The X-Squad from Maywood, IL, at the most recent All Stars Project of Chicago Talent Show.

The All Stars Project of Chicago (ASP of Chicago) officially kicked off recruitment for its first Development School for Youth (DSY) class this fall; several students have been interviewed and accepted into the program, while more applications continue to come in!  Chicago director David Cherry is lining up businesses to lead corporate workshops for the first semester of the ASP of Chicago, DSY, which will begin in spring 2009!

Meanwhile, the ASP of Chicago, Talent Show Network, now in its second year, continues to grow.  There were 27 acts and 44 performers for the fall Talent Show at the South Side YMCA.  Most of the performers were from the South and West Sides of Chicago.  Others, however, came from the suburbs and there were even acts from as far away as Indianapolis, Indiana, and Kansas City, Missouri!  Several new acts were recruited by returning performers and our volunteers.

Speaking of volunteers, the ASP of Chicago was pleased to welcome ASP board member Julie Lenner, who arrived in the Windy City this fall to direct our volunteer programs, having gained valuable experience through years of work with the ASP of New York!   Julie now conducts Chicago volunteer orientations and is doing an outstanding job building our volunteer team.  She has located new office space, into which the ASP of Chicago will be moving before the end of the year.

The ASP of Chicago was also invited to participate in an open mic night at the Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier.  Thirty-five All Stars performers and friends, full of anticipation and excitement, traveled by bus to the museum.  Although Navy Pier is the number one tourist site in Illinois, many of our performers and their families were making their first trip there.  The ten performers included a variety of rappers, an R & B singer, a gospel singer, two keyboard players, and one violinist.  Everyone had a wonderful time and the All Stars has been invited to come back for more performances in 2009!

For more information about the ASP of Chicago, contact Director David Cherry at 773-624-2848 or dcherry@allstars.org.  To make a donation, contact ASP of Chicago Fundraising Director Bonny Gildin at 973-622-5506, ext. 306, or bgildin@allstars.org.