Photo credit to: Josh Vazquez
The Summer Sensation concert started as collaboration between
sixteen youth from different Building Health Communities (BHC) organizations.
When this group first started meeting they were not planning to host a concert.
The objective was to try and work together to recruit youth to BHC. Then,
Barbara from KidWorks told the youth, “I have money for a big event so, think
big!” It did not take long, the youth decided to have a concert.
They did not
want to simply have fun and leave without learning something new. So, it was soon decided that the event would be both a concert and a resource fair.
Soon they started to meet every two weeks to plan the event. The
first obstacle was finding a location. They thought about Fourth Street Plaza.
One day they went to speak to the local business and ask for permission to use
the plaza for a concert. Luckily, one of the mangers of the Yost Theater
permitted the youth to use the venue.
The youth were split into different committees with specific jobs
for the concert, such as: food, entertainment, volunteers, and setup. While
working together as one big group.
Over five hundred people went to the event. The entertainment was
fantastic: youth from all over Santa Ana demonstrated their talent. The resource
fair had about 20 organizations giving out information. There was a free photo
booth, haircutting station, and food for event participants. The Grain Project
also had a place for youth to do art work! The event was fun and
successful. The youth are
currently meeting to debrief and plan future events.
- Jesus Gutierrez
sixteen youth from different Building Health Communities (BHC) organizations.
When this group first started meeting they were not planning to host a concert.
The objective was to try and work together to recruit youth to BHC. Then,
Barbara from KidWorks told the youth, “I have money for a big event so, think
big!” It did not take long, the youth decided to have a concert.
They did not
want to simply have fun and leave without learning something new. So, it was soon decided that the event would be both a concert and a resource fair.
Soon they started to meet every two weeks to plan the event. The
first obstacle was finding a location. They thought about Fourth Street Plaza.
One day they went to speak to the local business and ask for permission to use
the plaza for a concert. Luckily, one of the mangers of the Yost Theater
permitted the youth to use the venue.
The youth were split into different committees with specific jobs
for the concert, such as: food, entertainment, volunteers, and setup. While
working together as one big group.
Over five hundred people went to the event. The entertainment was
fantastic: youth from all over Santa Ana demonstrated their talent. The resource
fair had about 20 organizations giving out information. There was a free photo
booth, haircutting station, and food for event participants. The Grain Project
also had a place for youth to do art work! The event was fun and
successful. The youth are
currently meeting to debrief and plan future events.
- Jesus Gutierrez