Youth development organization looks to showcase the city’s brightest young stars

18th June 2012   ·   0 Comments

By Kelly Parker
Contributing Writer

Despite the bleak headlines concerning our youth, advocate Kim­berly Dilosa believes there are more than tragic stories to report concerning this city’s young people.

Dilosa, executive director of local teen mentoring and prevention/leadership development or­gani­zation, YOUTHanisia, doesn’t just talk the talk; her plan of action to help eradicate the on-going (youth-related) violence in our city is quite simple: Refocus-and direct the spotlight to the city’s shining stars. “When you focus on the positive, the results are positive.” she states.

“Talented YOUTHFest 2012 is the first event of the “EVERY kid is a SUPERSTAR- POSITIVE YOUTH NEWS IN GNO” Campaign.” Dilosa adds. “It’s time to reverse the negative energy, and set the community atmosphere for positive results among our youth.”

The event; presented by the YOUTHanasia Foundation and The Teen Dynasty, is being held in partnership with the 2012 ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) Youth Gathering and Oakwood Center, along with many other community partners.

Auditions will be held Saturday, June 23, 2012, at New Orleans Crescent City Grill, 1673 Barataria Blvd; in Marrero, from noon to 5 pm.

Talented youth, ages 9-18, are invited to audition to perform at Talented YOUTHFest 2012 which takes place on Saturday, July 21 at Oakwood Center. Those chosen to participate will demonstrate their talents in front of panels of entertainment industry experts. Chosen participants will go on to perform at the 2012 P.U.R.P.O.S.E. Youth Explosion, slated for July 28th. Dilosa encourages area dancers, singers, rappers, musicians, poets, actors and actresses to try-out.

Several entertainment experts from local acting schools, local production and casting companies, and entertainment media outlets like Offbeat Magazine will be on hand to assess the performances.

“Greater New Orleans seems to be held captive by the fear generated by nightly reports of negative youth news in our community,” Dilosa told The Louisiana Weekly. “However, the positive kids in Greater New Orleans outnumber the negative kids 100 to 1. The local media continues to make negative kids superstars in our community, when in fact, the positive kids are the kids who deserve the spotlight.”

One in particular, has blossomed right in front of Dilosa’s eyes. Local singer Kourtney Heart was a shy 11-year-old when Dilosa first met her.

“I was introduced to her (by another YOUTHanasia member) and I had to beg her to sing. When I finally got her to sing, she sang Keyshia’s Cole ‘Love’ better than Keyshia Cole! The rest is history. Kourtney developed into our resident songstress, expressing youth opinion of many community problems through song. The more Kourtney performed during our events, the more confident she became in herself and her God-given talent.”

Heart; who turns 19 this month, is an established performer and Jive Records recording artist, with Jazz Festival and Essence Music Festival appearances under her belt.

Dilosa believes the event can give more talented youth a platform to not only showcase their talents, but perhaps help change the mindset of the community.

“For years, Greater New Orleans has been partly branded by its violent acts because that is what this community seems to focus on,” she says. “People are also killed, robbed, raped in Hollywood, but that city is known for making dreams come true. It’s what that city chooses to focus on. Talented YOUTHFest 2012 will put super talented kids in the spotlight to help this city refocus. Hopefully, it will also open new opportunities for these kids to help propel them beyond this community’s negativity.”

This article was originally published in the June 18, 2012 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper