNER FOR AFTER SCHOOL PRIMARY PARTNER FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND WE WORK CLOSELY PROGRAMS AND WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM, A HUGE SUPPORT AND WITH THEM, A HUGE SUPPORT AND HELP US RECRUITING STUDENTS, HELP US RECRUITING STUDENTS, STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ART CREDIT, VISUAL ARTS CREDIT ART CREDIT, VISUAL ARTS CREDIT NOW SO WHEN THEY ARE WITH US AND NOW SO WHEN THEY ARE WITH US AND IF THEY MEET THE MINIMUM IF THEY MEET THE MINIMUM ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES WE HAVE THEY CAN GET GUIDELINES WE HAVE THEY CAN GET CREDIT ON THEIR TRANSCRIPTS SO CREDIT ON THEIR TRANSCRIPTS SO THAT IS A PRETTY CLOSE THAT IS A PRETTY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP.

RELATIONSHIP.

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> AND SO WE HAVE BEEN AROUND >> AND SO WE HAVE BEEN AROUND OUR 12TH YEAR SO IT'S BEEN A OUR 12TH YEAR SO IT'S BEEN A LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP TOO.

LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP TOO.

>> TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR >> TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR FUNDING MODELS IT'S A LITTLE BIT FUNDING MODELS IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT PROBABLY.

DIFFERENT PROBABLY.

>> SO MOST OF OUR FUNDING COMES >> SO MOST OF OUR FUNDING COMES THROUGH CORPORATE SPONSORS AND THROUGH CORPORATE SPONSORS AND FOUNDATIONS, ALSO THROUGH FOUNDATIONS, ALSO THROUGH PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS BUT THEN PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS BUT THEN ALSO GRANTS AS WELL JUST LIKE ALSO GRANTS AS WELL JUST LIKE CYC WE ARE GOING AFTER FEDERAL CYC WE ARE GOING AFTER FEDERAL AND LOCAL AND ALL KINDS OF AND LOCAL AND ALL KINDS OF GRANTS OUT THERE TO FIND THE GRANTS OUT THERE TO FIND THE SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE.

SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE.

>> SO YOU MENTIONED FEDERAL.

>> SO YOU MENTIONED FEDERAL.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

>> RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE SOME >> RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE SOME CHANGES IN ADMINISTRATION AND CHANGES IN ADMINISTRATION AND HOW IT FEELS ABOUT ART PROGRAMS HOW IT FEELS ABOUT ART PROGRAMS AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

>> RIGHT, THE RECENT BUDGET THAT >> RIGHT, THE RECENT BUDGET THAT WAS RELEASED BY THE WHITE HOUSE WAS RELEASED BY THE WHITE HOUSE DID HAVE ON ITS SLATE SOME DID HAVE ON ITS SLATE SOME PROGRAMS LIKE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAMS LIKE FUNDING FOR THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS AND ALSO SOME 21ST CENTURY AND ALSO SOME 21ST CENTURY LEARNING GRANTS AND WE DON'T LEARNING GRANTS AND WE DON'T RECEIVE FUNDING THROUGH THAT RECEIVE FUNDING THROUGH THAT STREAM A LOT OF OUR COLLEAGUES STREAM A LOT OF OUR COLLEAGUES AND OUT OF SCHOOL TIME DO HERE AND OUT OF SCHOOL TIME DO HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS.

IN GRAND RAPIDS.

ALMOST THREE -- 70% ALMOST 70% ALMOST THREE -- 70% ALMOST 70% OF THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN OF THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN GRAND RAPIDS RECEIVE THAT GRAND RAPIDS RECEIVE THAT FEDERAL FUNDING AND SO IT'S FEDERAL FUNDING AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME AND REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME AND PROBABLY TO EVERYBODY HERE THAT PROBABLY TO EVERYBODY HERE THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE PROTECTED THOSE FUNDS ARE PROTECTED BECAUSE IT'S SERVING A LOT OF BECAUSE IT'S SERVING A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT NEED THAT AND I STUDENTS THAT NEED THAT AND I THINK ALL STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM THINK ALL STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM SOMETHING OUT OF THE SCHOOL TIME SOMETHING OUT OF THE SCHOOL TIME THAT GIVES THEM THAT THAT GIVES THEM THAT FLEXIBILITY.

FLEXIBILITY.

A LOT OF OUR CREATIVE PROGRAMS A LOT OF OUR CREATIVE PROGRAMS HAPPEN DURING THAT TIME BECAUSE HAPPEN DURING THAT TIME BECAUSE ARTS FUNDING HAS BEEN CUT OVER ARTS FUNDING HAS BEEN CUT OVER THE YEARS SO THEY DON'T HAVE THE YEARS SO THEY DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH ARTS PROGRAMMING IN THAT MUCH ARTS PROGRAMMING IN THEIR SCHOOL DAY AND SO WITHOUT THEIR SCHOOL DAY AND SO WITHOUT PROGRAMS LIKE OURS THERE IS PROGRAMS LIKE OURS THERE IS REALLY NOT A LOT OF STRUCTURED REALLY NOT A LOT OF STRUCTURED OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS SO OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS SO VERY IMPORTANT IN MY MIND AND I VERY IMPORTANT IN MY MIND AND I THINK FOR ALL OF US.

THINK FOR ALL OF US.

>> SO YOU SAID THAT THAT >> SO YOU SAID THAT THAT PROBABLY WILL NOT EFFECT YOU PROBABLY WILL NOT EFFECT YOU DIRECTLY.

DIRECTLY.

>> IT WON'T BUT FOR ALL OF US WE >> IT WON'T BUT FOR ALL OF US WE PLAY TOGETHER AND NOT LIKE WE PLAY TOGETHER AND NOT LIKE WE ARE COMPETING FOR FUNDS.

ARE COMPETING FOR FUNDS.

I WANT THE OTHER PROGRAMS TO I WANT THE OTHER PROGRAMS TO SUCCEED BECAUSE THEY FILL A NEED SUCCEED BECAUSE THEY FILL A NEED WE MIGHT NOT FILL.

WE MIGHT NOT FILL.

NOT ALL STUDENTS ARE LOOKING FOR NOT ALL STUDENTS ARE LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUALS IN INDIVIDUAL ARTS INDIVIDUALS IN INDIVIDUAL ARTS AND THEY MAY WANT SOME SPORTS, AND THEY MAY WANT SOME SPORTS, THEY MAY WANT -- THEY MAY HAVE THEY MAY WANT -- THEY MAY HAVE OTHER THINGS AND WE ARE NOT OTHER THINGS AND WE ARE NOT TRYING TO BE EVERYTHING TO TRYING TO BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY BUT I WANT ALL OF THE EVERYBODY BUT I WANT ALL OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS TO BE JUST AS OTHER PROGRAMS TO BE JUST AS SUCCESSFUL AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT SUCCESSFUL AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT OPPORTUNITY AND THAT IS REALLY OPPORTUNITY AND THAT IS REALLY ACTUALLY WHAT WIN CAT'S MISSION ACTUALLY WHAT WIN CAT'S MISSION IS ABOUT CREATING A CULTURE OF IS ABOUT CREATING A CULTURE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO MAKE PROGRESS IN THEIR LIVES BUT MAKE PROGRESS IN THEIR LIVES BUT I THINK IT'S ABOUT OPPORTUNITY I THINK IT'S ABOUT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF GRAND RAPIDS YOUTH TO FOR ALL OF GRAND RAPIDS YOUTH TO HAVE ACCESS TO ENRICHMENT HAVE ACCESS TO ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS WHATEVER THEY MAY BE, PROGRAMS WHATEVER THEY MAY BE, WHATEVER THEIR INTERESTS ARE.

WHATEVER THEIR INTERESTS ARE.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF MENTION IN >> THERE IS A LOT OF MENTION IN YOUR WEBSITE IN MATERIALS OF YOUR WEBSITE IN MATERIALS OF CHANGING CREATING CHANGE, WHAT CHANGING CREATING CHANGE, WHAT KIND OF CHANGE ARE YOUR STUDENTS KIND OF CHANGE ARE YOUR STUDENTS LOOKING FOR?

LOOKING FOR?

.

.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, OUR PROGRAM >> YEAH, YOU KNOW, OUR PROGRAM OBJECTIVES ARE NOT ONLY TO OBJECTIVES ARE NOT ONLY TO CREATE THE SAFE SPACE IF YOU CREATE THE SAFE SPACE IF YOU TALK TO ANY STUDENT AT WIN CAT TALK TO ANY STUDENT AT WIN CAT THEY TALK ABOUT OUR PLACE BEING THEY TALK ABOUT OUR PLACE BEING SAFE FOR THEM, A CREATIVE OUTLET SAFE FOR THEM, A CREATIVE OUTLET FOR THEM, THAT IS SOMETHING WE FOR THEM, THAT IS SOMETHING WE BELIEVE IN.

BELIEVE IN.

WE ALSO BELIEVE IN INSPIRING WE ALSO BELIEVE IN INSPIRING CREATIVE CONFIDENCE SO OUR GOAL CREATIVE CONFIDENCE SO OUR GOAL IS NOT TO MAKE EVERYONE A FINE IS NOT TO MAKE EVERYONE A FINE ARTIST AT THE END OF THEIR TIME ARTIST AT THE END OF THEIR TIME WITH US.

WITH US.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT MAKING THEM IT'S REALLY ABOUT MAKING THEM FEEL CONFIDENT IN THEIR CREATIVE FEEL CONFIDENT IN THEIR CREATIVE CREATIVITY.

CREATIVITY.

I THINK UNFORTUNATELY THROUGH I THINK UNFORTUNATELY THROUGH SCHOOL YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE SCHOOL YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE YOUNGER THEY HAVE GOT -- THEY YOUNGER THEY HAVE GOT -- THEY ARE NOT AFRAID TO HAVE THESE OUT ARE NOT AFRAID TO HAVE THESE OUT LANDISH IDEAS OR THINK WHAT THE LANDISH IDEAS OR THINK WHAT THE AREAS ARE GOING TO BE AND THEN AREAS ARE GOING TO BE AND THEN SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY UNFORTUNATELY THAT GETS KIND OF UNFORTUNATELY THAT GETS KIND OF BEAT OUT OF THEM OR HINDERED IN BEAT OUT OF THEM OR HINDERED IN SOME WAY AND SO HAVE INSPIRING SOME WAY AND SO HAVE INSPIRING AND HELPING THEM FIND THAT AND HELPING THEM FIND THAT CREATIVE CONFIDENCE IS A BIG CREATIVE CONFIDENCE IS A BIG PIECE SO CHANGE IN THAT WAY IF PIECE SO CHANGE IN THAT WAY IF THAT IS NOT IN THEIR DISPOSITION THAT IS NOT IN THEIR DISPOSITION BEFORE.

BEFORE.

WE ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO TRY ALL WE ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO TRY ALL OF OUR STUDIOS BECAUSE THEY OF OUR STUDIOS BECAUSE THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WILL BE MIGHT NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WILL BE GOOD AT OR INTERESTED IN UNTIL GOOD AT OR INTERESTED IN UNTIL THEY TRY SO WE ENCOURAGE THAT.

THEY TRY SO WE ENCOURAGE THAT.

ANOTHER FASCIT TO THE PROGRAM IS ANOTHER FASCIT TO THE PROGRAM IS ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNER ENGAGING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNER AND HAVE I THINK CREATE A AND HAVE I THINK CREATE A PLATFORM FOR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE PLATFORM FOR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR COMMUNITY WHATEVER WITH THEIR COMMUNITY WHATEVER THAT COMMUNITY MAY BE, IT MAY BE THAT COMMUNITY MAY BE, IT MAY BE THE GREATER GRAND RAPIDS AREA, THE GREATER GRAND RAPIDS AREA, IT MAY BE THEIR SCHOOL, IT MAY IT MAY BE THEIR SCHOOL, IT MAY BE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

BE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND SO EACH OF OUR STUDIOS THERE AND SO EACH OF OUR STUDIOS THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT.

IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT.

AND LASTLY WE ALSO TALK ABOUT AND LASTLY WE ALSO TALK ABOUT FUTURE ORIENTATION LIKE WHAT ARE FUTURE ORIENTATION LIKE WHAT ARE THEIR PLANS AFTER WIN CAT WHEN THEIR PLANS AFTER WIN CAT WHEN THEY ARE NOT WITH US ANY MORE, THEY ARE NOT WITH US ANY MORE, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THEY ARE WHAT ARE THE THINGS THEY ARE DOING IN THEIR TIME WITH US THAT DOING IN THEIR TIME WITH US THAT WILL HELP THEM VISION WHAT THEY WILL HELP THEM VISION WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE AFTER HIGH ARE GOING TO BE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND SO I THINK IN SCHOOL AND BEYOND SO I THINK IN ALL OF THOSE WAYS WE ARE LOOKING ALL OF THOSE WAYS WE ARE LOOKING TO HELP THEM TRANSITION THROUGH TO HELP THEM TRANSITION THROUGH CHANGES THAT ARE INEVITABLE.

CHANGES THAT ARE INEVITABLE.

>> CAN YOU TELL ME SOMETHING >> CAN YOU TELL ME SOMETHING EXCITING THAT IS COMING UP, FOR EXCITING THAT IS COMING UP, FOR YOU GUYS YOU WOULD LIKE THE YOU GUYS YOU WOULD LIKE THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW?

COMMUNITY TO KNOW?

>> THERE ARE SO MANY.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY.

MAY 11TH WE HAVE GOT OUR VIDEO MAY 11TH WE HAVE GOT OUR VIDEO PRODUCTION CLASS JUST FINISHED A PRODUCTION CLASS JUST FINISHED A DOCUMENTARY CALLED RACE AND DOCUMENTARY CALLED RACE AND HISTORY RACE ANEURYSM IN GRAND HISTORY RACE ANEURYSM IN GRAND RAPIDS AND WILL HAVE ANOTHER RAPIDS AND WILL HAVE ANOTHER SCREENING ON MAY 11 AT WEALTHY SCREENING ON MAY 11 AT WEALTHY THEATRE SO WE ARE WORKING ON A THEATRE SO WE ARE WORKING ON A PROJECT WITH GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC PROJECT WITH GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC MUSIC TO DEVELOP SOME 3D CONTENT MUSIC TO DEVELOP SOME 3D CONTENT FOR THEIR VIRTUAL REALITY SYSTEM FOR THEIR VIRTUAL REALITY SYSTEM THAT THEY HAVE GOT AND SO VIDEO THAT THEY HAVE GOT AND SO VIDEO GAME DESIGN CLASSES WORRYING IN GAME DESIGN CLASSES WORRYING IN WORKING IN THAT AREA OF THE WORKING IN THAT AREA OF THE COMMUNITY AND WORKING WITH SOME COMMUNITY AND WORKING WITH SOME MURALS SO ILLUSTRATION STUDENTS MURALS SO ILLUSTRATION STUDENTS WILL HAVE PUBLIC ART.

WILL HAVE PUBLIC ART.

>> GREAT SO THANK YOU TRUDY, OUR >> GREAT SO THANK YOU TRUDY, OUR FINAL TALENT IS THE HIGH SCHOOL FINAL TALENT IS THE HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR WITH RHYTHM AND SOUL, AN SENIOR WITH RHYTHM AND SOUL, AN ARTIST WHO HAS BEEN LEARNING ARTIST WHO HAS BEEN LEARNING FROM THE FOLKS AT DIATRIDE WE FROM THE FOLKS AT DIATRIDE WE COULD DO SELF AWARENESS AND COULD DO SELF AWARENESS AND PLEASE HELP ME GIVE A WARM HAND PLEASE HELP ME GIVE A WARM HAND TO KALIN.

TO KALIN.

>> MY NAME IS KALIN COLE I'M 18 >> MY NAME IS KALIN COLE I'M 18 YEARS OLD AND I'M A SENIOR IN YEARS OLD AND I'M A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL AT BYRON CENTER I HIGH SCHOOL AT BYRON CENTER I GUESS WHAT INSPIRES ME WITH GUESS WHAT INSPIRES ME WITH CHILDREN WITH POETRY YOU CAN DO CHILDREN WITH POETRY YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT WITH IT AND DON'T WHAT YOU WANT WITH IT AND DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW A STRUCTURE, HAVE TO FOLLOW A STRUCTURE, DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW RULES IT'S DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW RULES IT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY, IT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY, IT'S NOT CONFINED HOW EVERYBODY THINKS CONFINED HOW EVERYBODY THINKS YOU NEED TO SAY.

YOU NEED TO SAY.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO FIND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO DOES THE SAME THING SOMEBODY WHO DOES THE SAME THING AS YOU BUT THAT AT A DIFFERENT AS YOU BUT THAT AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING LEVEL BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GROW IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO GROW IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY TO LOOK UP TO AND SOMEBODY TO LOOK UP TO AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER IF YOU DON'T HAVE BETTER IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMETHING TO REACH FOR SO I SOMETHING TO REACH FOR SO I GUESS THAT IS WHAT THE DIATRIBE GUESS THAT IS WHAT THE DIATRIBE HAS DONE FOR ME AND THE WAY THEY HAS DONE FOR ME AND THE WAY THEY COME IN THE COMMUNITY AND HELP COME IN THE COMMUNITY AND HELP PERSONALLY ONE ON ONE IT IS PERSONALLY ONE ON ONE IT IS GROWTH AND EXPERIENCE ON YOUR GROWTH AND EXPERIENCE ON YOUR OWN.

OWN.

I WONDER IF I TOOK A DRIVE WHERE I WONDER IF I TOOK A DRIVE WHERE I WOULD GO WHEN IT'S OVER, I WOULD GO WHEN IT'S OVER, BECAUSE THE HOME IS NOT BECAUSE THE HOME IS NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING I HAD.

NECESSARILY SOMETHING I HAD.

I'VE SEEN MOVIES WHERE BIG FANCY I'VE SEEN MOVIES WHERE BIG FANCY HOUSES ARE MOUNTED WITH BIG HOUSES ARE MOUNTED WITH BIG HAPPY FAMILIES BUT I COUNT IT HAPPY FAMILIES BUT I COUNT IT ALL AS VANITY PROBABLY BECAUSE I ALL AS VANITY PROBABLY BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO HAVE IT.

HAVE IT.

THE CHILDHOOD HOME IS JUST A BOX THE CHILDHOOD HOME IS JUST A BOX ON WHEELS YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ON WHEELS YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT FEELS TO WALK ON THE WHAT IT FEELS TO WALK ON THE FLOOR WITHOUT IT MOVING UNDER FLOOR WITHOUT IT MOVING UNDER YOU.

YOU.

AND FROM OUTSIDE THE HOUSE AND FROM OUTSIDE THE HOUSE SHAKES YOUR FOUNDATION FROM THE SHAKES YOUR FOUNDATION FROM THE THUNDER FROM INSIDE SHAKES YOUR THUNDER FROM INSIDE SHAKES YOUR WALLS AND YOU HAVE TO STAND UP WALLS AND YOU HAVE TO STAND UP TALL AND NOT BRACE FOR THE FALL TALL AND NOT BRACE FOR THE FALL THAT IS BOUND TO HAPPEN.

THAT IS BOUND TO HAPPEN.

WHEN LIFE IS UNSTABLE AS THE WHEN LIFE IS UNSTABLE AS THE WHEELS BENEATH THE FLOOR BOARD WHEELS BENEATH THE FLOOR BOARD YOUR HEART GETS RECYCLED AGAIN YOUR HEART GETS RECYCLED AGAIN AND AGAIN AND REALIZE A AND AGAIN AND REALIZE A CARDBOARD OF ANYTHING IS NOT A CARDBOARD OF ANYTHING IS NOT A FORM OF STABLE WHEN THE WHEELS FORM OF STABLE WHEN THE WHEELS STARTS TURNING AND BUSHING FOR STARTS TURNING AND BUSHING FOR WHIPLASH AWONDERED WHY I WAS WHIPLASH AWONDERED WHY I WAS KNOWING MY IDENTITY AS TRAILER KNOWING MY IDENTITY AS TRAILER TRASH.

TRASH.

I REMEMBER RUNNING AROUND THAT I REMEMBER RUNNING AROUND THAT MANUFACTURED NEIGHBORHOOD NOT MANUFACTURED NEIGHBORHOOD NOT KNOWING ANY NEIGHBORS BECAUSE OF KNOWING ANY NEIGHBORS BECAUSE OF THE DANGERS OF THE THIRD SYLABLE THE DANGERS OF THE THIRD SYLABLE HUD SO WHEN IT IS FOUR DOORS HUD SO WHEN IT IS FOUR DOORS DOWN YOU CAN DROWN IN FEAR OR DOWN YOU CAN DROWN IN FEAR OR THE TEARS THAT DRENCH YOUR THE TEARS THAT DRENCH YOUR STREETS WHEN THE STREETS ARE IN STREETS WHEN THE STREETS ARE IN DRUGS YOU CANNOT PRONOUNCE AND DRUGS YOU CANNOT PRONOUNCE AND YOUR HOME IS SUPPOSED TO BE YOUR HOME IS SUPPOSED TO BE STABLE.

STABLE.

I'M STILL UNABLE TO COMPREHEND I'M STILL UNABLE TO COMPREHEND WHAT THAT MEANS.

WHAT THAT MEANS.

ALWAYS WANDERED WHAT IT WOULD ALWAYS WANDERED WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE TO HAVE A HOME.

HAVE BEEN LIKE TO HAVE A HOME.

WHAT IT MEANT TO HAVE ONE.

WHAT IT MEANT TO HAVE ONE.

WHEN WE MOVED OUT OF THE TRAILER WHEN WE MOVED OUT OF THE TRAILER I THOUGHT NO MORE DANGER AND I THOUGHT NO MORE DANGER AND REAL NEIGHBORS AND NO LONGER REAL NEIGHBORS AND NO LONGER SEEN AS A FAILURE.

SEEN AS A FAILURE.

BUT I WAS 14.

BUT I WAS 14.

SO THE DAMAGE HAD ALREADY BEEN SO THE DAMAGE HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE THAT LABEL ON MY NECK HAD DONE THAT LABEL ON MY NECK HAD ALREADY BEEN HUNG THAT IS WHAT ALREADY BEEN HUNG THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LEARN YOUR HAPPENS WHEN YOU LEARN YOUR IDENTITY SO YOUNG.

IDENTITY SO YOUNG.

BUT INSTEAD OF FEELING LIKE I BUT INSTEAD OF FEELING LIKE I SUCCEEDED I FELT LIKE A FISH OUT SUCCEEDED I FELT LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER WITH ALL OF THESE BIG OF WATER WITH ALL OF THESE BIG FANCY HOUSES AND THE BIG HAPPY FANCY HOUSES AND THE BIG HAPPY FAMILIES ALL OF IT FELT LIKE FAMILIES ALL OF IT FELT LIKE NOTHING BUT A CRUEL FALLACY NOTHING BUT A CRUEL FALLACY BECAUSE THE DRUGS STREETS AND BECAUSE THE DRUGS STREETS AND GUNSHOTS I FELL ASLEEP TO AND I GUNSHOTS I FELL ASLEEP TO AND I TIED MY RELEASE TO LIFE I TIED MY RELEASE TO LIFE I SUBCONSCIOUSLY AGREED TO.

SUBCONSCIOUSLY AGREED TO.

UNSTABLE AS THOSE FOUR WALLS UNSTABLE AS THOSE FOUR WALLS WERE IT WAS STILL A PLACE I WERE IT WAS STILL A PLACE I COULD RUN TO NO MATTER HOW COULD RUN TO NO MATTER HOW VIOLENT THE STORM OR ON ITS VIOLENT THE STORM OR ON ITS MANUFACTURED EDGES BECAME.

MANUFACTURED EDGES BECAME.

I WILL NEVER NAME IT HOME.

I WILL NEVER NAME IT HOME.

THEN AGAIN MAYBE A HOME IS THEN AGAIN MAYBE A HOME IS SOMETHING I WILL NEVER EVEN KNOW SOMETHING I WILL NEVER EVEN KNOW BUT I WOULD RATHER LIVE AT THE BUT I WOULD RATHER LIVE AT THE BOTTOM OF A TOTEM POLE THAN TO BOTTOM OF A TOTEM POLE THAN TO HANG ON SO TIGHT I WOULD LOSE MY HANG ON SO TIGHT I WOULD LOSE MY GRIP AND I WOULD SLIP TO THE GRIP AND I WOULD SLIP TO THE MANUFACTURED NEIGHBORHOOD AND MANUFACTURED NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAD NO NEIGHBORS BECAUSE OF THE HAD NO NEIGHBORS BECAUSE OF THE DANGERS OF HUD AND GOOD OR BAD DANGERS OF HUD AND GOOD OR BAD IT'S WHO I WAS.

IT'S WHO I WAS.

AND IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT AND IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT CARDBOARD BOX ON WHEELS I NEVER CARDBOARD BOX ON WHEELS I NEVER WOULD KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO WOULD KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO FIND MY IDENTITY AND NEVER WOULD FIND MY IDENTITY AND NEVER WOULD HAVE SERENITY IN THE MEMORIES OF HAVE SERENITY IN THE MEMORIES OF SELF DISCOVERY NO MATTER HOW SELF DISCOVERY NO MATTER HOW VIOLENT THE STORM AROUND ME VIOLENT THE STORM AROUND ME SOMEHOW I STILL FOUND ME AND I SOMEHOW I STILL FOUND ME AND I WOULDN'T HAVE WANTED TO DO SO AS WOULDN'T HAVE WANTED TO DO SO AS ANYTHING BUT TRAILER TRASH.

ANYTHING BUT TRAILER TRASH.

I WILL NOT REMOVE THAT LABEL I WILL NOT REMOVE THAT LABEL FROM AROUND MY NECK BECAUSE IT FROM AROUND MY NECK BECAUSE IT REMINDS ME OF WHERE I CAME FROM REMINDS ME OF WHERE I CAME FROM AND WHERE MY SHAME NO LONGER AND WHERE MY SHAME NO LONGER STEMS FROM.

STEMS FROM.

AND AT THAT PLACE THAT I LEARNED AND AT THAT PLACE THAT I LEARNED TO WALK AND BECAUSE OF THAT I TO WALK AND BECAUSE OF THAT I KNOW HOW TO STAND AND I NOW KNOW HOW TO STAND AND I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT TRAILER TRASH IS UNDERSTAND THAT TRAILER TRASH IS NOT AN INSULT.

NOT AN INSULT.

INSTEAD IT'S RE ASSURANCE TO INSTEAD IT'S RE ASSURANCE TO MOVE THROUGH THE CURRENT AND MOVE THROUGH THE CURRENT AND CURRENTLY HONESTLY I'M HAPPY CURRENTLY HONESTLY I'M HAPPY WITH THE HOUSE I'VE HAD, THE ONE WITH THE HOUSE I'VE HAD, THE ONE I HAVE AND THE HOME I FINALLY I HAVE AND THE HOME I FINALLY FOUND AND MY IDENTITY.

FOUND AND MY IDENTITY.

>> REPRESENTING THE DIATRIDE >> REPRESENTING THE DIATRIDE TEACHING ARTIST RACHEL GLEESON TEACHING ARTIST RACHEL GLEESON WELCOME BACK.

WELCOME BACK.

.

.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS FIRST OF ALL YOU CONGRATULATIONS FIRST OF ALL YOU GUYS HAVE BENEFICIALLY BECOME A GUYS HAVE BENEFICIALLY BECOME A 501C3 RECENTLY AND HAD YOUR 501C3 RECENTLY AND HAD YOUR FIRST BOARD MEETING.

FIRST BOARD MEETING.

>> LAST NIGHT.

>> LAST NIGHT.

>> VERY NEW.

>> VERY NEW.

>> VERY NEW.

>> VERY NEW.

>> TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT THE >> TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT THE DIATRIBE WHAT DO YOU DO?

DIATRIBE WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> PROGRAMMING IN SCHOOLS ACROSS >> PROGRAMMING IN SCHOOLS ACROSS MICHIGAN, WE HAVE BEEN AS FAR AS MICHIGAN, WE HAVE BEEN AS FAR AS THE VERY EAST SIDE OF THE STATE THE VERY EAST SIDE OF THE STATE AND CANADA ACROSS THE RIVER, AND CANADA ACROSS THE RIVER, MOSTLY IN KENT COUNTY.

MOSTLY IN KENT COUNTY.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW WE ARE DOING PROGRAMMING BY PARTNERING WITH PROGRAMMING BY PARTNERING WITH THE KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY THE KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY BRINGING US IN TO PROMOTE THE BRINGING US IN TO PROMOTE THE POETRY CONTEST AND DO ASSEMBLIES POETRY CONTEST AND DO ASSEMBLIES AND SIX EIGHT AND 1 TWO-WEEK AND SIX EIGHT AND 1 TWO-WEEK WORKSHOPS AND THE ASSEMBLIES ARE WORKSHOPS AND THE ASSEMBLIES ARE REALLY BASED IN THE MEMBERS OF REALLY BASED IN THE MEMBERS OF THE DIATRIBE THE FOUR OF US THE DIATRIBE THE FOUR OF US TELLING STORIES AND UNIQUE TELLING STORIES AND UNIQUE HISTORY AND SHARING OUR POEMS HISTORY AND SHARING OUR POEMS AND TALKING ABOUT POETRY FOR AND TALKING ABOUT POETRY FOR OURSELVES SAVED US IN A LOT OF OURSELVES SAVED US IN A LOT OF WAYS AND WRITING CAN DO THE SAME WAYS AND WRITING CAN DO THE SAME FOR THEM AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FOR THEM AND THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTINUING ART BEYOND THE SCHOOL CONTINUING ART BEYOND THE SCHOOL AND PURSUING PASSIONS AND AND PURSUING PASSIONS AND SHOWING THAT IT'S POSSIBLE TO SHOWING THAT IT'S POSSIBLE TO HAVE THIS CAREER AND NOT JUST A HAVE THIS CAREER AND NOT JUST A HOBBY.

HOBBY.

>> AND ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES I >> AND ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES I THINK BETWEEN THE DIATRIBE YOU THINK BETWEEN THE DIATRIBE YOU ALL HAVE A UNIQUE PIECE OF THIS ALL HAVE A UNIQUE PIECE OF THIS AFTER SCHOOL OR OUT OF SCHOOL AFTER SCHOOL OR OUT OF SCHOOL ARTS I GUESS PIE, THAT IS A ARTS I GUESS PIE, THAT IS A TERRIBLE THING, YOU ARE HELPING TERRIBLE THING, YOU ARE HELPING KIDS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

KIDS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE A SPACE.

YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE A SPACE.

YOU GO INTO SPACE.

YOU GO INTO SPACE.

>> YES THAT IS CORRECT.

>> YES THAT IS CORRECT.

>> YEAH SO TELL ME ABOUT HOW >> YEAH SO TELL ME ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS.

THAT WORKS.

WE GO INTO SCHOOLS LIKE I SAID WE GO INTO SCHOOLS LIKE I SAID WE ARE PARTNERS WITH KENT WE ARE PARTNERS WITH KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY BUT WE GO IN DISTRICT LIBRARY BUT WE GO IN DURING THE SCHOOL AND SOMETIMES DURING THE SCHOOL AND SOMETIMES WE WILL DO ALL DAY ASSEMBLIES WE WILL DO ALL DAY ASSEMBLIES WHERE WE GET TO PRESENT TO EACH WHERE WE GET TO PRESENT TO EACH CLASS AND THEN AGAIN OTHERWISE CLASS AND THEN AGAIN OTHERWISE WE COME IN AND WE DO THE 6-8-12 WE COME IN AND WE DO THE 6-8-12 WORKSHOPS THAT COULD BE AFTER WORKSHOPS THAT COULD BE AFTER SCHOOL, RIGHT NOW THEY MOSTLY SCHOOL, RIGHT NOW THEY MOSTLY HAVE BEEN DURING THE SCHOOL HAVE BEEN DURING THE SCHOOL HOURS.

HOURS.

>> AND SO COULD YOU RUN ME >> AND SO COULD YOU RUN ME THROUGH WHAT ONE OF THOSE LOOKS THROUGH WHAT ONE OF THOSE LOOKS LIKE?

LIKE?

.

.

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> WHAT YOU DO.

>> WHAT YOU DO.

>> THE ASSEMBLIES WE SHARE OUR >> THE ASSEMBLIES WE SHARE OUR STORIES, WE ALSO DO AN EXERCISE STORIES, WE ALSO DO AN EXERCISE WHERE WE HAVE THE STUDENTS BOW WHERE WE HAVE THE STUDENTS BOW THEIR HEADS AND CLOSE THEIR EYES THEIR HEADS AND CLOSE THEIR EYES AND WE ASK IF THEY STRUGGLED AND WE ASK IF THEY STRUGGLED WITH THINGS LIKE SELF HARM OR WITH THINGS LIKE SELF HARM OR IDENTITY, IF THEIR HOMES ARE IDENTITY, IF THEIR HOMES ARE ROOTED IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, IF ROOTED IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, IF THERE IS FINANCIAL TROUBLE AND THERE IS FINANCIAL TROUBLE AND THEY RAISE THEIR FINGERS AND WE THEY RAISE THEIR FINGERS AND WE HAVE THEM OPEN THEIR EYES AND HAVE THEM OPEN THEIR EYES AND LOOK AROUND AT THE STUDENTS LOOK AROUND AT THE STUDENTS AROUND THEM AND SEE THAT EVEN IF AROUND THEM AND SEE THAT EVEN IF THERE ARE STUDENTS THEY HAVE NOT THERE ARE STUDENTS THEY HAVE NOT BEEN GETTING ALONG WITH THEY ARE BEEN GETTING ALONG WITH THEY ARE REALLY GOING THROUGH THE SAME REALLY GOING THROUGH THE SAME THINGS.

THINGS.

AND WE TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES AND WE TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES BECAUSE THE ISSUES ARE BROUGHT BECAUSE THE ISSUES ARE BROUGHT UP IN OUR POEMS AND SO THE IDEA UP IN OUR POEMS AND SO THE IDEA IS THAT WE ARE VULNERABLE IN IS THAT WE ARE VULNERABLE IN FRONT OF THEM THAT OPENS UP THE FRONT OF THEM THAT OPENS UP THE DOOR FOR THEM TO BE VULNERABLE DOOR FOR THEM TO BE VULNERABLE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

WITH ONE ANOTHER.

WE FOUND THAT THIS DECREASE OF WE FOUND THAT THIS DECREASE OF BULLYING AND CREATES UNITY IN BULLYING AND CREATES UNITY IN THE SCHOOL SO IT'S REALLY THE SCHOOL SO IT'S REALLY ALTHOUGH IT IS REALLY A LOT ALTHOUGH IT IS REALLY A LOT ABOUT POETRY AND INSPIRING ABOUT POETRY AND INSPIRING POETRY IT'S REALLY MORE ABOUT POETRY IT'S REALLY MORE ABOUT THE POWER OF VULNERABILITY AND THE POWER OF VULNERABILITY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF VULNERABILITY THE IMPORTANCE OF VULNERABILITY IN ART BUT ALSO IN LIFE.

IN ART BUT ALSO IN LIFE.

>> GOOD, SO THAT NOW EXPLAINS A >> GOOD, SO THAT NOW EXPLAINS A LITTLE WHY THE POEMS ARE SO DEEP LITTLE WHY THE POEMS ARE SO DEEP AND YOU START OFF BY MAKING THEM AND YOU START OFF BY MAKING THEM THINK ABOUT SOME PRETTY HEAVY THINK ABOUT SOME PRETTY HEAVY HITTING THINGS.

HITTING THINGS.

I MEAN YOU GUYS DO AS WELL IT I MEAN YOU GUYS DO AS WELL IT SOUNDS LIKE, WOW, THAT IS SOUNDS LIKE, WOW, THAT IS INTENSE.

INTENSE.

>> YEAH, IT CAN BE EMOTIONALLY >> YEAH, IT CAN BE EMOTIONALLY DRAINING TO BE IN A SCHOOL ALL DRAINING TO BE IN A SCHOOL ALL DAY AND JUST EVEN SHARING OUR DAY AND JUST EVEN SHARING OUR OWN STORIES EVEN THOUGH WE SHARE OWN STORIES EVEN THOUGH WE SHARE THEM SO OFTEN AND SEEING THEM THEM SO OFTEN AND SEEING THEM RESONATE WITH STUDENTS AND RESONATE WITH STUDENTS AND HAVING STUDENTS REALLY OPENING HAVING STUDENTS REALLY OPENING UP IT CAN BE EMOTIONAL AND UP IT CAN BE EMOTIONAL AND POWERFUL BUT YEAH IT CAN ALSO BE POWERFUL BUT YEAH IT CAN ALSO BE REALLY EMOTIONALLY DRAINING BUT REALLY EMOTIONALLY DRAINING BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S ALWAYS A VERY INSPIRING AND THE ALWAYS A VERY INSPIRING AND THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GET ABOUT THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GET ABOUT THE CULTURE OF THE SCHOOL CHANGING CULTURE OF THE SCHOOL CHANGING IN A POSITIVE WAY IS REALLY IN A POSITIVE WAY IS REALLY ENCOURAGING AND TO SEE STUDENTS ENCOURAGING AND TO SEE STUDENTS CREATING THEN WRITING GROUPS IN CREATING THEN WRITING GROUPS IN THEIR OWN SCHOOLS AND THINGS THEIR OWN SCHOOLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT ALSO IS REALLY LIKE THAT ALSO IS REALLY INCREDIBLE TO SEE.

INCREDIBLE TO SEE.

>> WOW, SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE >> WOW, SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS THE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS THE MODEL AND YOU ARE BRAND NEW IN A MODEL AND YOU ARE BRAND NEW IN A SENSE BUT I MEAN I'M ASSUMING SENSE BUT I MEAN I'M ASSUMING TAKING QUITE OF WORK TO GET TO TAKING QUITE OF WORK TO GET TO THE POINT YOU ARE SO HOW HAVE THE POINT YOU ARE SO HOW HAVE YOU BEEN SURVIVING AND WHAT IS YOU BEEN SURVIVING AND WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FORWARD?

YOUR PLAN FORWARD?

>> EITHER SCHOOLS WILL FINDS IT >> EITHER SCHOOLS WILL FINDS IT IN THEIR BUDGET TO BRING US IN IN THEIR BUDGET TO BRING US IN OTHERWISE WE CAN WORK ON OTHERWISE WE CAN WORK ON APPLYING FOR GRANTS AND WRITING APPLYING FOR GRANTS AND WRITING GRANTS WITH THE SCHOOL, GETTING GRANTS WITH THE SCHOOL, GETTING GRANT FUNDING AND THEN ALSO GRANT FUNDING AND THEN ALSO THESE PARTNERSHIPS LIKE WE HAVE THESE PARTNERSHIPS LIKE WE HAVE WITH KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY RIGHT WITH KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY RIGHT NOW SO THAT IS FUNDED BY THEM NOW SO THAT IS FUNDED BY THEM AND THEN SOME OTHER SCHOOLS THEN AND THEN SOME OTHER SCHOOLS THEN ALSO CONTRIBUTE.

ALSO CONTRIBUTE.

>> SO IS THAT IN YOUR FUTURE TO >> SO IS THAT IN YOUR FUTURE TO CONTINUE TO GO INTO SPACES OR DO CONTINUE TO GO INTO SPACES OR DO YOU PLAN TO HAVE YOUR OWN SPACE?

YOU PLAN TO HAVE YOUR OWN SPACE?

.

.

>> LONG-TERM I THINK THAT IT >> LONG-TERM I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE INCREDIBLE TO HAVE A WOULD BE INCREDIBLE TO HAVE A SPACE AND IT'S DEFINITELY A SPACE AND IT'S DEFINITELY A LONG-TERM GOAL AND RIGHT NOW WE LONG-TERM GOAL AND RIGHT NOW WE REALLY ENJOY GOING INTO THE REALLY ENJOY GOING INTO THE SCHOOLS AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SCHOOLS AND WE WOULD LIKE TO ALSO EVENTUALLY HAVE A SPACE ALSO EVENTUALLY HAVE A SPACE WHERE STUDENTS CAN COMPETE FROM WHERE STUDENTS CAN COMPETE FROM ALL DIFFERENT SCHOOLS ACROSS THE ALL DIFFERENT SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY AND THEY WILL BRING COMMUNITY AND THEY WILL BRING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE WENT OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE WENT WINNERS OF A COUNTY WIDE POETRY WINNERS OF A COUNTY WIDE POETRY SLAM COMPETITION SO HAVING A SLAM COMPETITION SO HAVING A SPACE THAT WE HAVE FOR OURSELVES SPACE THAT WE HAVE FOR OURSELVES WOULD BE INCREDIBLE.

WOULD BE INCREDIBLE.

BUT EVEN NOW WE ARE LOOKING INTO BUT EVEN NOW WE ARE LOOKING INTO DIFFERENT SPACES WHERE WE CAN DIFFERENT SPACES WHERE WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> AND SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE >> AND SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING UP, THAT THINGS THAT ARE COMING UP, THAT YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO, SOME OF THE EXCITING THINGS THAT SOME OF THE EXCITING THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE THE COMMUNITY TO YOU WOULD LIKE THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR PROGRAMMING.

KNOW ABOUT YOUR PROGRAMMING.

>> YEAH COMING UP, WE ARE GOING >> YEAH COMING UP, WE ARE GOING TO BE OFFERING SUMMER TO BE OFFERING SUMMER PROGRAMMING.

PROGRAMMING.

WE ARE NOT SOLID ON THE DATES WE ARE NOT SOLID ON THE DATES YET AND WE CAN WORK THAT OUT BUT YET AND WE CAN WORK THAT OUT BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE GOING THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE GOING TO THE DIATRIBE.ORG AND STAY TO THE DIATRIBE.ORG AND STAY POSTED ON THAT IF YOU ARE POSTED ON THAT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED AND ALSO OR ON INTERESTED AND ALSO OR ON FACEBOOK AND THEN ALSO NOT UNTIL FACEBOOK AND THEN ALSO NOT UNTIL SEPTEMBER BUT WE WILL BE DOING SEPTEMBER BUT WE WILL BE DOING ART PRIZE EDUCATION DAYS FOR THE ART PRIZE EDUCATION DAYS FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW WHERE WE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW WHERE WE WILL BE DOING ASSEMBLIES WHERE WILL BE DOING ASSEMBLIES WHERE SCHOOLS CAN KIND OF GET AN ON SCHOOLS CAN KIND OF GET AN ON LINE AND SEE OUR PROGRAMMING AT LINE AND SEE OUR PROGRAMMING AT THE EYCA.

THE EYCA.

>> HOW DO KIDS FIND OUT ABOUT >> HOW DO KIDS FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR PROGRAMMING, ABOUT WHAT YOU YOUR PROGRAMMING, ABOUT WHAT YOU DO, HOW DO YOU BRING THEM IN AND DO, HOW DO YOU BRING THEM IN AND SAY HEY YOU NEED TO COME BE PART SAY HEY YOU NEED TO COME BE PART OF THIS GROUP?

OF THIS GROUP?

>> WELL, MOSTLY AS WE ARE >> WELL, MOSTLY AS WE ARE BROUGHT IN THROUGH SCHOOL, SO WE BROUGHT IN THROUGH SCHOOL, SO WE REACH OUT TO SCHOOLS, THE REACH OUT TO SCHOOLS, THE SCHOOLS WILL REACH OUT TO US AND SCHOOLS WILL REACH OUT TO US AND SO IT'S REALLY BASED IN THAT, IN SO IT'S REALLY BASED IN THAT, IN THE SCHOOLS AND THEN GARNERING THE SCHOOLS AND THEN GARNERING INTEREST THERE AND I THINK NOW INTEREST THERE AND I THINK NOW THAT WE DO HAVE OUR NONPROFIT THAT WE DO HAVE OUR NONPROFIT STATUS AND ALL OF THAT MOVING STATUS AND ALL OF THAT MOVING FORWARD WE PROBABLY WILL BE FORWARD WE PROBABLY WILL BE LOOKING INTO DIFFERENT OUTREACH LOOKING INTO DIFFERENT OUTREACH REALMS AS WELL.

REALMS AS WELL.

>> SO WHAT IS STEP ONE FOR YOU >> SO WHAT IS STEP ONE FOR YOU NOW YOU HAVE YOUR NONPROFIT.

NOW YOU HAVE YOUR NONPROFIT.

>> DIVING INTO GETTING MORE >> DIVING INTO GETTING MORE INVOLVED WITH OTHER COMMUNITY INVOLVED WITH OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS, LOOKING INTO CREATING EVENTS, LOOKING INTO CREATING SOME FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND SOME FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT REALLY IS BRAND NEW SO IT'S IT REALLY IS BRAND NEW SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING AND I THINK WE REALLY EXCITING AND I THINK WE ARE ALL REALLY EXCITED WITH AN ARE ALL REALLY EXCITED WITH AN INCREDIBLE TEAM OF BOARD MEMBERS INCREDIBLE TEAM OF BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE REALLY INVOLVED IN THAT ARE REALLY INVOLVED IN DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE COMMUNITY SO I THINK IT'S GOING COMMUNITY SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT PUTTING OUR HEADS TO BE ABOUT PUTTING OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND SEEING AND REALLY TOGETHER AND SEEING AND REALLY TAKING THIS TO THE NEXT LEVEL TAKING THIS TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO WITH AND SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO WITH IT.

IT.

>> SO IT'S EXCITING AND ACTUALLY >> SO IT'S EXCITING AND ACTUALLY IT'S EXCITING TO HEAR WHAT ALL IT'S EXCITING TO HEAR WHAT ALL OF YOU ARE DOING IN THE OF YOU ARE DOING IN THE DIFFERENT WAYS YOU SERVE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS YOU SERVE ARE TALENTED ARTISTS AND FLEDGLING TALENTED ARTISTS AND FLEDGLING ARTISTS AND NOW WE WILL HEAR ARTISTS AND NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE AND FROM OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE AND ALSO WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALSO WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU AT HOME.

AT HOME.

♪ ♪ IF YOU WANT TO JOIN THE IF YOU WANT TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION FOLLOW US ON CONVERSATION FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, ON TWITTER PUBLIC FACEBOOK, ON TWITTER PUBLIC MEDIA AND USE MUTUALLY INCLUSIVE MEDIA AND USE MUTUALLY INCLUSIVE OR I AM WGVU.

OR I AM WGVU.

WELCOME BACK.

WELCOME BACK.

BACK TO MUTUALLY INCLUSIVE I'M BACK TO MUTUALLY INCLUSIVE I'M MARIANO AVILA AND FOUR ARTISTS MARIANO AVILA AND FOUR ARTISTS AGES 11-18 SHARED TALENTS WITH AGES 11-18 SHARED TALENTS WITH US AND WE TALKED TO STUDENTS US AND WE TALKED TO STUDENTS HELPING THEM NUTURE TALENTS HERE HELPING THEM NUTURE TALENTS HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS AND NOW IT'S IN GRAND RAPIDS AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE TO TIME FOR OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE TO ASK OUR GUESTS SOME QUESTIONS ASK OUR GUESTS SOME QUESTIONS AND MAKE SOME COMMENTS, FIRST UP AND MAKE SOME COMMENTS, FIRST UP WE HAVE ONE IF YOU COULD PLEASE WE HAVE ONE IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME UP AND SHARE YOUR QUESTIONS COME UP AND SHARE YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

OR COMMENTS.

>> HI, 17 YEARS AGO I MOVED FROM >> HI, 17 YEARS AGO I MOVED FROM MEXICO.

MEXICO.

DOWNTOWN IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE DOWNTOWN IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE BEAUTIFUL.

BEAUTIFUL.

IT WAS QUIET.

IT WAS QUIET.

NOTHING WAS HAPPENING.

NOTHING WAS HAPPENING.

IT WAS A SUNDAY WHEN I CAME.

IT WAS A SUNDAY WHEN I CAME.

AND I REMEMBER I STARTED LOOKING AND I REMEMBER I STARTED LOOKING AROUND FOR ART GALLERIES AND AROUND FOR ART GALLERIES AND THEY WERE CLOSED.

THEY WERE CLOSED.

THEN I FINALLY MAKE IT TO THEN I FINALLY MAKE IT TO MONDAY, WENT TO KENDALL AND MONDAY, WENT TO KENDALL AND STARTED LIKE GETTING INTO STARTED LIKE GETTING INTO PROFESSOR AND ASKING ABOUT PROFESSOR AND ASKING ABOUT REACTIONS.

REACTIONS.

WHAT I SEE TODAY FOR ME IS GREAT WHAT I SEE TODAY FOR ME IS GREAT TO SEE A LOT OF KIDS MIGHT NOT TO SEE A LOT OF KIDS MIGHT NOT BE HERE.

BE HERE.

THIS IS A LONG TIME AGO.

THIS IS A LONG TIME AGO.

NOW FOR ME TO SEE YOU ALL NOW FOR ME TO SEE YOU ALL SUPPORTING THIS IT'S JUST LIKE SUPPORTING THIS IT'S JUST LIKE IT'S UNBELIEVABLE BECAUSE YOU IT'S UNBELIEVABLE BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE LIKE WHAT WE NEED FOR GUYS ARE LIKE WHAT WE NEED FOR THOSE KIDS.

THOSE KIDS.

SO MUCH OF THE KIDS AND I WANT SO MUCH OF THE KIDS AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU TO SAY THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING, FOR ALL OF THE HAVE BEEN DOING, FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT AND KIDS DON'T HESITATE SUPPORT AND KIDS DON'T HESITATE FOR HELP BECAUSE ARTISTS FOR HELP BECAUSE ARTISTS BASICALLY AS A SOCIETY, AS A BASICALLY AS A SOCIETY, AS A COMMUNITY, JUST TO STAND UP AND COMMUNITY, JUST TO STAND UP AND SAY I LIKE IT SO MUCH AND AT SAY I LIKE IT SO MUCH AND AT LEAST ASK, WE WILL HELP AND LEAST ASK, WE WILL HELP AND THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> WHEN YOU SAY WE BECAUSE YOU >> WHEN YOU SAY WE BECAUSE YOU ARE AN ARTIST AND A SCULPTURE, ARE AN ARTIST AND A SCULPTURE, RIGHT?

RIGHT?

I HAVE KNOWN CARLOS FOR A WHILE I HAVE KNOWN CARLOS FOR A WHILE SO I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT.

SO I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT.

WOULD ANY OF YOU LIKE TO ANSWER WOULD ANY OF YOU LIKE TO ANSWER ABOUT THIS HARD HITTING QUESTION ABOUT THIS HARD HITTING QUESTION ABOUT WHY YOU ARE SO AWESOME AND ABOUT WHY YOU ARE SO AWESOME AND HELPING OUR KIDS?

HELPING OUR KIDS?

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

HAVE YOU SEEN CHANGES?

HAVE YOU SEEN CHANGES?

SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE LONGER THAN OTHERS BUT HAVE YOU LONGER THAN OTHERS BUT HAVE YOU SEEN CHANGES SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN SEEN CHANGES SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE ART SCENE?

ON THE ART SCENE?

>> I DEFINITELY HAVE AND I MOVED >> I DEFINITELY HAVE AND I MOVED ACTUALLY RIGHT DOWNTOWN GRAND ACTUALLY RIGHT DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO RAPIDS JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO BUT JUST FROM THE INITIAL LIKE BUT JUST FROM THE INITIAL LIKE EVEN ART PRIZE STARTING AND I EVEN ART PRIZE STARTING AND I THINK THAT CHANGED A LOT OF THINK THAT CHANGED A LOT OF THINGS AND IT DEFINITELY MADE THINGS AND IT DEFINITELY MADE ART MORE VISIBLE AND BROUGHT ART MORE VISIBLE AND BROUGHT MORE PEOPLE TO GRAND RAPIDS AND MORE PEOPLE TO GRAND RAPIDS AND KIND OF PUT IT ON THE MAP IN KIND OF PUT IT ON THE MAP IN TERMS OF ART IN SOME WAYS AND SO TERMS OF ART IN SOME WAYS AND SO I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF GROWTH IN I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF GROWTH IN THIS SPOKEN WORD COMMUNITY WITH THIS SPOKEN WORD COMMUNITY WITH DIFFERENT OPEN MICS STARTING AND DIFFERENT OPEN MICS STARTING AND SEEN THE COMEDY SCENE AND SEEN THE COMEDY SCENE AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THIS BLOSSOM ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THIS BLOSSOM AND GROW AND IN THE LAST FIVE AND GROW AND IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF YEARS I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF GROWTH IN ART AND A LOT MORE GROWTH IN ART AND A LOT MORE INTEREST IN ART AND ALSO A LOT INTEREST IN ART AND ALSO A LOT MORE PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS MORE PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT UPLIFT ART ARTISTS.

THAT UPLIFT ART ARTISTS.

>> OUR SECOND QUESTION COMES >> OUR SECOND QUESTION COMES FROM ANOTHER ARTIST WHO HAPPENS FROM ANOTHER ARTIST WHO HAPPENS TO WORK WITH YOU RACHEL SO HERE TO WORK WITH YOU RACHEL SO HERE NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME I THINK NOT FOR THE FIRST TIME I THINK THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME YOU THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE SHOW WE DID OUR HAVE BEEN ON THE SHOW WE DID OUR FIRST DOCUMENTARY FEATURING YOU FIRST DOCUMENTARY FEATURING YOU BUT COULD YOU PLEASE ASK YOUR BUT COULD YOU PLEASE ASK YOUR QUESTION?

QUESTION?

>> YES, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW >> YES, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS EACH OF YOUR FAVORITE WHAT WAS EACH OF YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES THUS FAR WORKING WITH MEMORIES THUS FAR WORKING WITH STUDENTS IN YOUR ORGANIZATION?

STUDENTS IN YOUR ORGANIZATION?

>> LAST SUMMER OUR STUDENTS AND >> LAST SUMMER OUR STUDENTS AND OUR ADVANCED ILLUSTRATION STUDIO OUR ADVANCED ILLUSTRATION STUDIO THEY WORKED ON A MURAL IN EAST THEY WORKED ON A MURAL IN EAST TOWN ON A RETAINING WALL, A HUGE TOWN ON A RETAINING WALL, A HUGE WALL AND THEY WORKED DURING THE WALL AND THEY WORKED DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, THEY INTERVIEWED SCHOOL YEAR, THEY INTERVIEWED RESIDENTS IN EAST TOWN, THEY RESIDENTS IN EAST TOWN, THEY ATTENDED PANCAKE BREAKFAST, THEY ATTENDED PANCAKE BREAKFAST, THEY TALKED WITH RESIDENTS TO ASK TALKED WITH RESIDENTS TO ASK THEM WHAT THEY ENJOYED ABOUT THEM WHAT THEY ENJOYED ABOUT WILCOX PARK, THIS BIG SPACE THAT WILCOX PARK, THIS BIG SPACE THAT HAD BEEN -- UNDER GONE A HAD BEEN -- UNDER GONE A REDESIGN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS REDESIGN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND THEY TOOK THAT INPUT AND AND THEY TOOK THAT INPUT AND CREATED A DESIGN, THEY CREATED A DESIGN, THEY COLLABORATED TOGETHER TO PIECE COLLABORATED TOGETHER TO PIECE THESE ELEMENTS AND THE FINISHED THESE ELEMENTS AND THE FINISHED WORK IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

WORK IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

IT'S VIBRANT, THE COLORS IT'S VIBRANT, THE COLORS REFLECT, THE FEEDBACK THAT WE REFLECT, THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT FROM RESIDENTS WAS SO GREAT GOT FROM RESIDENTS WAS SO GREAT AND I THINK PUBLIC ART AND I THINK PUBLIC ART ESPECIALLY WERE ABLE TO DO THAT ESPECIALLY WERE ABLE TO DO THAT AND HAVE A WHOLE COMMUNITY ENJOY AND HAVE A WHOLE COMMUNITY ENJOY IT AND SEE IT AND ENGAGE WITH IT IT AND SEE IT AND ENGAGE WITH IT EVERYDAY.

EVERYDAY.

I THINK THAT IS A SOURCE OF I THINK THAT IS A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THAT, PRIDE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THAT, HEY, WE DID SOMETHING, WE HEY, WE DID SOMETHING, WE CREATED SOMETHING THAT IS CREATED SOMETHING THAT IS IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY, IT'S IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY, IT'S NOT JUST FOR ME OR SOMEWHERE ON NOT JUST FOR ME OR SOMEWHERE ON A WALL THAT IT'S ON A HUGE WALL A WALL THAT IT'S ON A HUGE WALL FOR THE WHOLE CITY SO SEE.

FOR THE WHOLE CITY SO SEE.

>> MY FAVORITE SO FAR AND IT'S >> MY FAVORITE SO FAR AND IT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND I ABOUT TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND I CAN'T WAIT WAS WHEN WE RELEASED CAN'T WAIT WAS WHEN WE RELEASED THE BOOK.

THE BOOK.

WE HAVE A BIG READING AT WEALTHY WE HAVE A BIG READING AT WEALTHY THEATRE WHERE EVERY STUDENT HAS THEATRE WHERE EVERY STUDENT HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ FROM THE AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ FROM THE BOOKS THEY ARE PUBLISHED IN AND BOOKS THEY ARE PUBLISHED IN AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS COME AND AFTERWARDS ALL THE COME AND AFTERWARDS ALL THE STUDENTS LINE UP AT THE BIG STUDENTS LINE UP AT THE BIG FANCY TABLE AND THEY SIGN AUTHOR FANCY TABLE AND THEY SIGN AUTHOR COPIES AND COMING OUT OF THE COPIES AND COMING OUT OF THE THEATRE, SEEING ALL OF THEM THEATRE, SEEING ALL OF THEM LINED UP, SIGNING THEIR AUTHOR LINED UP, SIGNING THEIR AUTHOR COPIES AND SEEING ADULTS SAY I COPIES AND SEEING ADULTS SAY I REALLY CONNECTED TO YOUR POEM, I REALLY CONNECTED TO YOUR POEM, I REALLY LIKED THE PIECE THAT YOU REALLY LIKED THE PIECE THAT YOU READ ABOUT YOUR MOM AND SEEING READ ABOUT YOUR MOM AND SEEING THE LEVEL OF PRIDE AND SELF THE LEVEL OF PRIDE AND SELF CONFIDENCE AND JUST LIKE BEAMING CONFIDENCE AND JUST LIKE BEAMING ACCOMPLISHMENT AS THEY HOLD A ACCOMPLISHMENT AS THEY HOLD A BOOK THAT THEY ARE PUBLISHED IN BOOK THAT THEY ARE PUBLISHED IN IS JUST FANTASTIC AND I CAN'T IS JUST FANTASTIC AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN IN WAIT FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN IN MAY.

MAY.

>> WE ARE SITTING HERE THINKING >> WE ARE SITTING HERE THINKING OF THREE DIFFERENT ONES WHICH OF THREE DIFFERENT ONES WHICH ONE AND FOR ME IT WAS WHEN OUR ONE AND FOR ME IT WAS WHEN OUR STUDENT AT THE 54TH STREET STUDENT AT THE 54TH STREET ACADEMY WHICH WE HAVE BEEN IN ACADEMY WHICH WE HAVE BEEN IN FOR FOUR YEARS BRIANA WAS ABLE FOR FOUR YEARS BRIANA WAS ABLE TO BE ON A STATE OF OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON A STATE OF OPPORTUNITY AND THE WIRE CAME IN AND REALLY AND THE WIRE CAME IN AND REALLY GOT STORIES FROM A BUNCH OF GOT STORIES FROM A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT STUDENTS AND HEARING DIFFERENT STUDENTS AND HEARING HER SHARE HER STORY AND TALK HER SHARE HER STORY AND TALK ABOUT THE THINGS SHE STRUGGLED ABOUT THE THINGS SHE STRUGGLED WITH AND KNOWS OTHER STUDENTS DO WITH AND KNOWS OTHER STUDENTS DO AND LIKE SEEING HER BLOSSOM FROM AND LIKE SEEING HER BLOSSOM FROM A REALLY QUIET STUDENT THAT WAS A REALLY QUIET STUDENT THAT WAS VERY TIRED IN CLASS A LOT, VERY TIRED IN CLASS A LOT, DIDN'T CONTRIBUTE TO SEE HER DIDN'T CONTRIBUTE TO SEE HER GROW AND BECOME A LEADER IN HER GROW AND BECOME A LEADER IN HER SCHOOL AND TO SHARE HER STORY ON SCHOOL AND TO SHARE HER STORY ON THE RADIO AND SHARE HER POETRY THE RADIO AND SHARE HER POETRY IT TALKED ABOUT REALLY PERSONAL IT TALKED ABOUT REALLY PERSONAL STUFF I THINK THAT REALLY FOR ME STUFF I THINK THAT REALLY FOR ME LIKE JUST WAS VERY EMOTIONAL AND LIKE JUST WAS VERY EMOTIONAL AND INSPIRING AND LIKE THIS IS WHY INSPIRING AND LIKE THIS IS WHY WE DO IT SO THAT WAS PROBABLY MY WE DO IT SO THAT WAS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE.

FAVORITE.

>> EXCELLENT OUR NEXT QUESTION >> EXCELLENT OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM ANNIE AND IF YOU COULD IS FROM ANNIE AND IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME UP.

PLEASE COME UP.

>> HI, SO THIS IS SORT OF A >> HI, SO THIS IS SORT OF A PROXY QUESTION FROM THE CYC PROXY QUESTION FROM THE CYC STUDENT BUT SOME OF OUR KIDS STUDENT BUT SOME OF OUR KIDS WERE CURIOUS HOW ALL THESE GREAT WERE CURIOUS HOW ALL THESE GREAT PROGRAMS FACILITATE PROGRAMS FACILITATE NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS IF YOU NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS IF YOU ARE HOME SCHOOLED IF YOU ARE ARE HOME SCHOOLED IF YOU ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE WITH SOME OF ABLE TO PARTICIPATE WITH SOME OF THESE GREAT PROGRAMS.

THESE GREAT PROGRAMS.

>> YES THE CYC WORKS WITH A LOT >> YES THE CYC WORKS WITH A LOT OF STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT OF STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.

BACKGROUNDS.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY QUITE A FEW I WE HAVE ACTUALLY QUITE A FEW I CAN'T SAY A NUMBER BUT QUITE A CAN'T SAY A NUMBER BUT QUITE A FEW OF OUR STUDENTS ARE HOME FEW OF OUR STUDENTS ARE HOME SCHOOLED.

SCHOOLED.

BECAUSE OUR MODEL IS PROGRAMMING BECAUSE OUR MODEL IS PROGRAMMING IS FREE FOR STUDENTS IN GRPS OR IS FREE FOR STUDENTS IN GRPS OR WHO LIVE IN GRAND RAPIDS, IT'S WHO LIVE IN GRAND RAPIDS, IT'S EASY FOR US TO ACCOMMODATE EASY FOR US TO ACCOMMODATE FAMILY WHOSE ARE HOME SCHOOLED FAMILY WHOSE ARE HOME SCHOOLED OR FAMILIES WHO MAY BE NEED SOME OR FAMILIES WHO MAY BE NEED SOME -- WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS, WE -- WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS, WE WORK WITH SOME FAMILIES WHO ARE WORK WITH SOME FAMILIES WHO ARE IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING OCCASIONALLY AND ABLE TO OFFER OCCASIONALLY AND ABLE TO OFFER TRANSPORTATION TO THEM SO YEAH.

TRANSPORTATION TO THEM SO YEAH.

I WOULD SAY FOR OUR CORE AFTER I WOULD SAY FOR OUR CORE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM IT IS FOR ALL SCHOOL PROGRAM IT IS FOR ALL STUDENTS WITHIN GRPS BUT WITHIN STUDENTS WITHIN GRPS BUT WITHIN GRPS THERE IS A LOT OF DIVERSITY GRPS THERE IS A LOT OF DIVERSITY THERE TOO SO SOCIAL ECONOMICALLY THERE TOO SO SOCIAL ECONOMICALLY AND RACIALLY AND WE HAVE EVENLY AND RACIALLY AND WE HAVE EVENLY 50% FEMALE, 50% MALE STUDENTS.

50% FEMALE, 50% MALE STUDENTS.

WE'VE GOT ALL HIGH SCHOOL WE'VE GOT ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, ALL HIGH SCHOOLS STUDENTS, ALL HIGH SCHOOLS REPRESENTED ALL GRADE LEVELS REPRESENTED ALL GRADE LEVELS REPRESENTED SO ORGANICALLY WE REPRESENTED SO ORGANICALLY WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP A PRETTY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP A PRETTY DIVERSE MIX OF STUDENTS IN OUR DIVERSE MIX OF STUDENTS IN OUR CORE PROGRAM.

CORE PROGRAM.

THIS SUMMER WE ARE DOING SOME THIS SUMMER WE ARE DOING SOME SUMMER CAMPS THAT ARE GOING TO SUMMER CAMPS THAT ARE GOING TO BE OPEN TO ANY STUDENT IN KENT BE OPEN TO ANY STUDENT IN KENT COUNTY SO THERE WILL BE MORE COUNTY SO THERE WILL BE MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE VERY INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE VERY SOON TOO BUT WE WILL BE ABLE TO SOON TOO BUT WE WILL BE ABLE TO EXTEND OUT TO OTHER GRPS AT THAT EXTEND OUT TO OTHER GRPS AT THAT TIME.

TIME.

>> FOR THE DIATRIBE AS WE >> FOR THE DIATRIBE AS WE MENTIONED WE ARE MOSTLY IN MENTIONED WE ARE MOSTLY IN SCHOOLS DOING PROGRAMMING BUT SCHOOLS DOING PROGRAMMING BUT SUMMER PROGRAMMING IS SOMETHING SUMMER PROGRAMMING IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ANY THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ANY STUDENT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER STUDENT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY ARE HOME SCHOOLED OR NOT.

THEY ARE HOME SCHOOLED OR NOT.

AND THEN EVENTUALLY AS I AND THEN EVENTUALLY AS I MENTIONED TOO ONE OF OUR MENTIONED TOO ONE OF OUR LONG-TERM GOALS IS TO HAVE A LONG-TERM GOALS IS TO HAVE A SPACE AND SO AT THAT POINT WE SPACE AND SO AT THAT POINT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT PROGRAMMING WOULD BE LOOKING AT PROGRAMMING THAT WE COULD OFFER THAT MIGHT THAT WE COULD OFFER THAT MIGHT DIFFER FROM WHAT WE ARE DOING DIFFER FROM WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT NOW.

>> SO I HAVE A QUESTION IF WE >> SO I HAVE A QUESTION IF WE CAN INTERRUPT OUR AUDIENCE, ARE CAN INTERRUPT OUR AUDIENCE, ARE YOU GUYS OKAY WITH THAT, WHAT IS YOU GUYS OKAY WITH THAT, WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR YOUR PROGRAM?

YOUR VISION FOR YOUR PROGRAM?

SO FIVE YEARS FROM NOW WHAT SO FIVE YEARS FROM NOW WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THROUGH WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THROUGH YOUR PROGRAMMING IN WEST YOUR PROGRAMMING IN WEST MICHIGAN?

MICHIGAN?

>> THE CYC THIS YEAR WE ARE IN A >> THE CYC THIS YEAR WE ARE IN A PRETTY SMALL SPACE THAT ACTUALLY PRETTY SMALL SPACE THAT ACTUALLY USED TO BE AN OLD SHOE REPAIR USED TO BE AN OLD SHOE REPAIR SHOP AND HAS THAT SORT OF LIKE SHOP AND HAS THAT SORT OF LIKE STOREFRONT LOOK.

STOREFRONT LOOK.

AND WE WERE WEIGHT LIFTED FOR AND WE WERE WEIGHT LIFTED FOR ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS THIS YEAR.

ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS THIS YEAR.

OUR SPACE MAKES IT SUCH WE CAN OUR SPACE MAKES IT SUCH WE CAN ONLY HAVE 12 STUDENTS AT A TIME.

ONLY HAVE 12 STUDENTS AT A TIME.

AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING YOU AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING YOU ARE LIMITED TO THE 4-6 WINDOW ARE LIMITED TO THE 4-6 WINDOW AND THEN IT'S DONE.

AND THEN IT'S DONE.

SO OUR GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO SO OUR GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO A BIGGER SPACE BUT TO MOVE INTO A BIGGER SPACE BUT TO ALSO STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALSO STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE ARE IN WITH THE RAPIDLY THAT WE ARE IN WITH THE RAPIDLY CHANGING BUSINESS CORRIDOR ON CHANGING BUSINESS CORRIDOR ON WEALTHY.

WEALTHY.

IT'S MAKING IT CHALLENGING IT'S MAKING IT CHALLENGING BECAUSE SMALLER BUSINESSES AND BECAUSE SMALLER BUSINESSES AND EVEN SOME FAMILIES ARE GETTING EVEN SOME FAMILIES ARE GETTING PRICED OUT OF THE AREA, WE WANT PRICED OUT OF THE AREA, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

NEIGHBORHOOD.

MOST OF OUR STUDENTS LIVE MOST OF OUR STUDENTS LIVE WALKING DISTANCE FROM THE CYC SO WALKING DISTANCE FROM THE CYC SO YEAH WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE IN A YEAH WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE IN A DIFFERENT SPACE AND BE ABLE TO DIFFERENT SPACE AND BE ABLE TO OFFER AND KEEP THE GROUPS SMALL OFFER AND KEEP THE GROUPS SMALL AND BE ABLE TO OFFER MULTIPLE AND BE ABLE TO OFFER MULTIPLE SEXES OF AFTER SCHOOL SEXES OF AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING.

PROGRAMMING.

>> I THINK FIVE YEARS FROM NOW I >> I THINK FIVE YEARS FROM NOW I HOPE THAT WE HAVE -- ARE ABLE WE HOPE THAT WE HAVE -- ARE ABLE WE WILL BE IN A NEW BUILDING WILL BE IN A NEW BUILDING ACTUALLY AND SO WE WILL BE ABLE ACTUALLY AND SO WE WILL BE ABLE TO EXPAND SOME OF OUR PROGRAM TO EXPAND SOME OF OUR PROGRAM OFFERINGS AND HAVE STUDIOS AND OFFERINGS AND HAVE STUDIOS AND HOPING MORE IN THE TECHNOLOGY HOPING MORE IN THE TECHNOLOGY REALM AND MORE IN THE STEM AND REALM AND MORE IN THE STEM AND STEAM SPACE SO SCIENCE STEAM SPACE SO SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING MATH AND TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING MATH AND ART IS THROWN IN THERE, FORGOT ART IS THROWN IN THERE, FORGOT THAT WITH THE STEAM AND IN FIVE THAT WITH THE STEAM AND IN FIVE YEARS I HOPE WE WILL HAVE MORE YEARS I HOPE WE WILL HAVE MORE OFFERINGS TO BALANCE OUT THE OFFERINGS TO BALANCE OUT THE ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY SIDE.

ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY SIDE.

>> FOR THE DIATRIBE WE ARE >> FOR THE DIATRIBE WE ARE HOPING TO FIND HAVING OUR OWN HOPING TO FIND HAVING OUR OWN SPACE SOMETHING LIKE A THEATRE SPACE SOMETHING LIKE A THEATRE HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, LOOKING AT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, LOOKING AT THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF GRAND THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF GRAND RAPIDS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A RAPIDS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A FACILITY AND HOLD THESE FACILITY AND HOLD THESE COMPETITIONS AND ALSO BE COMPETITIONS AND ALSO BE OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS TO OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS TO DIFFERENT STUDENTS.

DIFFERENT STUDENTS.

>> WE ACTUALLY HAVE A COMMENT >> WE ACTUALLY HAVE A COMMENT FROM ONE OF OUR PARTICIPANTS AND FROM ONE OF OUR PARTICIPANTS AND ALANA IF YOU CAN COME UP.

ALANA IF YOU CAN COME UP.

I CAN HOLD IT.

I CAN HOLD IT.

>> THANKS.

>> THANKS.

>> CAN YOU TELL US YOUR COMMENT.

>> CAN YOU TELL US YOUR COMMENT.

>> MY COMMENT WAS THAT EVERYBODY >> MY COMMENT WAS THAT EVERYBODY DID GREAT SHOWING THEIR ART PART DID GREAT SHOWING THEIR ART PART OF THEIR SELF AND I THOUGHT THAT OF THEIR SELF AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY GREAT.

WAS PRETTY GREAT.

>> HOW DID YOU FEEL SEEING >> HOW DID YOU FEEL SEEING YOURSELF ON THE SCREEN?

YOURSELF ON THE SCREEN?

>> I WAS AMAZED AND I THOUGHT I >> I WAS AMAZED AND I THOUGHT I DID VERY WELL AND I BET DID VERY WELL AND I BET EVERYBODY ELSE DID TOO.

EVERYBODY ELSE DID TOO.

>> WERE YOU NERVOUS WHEN WE >> WERE YOU NERVOUS WHEN WE INVITED YOU TO COME UP AND DO INVITED YOU TO COME UP AND DO THIS?

THIS?

>> NO.

>> NO.

>> NO?

>> NO?

WOW, YOU WOULD DEFINITELY BE A WOW, YOU WOULD DEFINITELY BE A PERFORMER.

PERFORMER.

RIGHT NOW I'M NERVOUS JUST RIGHT NOW I'M NERVOUS JUST TALKING TO YOU.

TALKING TO YOU.

YOU ARE A FOOT SHORTER THAN ME.

YOU ARE A FOOT SHORTER THAN ME.

SO WHAT IS IT THAT IS EXCITING SO WHAT IS IT THAT IS EXCITING OR CALMING OR WHAT IS IT YOU OR CALMING OR WHAT IS IT YOU ENJOY?

ENJOY?

>> I PERFORM A LOT SO I'M USED >> I PERFORM A LOT SO I'M USED TO IT.

TO IT.

>> THAT IS FANTASTIC, FOLKS.

>> THAT IS FANTASTIC, FOLKS.

ALL RIGHT, HOW DO YOU NURTURE ALL RIGHT, HOW DO YOU NURTURE THAT?

THAT?

>> ALANA CAME TO US A TRUE >> ALANA CAME TO US A TRUE PERFORMER ALREADY LIKEWISE FOR PERFORMER ALREADY LIKEWISE FOR HER YOUNGER SISTER WHO IS AT THE HER YOUNGER SISTER WHO IS AT THE CYC BUT ONE OF THE REALLY COOL CYC BUT ONE OF THE REALLY COOL THINGS THAT GROUP OF MIDDLE THINGS THAT GROUP OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WE WERE ABLE TO SCHOOL STUDENTS WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS YEAR I MENTIONED BEFORE DO THIS YEAR I MENTIONED BEFORE WE PARTNERED WITH THE TRANS WE PARTNERED WITH THE TRANS MUSIC ACADEMY, WE ACTUALLY HAD A MUSIC ACADEMY, WE ACTUALLY HAD A SHOW WHERE THE MUSIC ACADEMY SHOW WHERE THE MUSIC ACADEMY STUDENTS PERFORMED THEIR MUSIC STUDENTS PERFORMED THEIR MUSIC AND OUR STUDENTS PERFORMED THEIR AND OUR STUDENTS PERFORMED THEIR POEMS AND WE WROTE BEFORE THE POEMS AND WE WROTE BEFORE THE SHOW ABOUT OUR FEELINGS AND SO I SHOW ABOUT OUR FEELINGS AND SO I READ IN EVERYBODY'S JOURNAL AND READ IN EVERYBODY'S JOURNAL AND I WOULD SAY ALANA WAS LIKE YES I WOULD SAY ALANA WAS LIKE YES PERFORMING AND A LOT OF THE PERFORMING AND A LOT OF THE OTHER STUDENTS WERE REALLY, OTHER STUDENTS WERE REALLY, REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT GETTING UP REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT GETTING UP IN FRONT OF PEOPLE WITH THE CYC IN FRONT OF PEOPLE WITH THE CYC YOU KNOW YOU WILL BE WRITING AND YOU KNOW YOU WILL BE WRITING AND ASKED TO PERFORM AND ONE OF THE ASKED TO PERFORM AND ONE OF THE REALLY COOL THINGS IS THAT REALLY COOL THINGS IS THAT AFTERWARDS SORRY GUYS I'M AFTERWARDS SORRY GUYS I'M TELLING WHAT WAS IN YOUR TELLING WHAT WAS IN YOUR JOURNALS, AFTERWARDS WHEN I WAS JOURNALS, AFTERWARDS WHEN I WAS READING WE DID DEBRIEFING ABOUT READING WE DID DEBRIEFING ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE SO MANY OF THEM THE PERFORMANCE SO MANY OF THEM WROTE THAT THEY FELT SO MUCH WROTE THAT THEY FELT SO MUCH MORE CONFIDENT STANDING IN FRONT MORE CONFIDENT STANDING IN FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY REALIZED THEY WROTE SOMETHING REALIZED THEY WROTE SOMETHING VERY MAGNIFICENT THAT PEOPLE VERY MAGNIFICENT THAT PEOPLE CONNECTED TO AND ACTUALLY THEY CONNECTED TO AND ACTUALLY THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO A PERFORMANCE WOULD LIKE TO DO A PERFORMANCE AGAIN AND SO I THINK WE AGAIN AND SO I THINK WE ACCOMPLISHED THAT WITH THE ACCOMPLISHED THAT WITH THE READING TOO AND THAT IS THE READING TOO AND THAT IS THE SECOND SLIDE AND DOING CREATIVE SECOND SLIDE AND DOING CREATIVE WRITING BUT THE SECOND SIDE IS WRITING BUT THE SECOND SIDE IS THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL GROWTH AND THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL GROWTH AND SELF CONFIDENCE WHERE YOU SELF CONFIDENCE WHERE YOU REALIZE OH, MY GOSH NOT ONLY DID REALIZE OH, MY GOSH NOT ONLY DID I WRITE SOMETHING COOL BUT I I WRITE SOMETHING COOL BUT I FEEL CONFIDENCE BEING ABLE TO FEEL CONFIDENCE BEING ABLE TO SHARE IT AND NOT ONLY DO I WANT SHARE IT AND NOT ONLY DO I WANT TO SHARE IT LIKE I'M GOING TO TO SHARE IT LIKE I'M GOING TO TAKE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO IT TAKE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO IT AGAIN.

AGAIN.

>> I'M GOING TO KEEP PICKING ON >> I'M GOING TO KEEP PICKING ON OUR PERFORMERS BECAUSE I HAVE OUR PERFORMERS BECAUSE I HAVE THE STAGE, PERFORMING, YOU ALSO THE STAGE, PERFORMING, YOU ALSO GET UP THERE AND SING AND YOU GET UP THERE AND SING AND YOU SING ACAPELLA THAT IS HARD TO SING ACAPELLA THAT IS HARD TO DO.

DO.

>> I SING ACAPELLA A LOT AND THE >> I SING ACAPELLA A LOT AND THE THIRD TIME I HAVE DONE IT IN THIRD TIME I HAVE DONE IT IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.

FRONT OF PEOPLE.

I DID IT WITH OUR 8TH GRADE I DID IT WITH OUR 8TH GRADE CEREMONY, I DID IT THEN AND I CEREMONY, I DID IT THEN AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO IT WITH A WAS SUPPOSED TO DO IT WITH A GROUP BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO GROUP BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT SO I WENT UP BY MYSELF AND IT SO I WENT UP BY MYSELF AND LIKE OKAY.

LIKE OKAY.

>> SO YOU ENJOY IT TOO?

>> SO YOU ENJOY IT TOO?

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

>> OH, BOY.

>> OH, BOY.

AND WE HAVE ONE MORE PERFORMER AND WE HAVE ONE MORE PERFORMER HERE AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HERE AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK YOU TO COME UP BECAUSE ASK YOU TO COME UP BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT AS CLOSE.

YOU'RE NOT AS CLOSE.

SO YOU SHOULD REALLY BE PERSONAL SO YOU SHOULD REALLY BE PERSONAL FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, THAT IS A FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, THAT IS A HORRIBLE LABEL, TRAILER TRASH.

HORRIBLE LABEL, TRAILER TRASH.

AND YOU JUST WENT OUT THERE, DID AND YOU JUST WENT OUT THERE, DID YOU TELL YOUR MOM OR DID YOU YOU TELL YOUR MOM OR DID YOU SPRING THAT ON HER?

SPRING THAT ON HER?

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SHE >> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SHE HEARD IT SO I KIND OF SPRUNG IT HEARD IT SO I KIND OF SPRUNG IT ON HER.

ON HER.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO HOW DID YOU >> ALL RIGHT, SO HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO WRITE IT?

DECIDE TO WRITE IT?

>> I DIDN'T.

>> I DIDN'T.

IT JUST KIND OF HAPPENED, BUT I IT JUST KIND OF HAPPENED, BUT I GUESS LIKE FOR A WHILE IT WAS GUESS LIKE FOR A WHILE IT WAS JUST SOMETHING I WAS ASHAMED JUST SOMETHING I WAS ASHAMED ABOUT AND EVERYBODY KEPT TELLING ABOUT AND EVERYBODY KEPT TELLING ME TO STOP BEING ASHAMED ABOUT ME TO STOP BEING ASHAMED ABOUT IT AND I DECIDED TO STOP BEING IT AND I DECIDED TO STOP BEING ASHAMED ABOUT IT BY WRITING ASHAMED ABOUT IT BY WRITING ABOUT IT.

ABOUT IT.

>> I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO STAY >> I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO STAY UP HERE AND IT'S INCREDIBLE TO UP HERE AND IT'S INCREDIBLE TO SEE THE TALENT WE HAVE IN GRAND SEE THE TALENT WE HAVE IN GRAND RAPIDS AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THERE RAPIDS AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THERE IS PEOPLE THAT FOSTER THIS IS PEOPLE THAT FOSTER THIS TALENT, THAT SUPPORT THIS TALENT TALENT, THAT SUPPORT THIS TALENT AND TO HELP US BRING UP A NEW AND TO HELP US BRING UP A NEW CROP OF ARTIST IN GRAND RAPIDS CROP OF ARTIST IN GRAND RAPIDS BUT WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME FOR BUT WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME FOR TONIGHT AND WE WILL HAVE MORE TONIGHT AND WE WILL HAVE MORE FOR YOU NEXT MONTH DURING FOR YOU NEXT MONTH DURING MUTUALLY INCLUSIVE AND INVITE MUTUALLY INCLUSIVE AND INVITE THE ARTISTS AND INSTRUCTORS AND THE ARTISTS AND INSTRUCTORS AND THANK YOU I'M MARIANO AVILA AND THANK YOU I'M MARIANO AVILA AND THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY FUN TOPIC THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY FUN TOPIC TO TALK ABOUT.

TO TALK ABOUT.

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] SUPPORT FOR MUTUALLY INCLUSIVE SUPPORT FOR MUTUALLY INCLUSIVE COMES FROM WK KELLOGG FOUNDATION COMES FROM WK KELLOGG FOUNDATION PARTNER WITH COMMUNITIES WHERE PARTNER WITH COMMUNITIES WHERE CHILDREN COME FIRST.

CHILDREN COME FIRST.

IF YOU WANT TO JOIN THE IF YOU WANT TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION FOLLOW WGVU ON CONVERSATION FOLLOW WGVU ON FACEBOOK ON TWITTER WGVU PUBLIC FACEBOOK ON TWITTER WGVU PUBLIC MEDIA USE #MUTUALLY INCLUSIVE OR MEDIA USE #MUTUALLY INCLUSIVE OR I AM WGVU.

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♪ ♪ WELCOME BACK.

WELCOME BACK.

TO THE GRAND RAPIDS SPORTS RIGHT TO THE GRAND RAPIDS SPORTS RIGHT I'M YOUR HOST DJ FOSTER FROM I'M YOUR HOST DJ FOSTER FROM GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNICATIONS GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNICATIONS KERRY BECKER WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME KERRY BECKER WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM THE WINTER ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM THE WINTER SEASON AND PREVIEW THE SPRING SEASON AND PREVIEW THE SPRING SEASON AND ALINKSHA WILL BE HERE