Unlike some of his friends, Terance Simmons has always known about historically black colleges and universities, but on Monday, he truly got to know them.
The 17-year-old watched black fraternity members, dressed in matching gold ties, step and stomp in unison. He was pursued by alumni of Clark Atlanta University and Florida A&M University. He asked an admissions officer at Howard University, via Skype, whether he had a shot at an academic scholarship.
MINNEAPOLIS – The Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) invites students, families and community members to celebrate Viva City, a festival showcasing student achievement in visual and performing arts across the city.
Now in its sixteenth year, Viva City presents a culmination of months of classroom learning relative to arts education. Over 400 students are selected to perform at Orchestra Hall or display their visual art and poetry in a professional exhibition at the Hennepin County Library – Central as part of the event.
Along with the opportunity to share their work with the community, student visual artists involved in Viva City have the opportunity to win one of several scholarships. Scholarships are offered through the Tracy Award, funded by Gary Fink, Director of Museum “Louvre It or Leave It,” and the Family Housing Fund’s “Belonging for Home” poetry and visual arts invitational’s, aimed at defining and relating to identity, place, home and community.
Band performances at Orchestra Hall will be hosted by T. Mychael Rambo, local actor, musician and educator. Students in elementary, middle and high school bands from across the school district will perform under the direction of MPS retiree Faye Washington, Bob Stacke of Augsburg College and Tim Mahr of St. Olaf College. A Somali band known in the Minneapolis community as Ileys Band (Light Band) will collaborate and perform with the middle/high school level band.
Viva City is coordinated by MPS Comprehensive Arts, which advances student achievement and improves teacher practice through the creation of arts-rich classroom experiences.
The full schedule is as follows:
WHAT: Viva City Middle School Art Exhibition Opening
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 28, from 5 – 7 p.m. Exhibit on display Jan. 14 – Feb. 9.
WHERE: Hennepin County Library – Central, 300 Nicollet Mall
WHAT: Viva City High School Art Exhibition Opening
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 18, from 5 -7 p.m. Exhibit on display Feb. 18 – Mar. 14
WHERE: Hennepin County Library – Central, 300 Nicollet Mall
WHAT: Viva City Band Performances by students in grades 4–12
Hosted by T. Mychael Rambo
WHEN: Monday, March 1, at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Avenue
As a 2008 graduate of North High, Sirmark Gentry has faced more than his fair share challenges in his 18 years. Having bounced from parent to parent and then foster parent to foster parent when younger, Sirmark found himself homeless for the end of his high school career. Sleeping on a different couch every night, he struggled to let go of family problems and start planning for his future. With the help of “Ms. Arnise,” the Career & College Center coordinator at North, Sirmark eventually found a more permanent home and got in to the STEP-UP Summer Jobs Program. He was excelling in school and in the two high-profile STEP-UP jobs at the University of Minnesota. At the end of last June, Sirmark was slated to speak to a group of business leaders at the Career & College Initiative year end celebration. Sirmark finished his speech with a bit of news – he had just learned that he was the recipient of a full scholarship, room and board included, to the University of Minnesota, beginning in Fall of 2008.