YESSS Presents … "Rayscene from the Streets" on June 7

Local youth have spent the past six months organizing a day long event that will feature the artistic talents of high school students in Racine Unified School District. The youth are hoping to bring a large audience to this event that will be held June 7 at the Gateway Students Lounge from 11-3pm. Prizes will be awarded to the best talent in each category.

Talented teens who want to compete can pick up an application and reserve an audition slot in the main office of their school starting March 31st. Other interested participants can sign up to perform on the day of the event between 11 and 11:30, at which point they can reserve a last-minute audition time. Slots for performers will be reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis, and there may not be time for everyone. RUSD students who are interested in competing should sign up as early as possible. Their performance should also run no longer than five minutes.

Because the event is being put on as an incentive for students to avoid truancy, performers with the best attendance during the fourth quarter will be put in a drawing to win an additional prize. In addition, the event will promote literacy, public speaking skills, organizational skills, and the opportunity to bring youth from all backgrounds together.

The planning committee for this event comprises a number of youth from various RUSD high schools, who have split themselves into sub-committees to handle various tasks, such as fundraising, promotions, and the day of the event, to get this event up and running. They hope to start planning for this event much earlier next year so it can become even bigger and better, and they believe this event will provide a great opportunity for the youth of Racine to do something positive for their community.

YESSS (Young Entertainers Supporting Staying in School) would like to thank their sponsors and partners, who include Racine County Truancy Committee, the Racine Arts Council, the Racine Public Library, the City’s Weed ‘n’ Seed Program and Safe Neighborhood Alliance, Gateway Technical College and Zeta Sigma Chi Multicultural Sorority Inc. (Mu Associate Chapter, UW-Parkside).

The youth who are spearheading this project would like to encourage any businesses who are interested in making a tax-deductible donation of gift certificates or merchandise as prizes for winners to contact the prize committee’s chair Stephanie Howard at 619-4615. Community service and educational organizations who would like to promote themselves at this event are also invited to reserve booth space for just $10 a table.

Youth from the Racine Community who would like to joining the committee next year or participating in the talent show can contact Nicholas Ravnikar by email at film.seed@gmail.com.