| WATOTOFEST
2008
Founded in 2005, WatotoFest is an annual youth celebration
of African and African American culture through
song and dance. This event offers an opportunity
for youth of other cultures throughout the Memphis
community to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding
of the African American cultural experience. For
the African American youth who participate, WatotoFest
offers a time of positive reflection on the challenges,
struggles and accomplishments of their ancestors.
Our theme, “The Power to Achieve”, has
been chosen to inspire these youth to have hope
for the future as they strive to achieve academically
and socially. And finally to develop an attitude
of responsibility to those who have made sacrifices,
some unto death, in the struggle for civil rights
and equality so that they may have the opportunities
they have today.
The
WatotoFest event is proud to have as its primary
sponsor the Cummins Foundation and Cummins Mid-South.
During this annual summer celebration, the focus
is not only on the accomplishments of the past but
on the present accomplishments of our students in
the areas of good behavior, academic performance
and community involvement throughout the school
year. We are celebrating 20 years of serving the
youth ages 5 - 18 of the Memphis community. In that
time over 3,000 children have had their lives positively
impacted by the Watoto program. In all that time
there has been not one arrest or pregnancy and all
its students have gone to college or some other
post graduate study. With all four of our 2008 high
school seniors graduating with honors and receiving
scholarships to universities of their choice and
with two of those students scoring 30 on their ACT
test, we truly have a reason to CELEBRATE.
This
year, Dan Zanes of Playhouse Disney will be our
special guest. Dan Zanes (two time Grammy Award
winner for his work in children’s music) will
announce his support of the Watoto program during
a concert in his honor Saturday, July 19, 2008 at
4pm at the Germantown Performing Arts Center. The
show is entitled “Welcome to Zanesville”
featuring Watoto De Afrika. The WatotoFest 2008
events calendar is as follows:
·
Thursday, July 17, 2008, 6:30pm: Opening Ceremonies,
Wooddale Middle School
· Friday, July 18, 2008, 5pm: Concert at
Ronald McDonald House featuring Watoto De Afrika
with guest appearance by Dan Zanes.
· Saturday, July 19, 2008, two shows 1pm
& 4pm, “ Welcome to Zanesville”
at the Germantown performing Arts center
WatotoFest
is hosted by the Memphis Cultural Arts Enrichment
Center (501c3) and it’s Watoto De Afrika Youth
Performing Arts Program. Our mission statement reads
as follows: Using the performing arts and creative
writing to enhance the academic and social skills
of African American youth in an effort to nurture
and develop their full potential as productive citizens.
Other event sponsors include: International Paper
and Arts Memphis along with the parents and friends
of the Watoto program.
Visit our website at www.watotofest.com or call
Gwen Jefferson, Program Director at 901 - 503-7535
for more information.
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