Young performers at the November 4, 2006 one-day All Stars event at Historic Sweets Ballroom in Oakland.

On November 4, 2006, twenty-eight acts and seventy young singers, dancers, rappers and steppers participated in a one-day Bay Area All Stars performance at Historic Sweet’s Ballroom in downtown Oakland. The event, performed for a packed house of family, friends and supporters included an audition and performance workshop and was capped off by a sizzling talent show!

The Bay Area Center for Independent Culture (BACIC), the producer of the All Stars Talent Show Network in the Oakland - San Francisco Bay Area, launched a pilot workshop program as part of the process of establishing the Development School for Youth in the Bay Area. In November and December, BACIC produced a career and leadership training program in partnership with the global law firm of Heller Ehrman for six young people between the ages of 16-23. The trainings included a group interview, orientation, “dress for success” worshop and legal training, with lawyers from Heller Ehrman teaching the young people how to draft a legal argument and present it to the court. The San Francisco office of the law firm of Latham & Watkins is slated to host the next set of workshops in early 2007.

BACIC held its annual holiday party on December 8 at its downtown San Francisco offices. The annual fest is one of several yearly events at which BACIC volunteers are recognized for their work with the All Stars. The Bay Area All Stars’ next talent show cycle will be held on March 17, March 31 and April 14 at an Oakland location to be announced.

BACIC is an independently funded San Francisco/Bay Area nonprofit that produces the All Stars Talent Show Network youth development program. For more information on future events, to donate, or to get involved, please call 415-986-2565 or visit BACIC's website.