![]() by: Nikhila Viswanathan Our 2015 Matthew Stuski Scholarship recipients Faith Jones Jackson, Ming Jiang, and Nikhila Viswanathan, are back in Philly from a week long leadership conference (LEAP) in Los Angeles. We checked in with Nikki to hear about her experience and this is what he had to say...! Our journey began in Philadelphia airport where Ming, Faith, and I checked our bags in and received our tickets to Los Angeles! After a long trip, we were greeted by leap coaches who helped us with our luggage. As we waited for more Leapers in our van to UCLA, the coaches introduced themselves and started dancing to songs in the radio! It was at this moment I thought : "Wow! We already started a dance party as soon as we landed! I can't wait to see what's in store for us on campus!" It was only after the week ended that I realized that I would have new reasons to smile each day: 1. My Group After a great opening ceremony, we split into groups. When I introduced myself, I was timid and spoke softly. My coach, Alex, asked me to speak up and I was worried that the people in my group would judge me for being timid. But I was wrong. Throughout the week, everyone in my group became so close. We all had different traits that set us apart, but made us a great team when we were put together. We had pageant title holders, a chef, an African scholar, a returning leaper, an intelligent scholar, a silly Australian, and a panda lover (ME!). Throughout the week we had each other's backs and always found reasons to smile. My coach Alex selected me as the "BIGGESTleaper" from my group because she saw how invested I was in our group and how much spirit I had. It was my honor to make my group members smile and laugh that week but honestly- they in turn had done something for me: Noelle, John, Auna, Lora, Linda, David, and Alex all gave me a reason to smile!
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![]() Our First Bilingual Blog Post for Our First Bilingual Workshops Nuestro Primer Aporte de Blog Bilingüe Para Nuestros Primeros Talleres Bilingües By: Sarah Stearns Acabo de concluir una serie de talleres en la dramaturgia bilingüe con Mighty Writers El Futuro, un nuevo sitio bilingüe en el Italian Market. Traje actores profesionales a la fin-de-año celebración de Mighty Writers donde dieron vida a un grupo de monólogos locos, chiflados, y chistosos con compromiso admirable. Mirar las caras de los estudiantes cuando se presentaban sus obras fue precioso. La mayoría de los estudiantes querrían compartir sus obras anónimamente, un deseo que no es raro para artistas jóvenes compartiendo sus obras públicamente por primera vez en nuestras programas. Habían muchas risitas nerviosas y sonrisas pequeñas de orgullo que mostraban la alegría que los estudiantes tenían en expresarse. ![]() Each year, Young Playwrights send selected students to a week long leadership conference at UCLA in partnership with The LEAP Foundation, Inc. The conference is designed to teach leadership skills to participating students, aged 15 to 24, in small groups under the guidance of the conference faculty and individual coaches - whereby they will develop fundamental tools that are integral to creating success in their life. This year our Matthew Stuski Scholarship recipients are three current and former PYP Youth Council members: Faith Jones Jackson, Nikhila Viswanathan, and Ming Jiang. One of the components of the conference requires attendees to write a speech that they will deliver in front of an audience. This frightened one of our scholars to the point where he was about to reject the scholarship offer. Meet Ming. A 2015 Young Voices Monologue Festival winning playwright (Who Are You) and recent Chinese immigrant who sought the assistance of PYP staff members to cultivate his speech delivery skills. After rehearsing for three weeks, Ming found his confidence and perseverance to deliver his speech in front of small audience here in our new office. READ MORE for Ming's motivational speech and be sure to check our blog page for updates on LEAP 2015! ![]() Youth Council Member and Student Playwright Angela Antoinette Bey won the National Constitution Center's first ever Founding Freedoms Essay & Playwriting Contest, sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation. Angela and the cast are pictured to the left on opening night! Her four actor play imagines how Mrs. Elizabeth Willing Powel and the citizens of Philadelphia reacted to Benjamin Franklin’s advice that “you” the citizen is ultimately responsible for upholding the principles of the new government. This play was directed by PYP Resident Director, David O'Connor. Listen to her interview on KYW, below, then check out Angela's play at the National Constitution Center throughout July 2015! Call for showtimes - 215.409.6600 |
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