The Annual “Feel Good” Event is Great

The subject of this column and my delight and admiration for the organization are both the same: AHA! Exactly the kind of nonprofit organization needed in our community to foster the creative arts in young people in an era of lightning speed technology! AHA! is designed to promote self-awareness and creative expression through a variety of programs, with the added benefit of learning to embrace collaboration and connection as the backbone of creativity. Creative outlets such as theater, writing, visual art and music are offered with the intention of overcoming inhibitions, developing social-emotional skills and finding a voice of one’s own.

This year I was fortunate enough to occupy a seat in the Lobero Theatre for ‘Sing It Out’ one of AHA!’s most exciting and visible programs. From my second-row seat (almost) front and center, my hands were red from clapping in appreciation for an awesome evening of solo vocal performances by 11 teens for the culmination of their 12 week program. The Sing It Out program is a unique journey of self-actualization, resiliency, relationship building, and artistic expression. With facilitators and music mentors, teens navigate an individual and shared journey of claiming their voices and identities. This once-a-year performance is their time to actually Sing It Out in mastery of one solo cover song – and group performances – backed by a live rock band on the historic Lobero Theatre stage. This spectacular event, which has been called “the feel-good event of the year,” gives the young performers a once-in-a-lifetime rock-star moment in front of a packed and loving house of cheering fans.

The space here is too limited to pile heaps of praise on each of the teen stars, their selections, and the weeks of collaboration and sharing that went into the songs they selected. I do know that each song was of personal significance and communicated important parts of who they were to the audience… the very point of singing it out! Every single performance brought those of us in the audience closer to the young person who performed, and each received nothing less than an appreciative standing ovation! The second to the last singer, a young woman named Sabrina radiating moxie in her stunning white dress, had the audience up after the first notes with her rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.” Before we could sit down, the final soloist, a young man named Hector, banished any thought of ever returning to our seats! His rousing rendition of ‘La Bamba” blew the roof off the Lobero as he paraded across the stage, mike in hand, sharing his energy and joy. So… what else could we do but sing along? Hector concluded his number by leaping over the footlights to deliver a present to his girlfriend (sitting right next to me in the second row no less!) and sprang back to the boards bringing down the house. To tell you the truth this show was an Experience… and wadda night!

A week later I attended Sing It Out’s graduation ceremony honoring the high school seniors and performers in the Sing It Out program: Victoria Corrales, Mariangelica Duque, Julian Hayes Hannah Hosea, Allison Linares, Abigail Lopez, Saraphina Oster, Hector Sanchez, Sabrina Toye, Kristian Vazquez, Rocio Vejar minus a few who were unable to attend. The emcee, and Director of Programs, Brandon Battle, welcomed the crowd and introduced Roxana Petty, AHA!’s executive director. “I am honored to stand before you tonight. Even more personally, I am a proud mom to one of our incredible graduates, Sienna. Each of you, our AHA! seniors, have spent your time here learning, growing, and shaping the future we so desperately need.” Petty lauded the teen performers’ ability to embrace leadership, kindness and equity to build a community where people show up for one another, lift each other up, and create lasting bonds of friendship and support. As each senior was invited to the podium to be acknowledged for their individual contribution, she concluded. “Today, we honor the challenges you have overcome, the hard work you have poured into every moment, and the unwavering spirit that has carried you forward. Congratulations, AHA! seniors. You inspire us all, and we celebrate you today and always.”

AHA! offers eight programs to serve middle school, junior high, and high school students, parents/guardians/adults, educators, and the broader community. Participants in the programs forge rewarding and supportive relationships while developing social-emotional knowledge and skills in keeping with AHA!’s mission. High school students earn community service hours toward graduation or monetary stipends, reflecting the value of social-emotional skill building in preparing them for college and work. Most out-of-school programming is funded by donations and the generosity of the community. In-school programs are funded largely through grants, donations, and fundraising events. For more information visit www.ahasb.org.