Three in the morning passed, and I had work early Sunday morning and
a pile of neglected homework to do, but I was too stoked to
sleep. The weekend’s wave of positive vibes was just too ripping.
I’ll likely be riding it all week long.
The kickoff was the Friday, May 2, All Ages Art Night at the
Seattle Central Library. I had never visited the city’s colossus of
a new library, but the night couldn’t have left a better first
impression. The event showcased diverse artistic endeavors from many of
the city’s gifted young locals, but Seattle’s Hip-Hop Youth
Council easily stole the show.
Though the small stage provided felt miniscule against the library’s
battleship-sized walls, the Council’s group of poets and rappers couldn’t have been bigger or more exciting. The Council aims to provide
positive opportunities for youth in hiphop culture. The group had a
newsletter available decrying violence in Seattle’s African-American
communities, accompanied by photos of friends and family whose lives
have been taken prematurely. There was an underlying message of hope
and change throughout the group’s performance, which climaxed with the
whole crew of kids piling onto the stage to perform an epic city
pride anthem called “206 Twist.” The group hosts a weekly showcase
called We Got Next every Wednesday night at Waid’s at 1212 East
Jefferson Street. Go! I guarantee that you’ll leave with a smile stuck
on your face.
After such a fun Friday night, the bar was set pretty damn high
for Punk Rock Prom at Redmond’s Old Fire House Teen Center on
Saturday. But having been to the last six or seven proms, I knew that
the all-out effort the OFH puts into making the night a memorable one
would be more than impressive. There were streamers and a giant photo
backdrop, abundant punch and cookies, and the sizable crowd all looked
adorable in their Value Village dresses and ties. I’m no old man, but
it’s always eye opening to go back to the teen center and see a new
generation of kids. Whether an escape from serious threats like street
violence or less daunting problems like suburban monotony, it’s great
to see organizations providing creative alternatives for kids, ’cause
we can’t all join the football team, and nobody wants to get
shot. 