On June 9^th at EMU’s Roosevelt Auditorium, Ypsilanti Youth Empowered to Act (YYEA), in partnership with Eastern Michigan University, the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, Ypsilanti Public Schools and Willow Run Community Schools, sponsored its first annual Ypsilanti Youth Area Talent Showcase entitled “That’s Wassup!” The show was FREE to the public as was hosted by MC Keith Jason and the DJ Cataclysmic.

The two hour event that began at 7:30 drew a crowd of 200 young people from the Ypsilanti and Detroit area. KCP… Although not a full house, the event was very successful in the eyes of the YYEA board as it achieved the mission of bringing together young people and adults throughout the Ypsilanti community to partake in a youth-driven talent showcase and partake in the talents of youth from community. Some of the highlights of the event were the raffles prizes that were given out during intermission, where the MC, Keith Jason, encouraged some of the youth audience members to join him on stage and dance. Two I-Pods and five gifts certificates to Briarwood and Circuit City were raffled to a very excited audience.

The youth talent of the show included young people from all the three
area high schools and even one middle school student.  Special thanks
to Joel Donelan, Jasmine Cooper, Junice Ransome, Jessica Covington,
Leeann Wiltshire, Ace Squad, Meghan Carey, Marquasha Dottery, Marcel
Price, Marissa Harding, BMC, Scottie G. and Sparticus for participating in the show.

The show wrapped up with a special presentation of Mini-grant awards to YYEA 2006 Mini-grant applicants for the third cycle of funding. Special congratulations to:

Changing Today for the Youth of Tomorrow (CTYT): “Making an Impact”

They are recipients of a $1,250 mini-grant, which will give teens in foster care the opportunity to engage in community service projects and educate people in power and the community wide about the issue of foster care in the Ypsilanti area.

Harriet Street Center/Sisters: “The Down Low on Education”

They are recipients of a $1,500 mini-grant, which will address the issue of the increasing number of referrals, detentions and suspensions of students at Ypsilanti High School and will gather information and give feedback to what is really happening in the Ypsilanti School District. The focus will be on Ypsilanti High School’s teachers, administrators and students and what all groups feel are the issues within the high school.

West Middle School: “West National Junior Honor Society Keeping It Clean and Safe”

They are recipients of a $950 mini-grant. This funding will go towards the cost of purchasing a defibrillator and to educate the school staff and students on the importance of a defibrillator and how to use one.

The Corner Health Center: “The Corner Health Center Theatre Troupe”

They are recipients of a $1,500 mini-grant. The Corner Health Center Theatre Troupe is a peer education program involving an after-school program for teenagers interested in acting. The theatre troupe performs about 35 shows a year and conducts 70 workshops a year as well.

United Peoples (UP): “Youth With Purpose”

They are recipients of a $2,000 mini-grant, which is aimed towards organizing the youth of Ypsilanti and becoming a “spark” to ignite the fire of youth activism in the community. Two separate public forums will be held for young people to share ideas, hear speakers, learn of local causes that need support and find out how they can get involved.

Washtenaw Area Teens for Tomorrow (WATT)/Teen Center Without Walls (TCW2) and Ozone House: “Back to School Block Party”

They are recipients of a $3,000 mini-grant. The mini-grant is for a “Back to School Block Party and Arts in the Park” in the amount of $3000. This project will bring together two organizations to plan out and facilitate a barbeque like event where young people will be able to have fun, meet youth from throughout the Ypsilanti area and learn about things to do in Ypsilanti.

Burning Bush Youth Department for “Praise in the Park.”

They are recipients of a $1,500 mini-grant. The mini-grant is for a community oriented event to provide a positive outlet for youth in the Ypsilanti community with a wide variety of youth activities, food, helpful information about health issues, and give youth the opportunity to get together and have fun.

Some of YYEA’s next projects include a video documentary featuring four Ypsilanti youth as they document and trace their involvement in their community and what youth voice and engagement means to them. YYEA will also be conducting a county-wide Community YouthMapping project in partnership with EMU, Washtenaw County MSU Extension 4-H Development and the Judson Center. 77 youth and adults will together map the county in search of available resources and opportunities for Washtenaw County youth for inclusion into a searchable database.

YYEA Board members are excited and energized to continue granting and producing these wonderful projects and initiatives in the Ypsilanti community. It is our hope that this summer breeds more opportunities for Ypsilanti Youth.