New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
The community tradition of 3rd EyE Youth Empowerment is back for it’s 14th year and will take place this Saturday, July 20, 2013 at Buttonwood Park in New Bedford, MA from 12pm until 8pm.
This cultural festival includes eight hours of performances from regional artists and those as far as Atlanta, GA. Youth who are also involved in 3rd EyE’s arts-based programs will also be featured, including the Youth Ambassador Program (YAP), a partnership with the Greater New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park. There will be nearly 200 feet of live graffiti mural painting by artists from near and far. Breakers, Poppers and All Style dancers will have an open session to showcase their talents and keep the audience in awe with dynamic and intense moves. Local dance schools will entertain as well as a Tae Kwon Do demonstration by East Coast Tae Kwon Do. Local vendors and community organizations will be spread out offering an array of information, goods and food. Another piece of the Open is the 3-on-3 basketball tournament plus dunk and 3-point contest.
This is a special year for the organization and the Open is not just any other event but a chance to reach out and let the community know the year-round efforts and impact of the
organization. The planning of the open is a lengthy process that engages many youth in a transformational process of learning and leading. Working along side positive adult role models and benefiting from local leaders, business owners and artists who came in to facilitate trainings and skill-building exercises helped to bring this culminating event together. It takes an incredible amount of resources, partners and service hours, a village, to produce an event of this scale. One of the youth leaders, Kalie Brum, stated, “the 3rd EyE Open is a time for the community to come together, 3rd EyE is not just a one-day thing, it goes on 364 other days of the year. Many others and myself were a part of a year-long process to make this happen. 3rd EyE has a lot to offer that many can benefit from. Like I said in one of the poems in my book, without unity, there is no such thing as community.” Kalie just published her own book entitled, “This is my story; those were my tears” to help support children affected by child abuse.
Please come out and support this very essential organization that has been engaging and empowering youth to transform their community since 1998. You can make a contribution by visiting the website, www.3rdeyeunlimited.com or paying a visit to their Community Arts & Drop-In Center on 28 Union Street downtown New Bedford. Or get involved, become a volunteer. Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/3rdEyEInc and Twitter @3rdEyEUnlimited or call 508-910-2260.
