(Front row, left to right) Elouise Joseph, Malique Cooper, Latisha Hester, Dr. Lenora Fulani, Eulanna Allen, Pam Hafer, Caroline Donnola (Back row, left to right) Antoine Joyce, A’Dunyae Lee

In June, Dr. Elouise Joseph, Bay Area All Stars Youth & Community Outreach Coordinator, and Caroline Donnola, Volunteer & Operations Manager, brought a team of All Stars youth leaders to the Big Apple to visit the All Stars Project Inc.’s new home on 42^nd Street and to receive advanced training.  The team included A’Dunyae Lee, All Stars Emcee and Youth Outreach Team Co-Leader; Kai King, Producer and Youth Outreach Team Co-Leader; Eulanna Allen, Box Office and Youth Outreach Team member; Malique Cooper, Tape Operator and Volunteer Youth Outreach; and Latiisha Hester; Assistant Stage Manager.

(Left to right) Eulanna Allen, A’Dunyae Lee, Kai King, Elouise Joseph

Team members had a tour of the All Stars HQ’s fabulous new facility and met with national leaders of the program, including National Executive Producer Pam Lewis.  The team had an extraordinary opportunity to talk with All Stars Founder Dr. Lenora Fulani, who worked to get the young people to ask her “hard questions” and to take a look at the impact of poverty on their lives.  While in New York, team members got trained at a Bronx talent show, where they performed their usual roles side by side with their New York counterparts.  The young people found the experience moving, challenging and wonderful and are already talking about future training trips to NYC!

The Bay Area All Stars is preparing for our 2004 Benefit Dinner, “A New Partnership for Youth,” on October 6 at Scott’s Seafood Restaurant in Jack London Square, Oakland.  The event will include special All Stars youth performances and an awards ceremony.  The event brings together donors, volunteers, young people and community leaders.  Tickets for the Benefit begin at $150.  For more information contact Marge Golden at 415-986-2565.

Our outreach team is out and about, pre-registering performers for the next audition and workshop, Saturday, October 23, at Oakland Technical High School.  The talent show takes place Saturday, November 13, also at Oakland Technical High School.  With more youth in training to participate in every aspect of building the program, we expect the All Stars team to produce another great audition, performance workshop and show.  To audition, contact Dr. Elouise Joseph, 415-986-2565.  As always, volunteers are needed to do outreach, make phone calls, staff our events, and help with fundraising.  If you’d like to get involved, contact Caroline Donnola at 415-986-2565.