Michael Croffet, Elijah Cooper, and Brandon Black perform an original scene titled “A Eulogy from Memory.”
Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Chicago Urban League kick off the seventh year of their transformative partnership program, EmpowerYouth! Igniting Creativity through the Arts. This long-standing collaboration offers Chicago’s youth a unique opportunity to explore the world of the performing arts while creating their own new work that reflects the vibrancy of their lived experience.
EmpowerYouth! is a year-long initiative that actively engages 30 Black teen students from Chicago. The core mission is to amplify the voices of these students by empowering them to share their unique stories through various art forms.
Participants meet weekly with seasoned professionals specializing in acting, composition, vocal training, dance, and creative writing. Throughout this immersive experience, students will collaborate closely with each other, culminating in the creation and performance of an original stage production. This year, for the first time, the students’ new work will be presented at Kennedy-King College, showcasing the students’ creativity and encompassing elements like music, poetry, acting, and dance.
“Lyric Opera of Chicago — through Lyric Unlimited — our learning and creative engagement initiative, really values our years of partnership with the Chicago Urban League,” says Lyrics General Director, President & CEO Anthony Freud. “Together, we are able to encourage our young participants to explore their own voices, power, and passions.”
“Our partnership with Lyric Opera of Chicago provides an opportunity for youth to hone their artistic and creative abilities and to expose some of them to opera for the first time,” adds Karen Freeman-Wilson, President & CEO of the Chicago Urban League. “We are excited to select and welcome this talented group of teens for another year of this powerful program.”
The EmpowerYouth! application process begins with the Chicago Urban League conducting program outreach with partner schools. Interested individuals receive an application collecting their experiences, strengths, and areas for improvement, and answer a short essay question to learn more about their perspective on empowerment and the arts. Then, the Chicago Urban League, with guidance from Lyric, selects up to 30 participants for the program.
Guiding the students throughout the program are Mari DeOleo as program facilitator, with Mbali Guliwe, Tanji Harper, and Shawn Wallace returning as artist mentors.
In addition to the intensive weekly sessions hosted at the Chicago Urban League, EmpowerYouth! participants will embark on field trips, including attending a mainstage performance at Lyric, to deepen their exposure to all sides of the performing arts in Chicago.
