My History, My Power, My Legacy

My History, My Power, My Legacy

Location: Lehman College Studio Theater, Speech and Theatre Building basement

Date:  Saturday, June 4, 2022

Times: 3pm matinee & 7pm

RSVP: Tickets are available here free of charge 

For more ticket information: 718-652-6256 or info@mind-builders.org

*Proof of full vaccination is required by Lehman College and audience masks are required.

Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center’s groundbreaking theater ensemble program, Positive Youth Troupe (PYT), is pleased to announce My History, My Power, My Legacy, a multimedia performance, where we will experience young people giving voice to their hopes and dreams while celebrating their culture, the power of  love, and the need for expression. It will include excerpts from writers' work they have studied this year from different genres, including Sonia Sanchez, August Wilson and Langston Hughes. They have been working all year together on this project, which will give audiences the spiritual uplift of witnessing young people giving voice to their hopes, dreams, and beliefs. 

PYT helps teens learn to use their bodies, voices, and creative imaginations as powerful tools for change. The goal of the program, which has served as a national model is to provide opportunities for teens and young adults to gain a broader understanding of aspects of theater production and performance while gaining life skills around comportment, discipline, teamwork, and expression that will serve them long into the future. 

Under the leadership of Hilda Willis – producer, director, artist  – provided the PYT ensemble the opportunity to work with someone directly connected to the arts and entertainment industry. They also participated a Professional Industry Series, launched this year, which featured three successful PYT company alumni, Alimi Ballard, Shonnese C.L.Coleman and Gilbert Glen Brown, one former PYT guest performing artists, Shiek Mahmud-Bey, Ankh Ra Amenhetep (former PYT Musical Director/Vocal Coach), Ajani Carr, Aaron Patterson and Traci Tolmaire. Over the course of seven sessions, students got to hear about their inspiring experience and ask questions in a safe environment. We also expanded PYT’s intensive training components with special movement and vocal training workshops, and a session on acting for the camera. 

A special alumni company performance will take place July 24 at Mind-Builders. The PYT Ensemble will be reunited with many of those that have come before them. They will have an opportunity to perform with artists whose training began right here at Mind-Builders and for some who had their first professional opportunity from performing with PYT.

ABOUT MIND-BUILDERS
Established in 1978, Mind-Builders is a pioneering nonprofit founded by educator and scholar Madaha Kinsey-Lamb to bring arts instruction and education to the Northeast Bronx, inspiring the growth of generations of local youth and families through high-quality arts programming. Mind-Builders brings together best practices in arts education, youth development, and community engagement in the belief that a healthy community is a vital ingredient for healthy development. The Dance Ensemble includes all dance forms and is open to new members by audition. The Music Ensemble is an intergenerational group of musicians, selected by audition. Both groups perform across NYC. The Positive Youth Troupe theater (PYT) has been training NYC youth in the performing arts for over 40 years. Program alumni include: Alimi Ballard, Gilbert Glenn Brown, Ayodele Casel, Charles Malik Whitfield, and Victoria Gabrielle Platt, among others.