ACT-SO competition calls on the gifts of Dallas youth

by Patrice J. Holmes of of Dallas Weekly

Dallas ACT-SO participants Krystal Murry, Ashley Kelley, Kirschen Wolford, De’Mon Cathcart, Nile Jones and Gabrielle McBay

An untapped wellspring of young local prodigies will be representing Dallas at the 2009 NAACP ACT-SO (the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) competition fighting for national honors. In just over one month, a wealth of gifted and talented young people will come together for the highly coveted gold medals in their respective fields.

At the Remix Reunion for the ACT-SO, NAACP members, past ACT-SO participants and the young people who are competing next month in New York gathered for an evening to showcase talent that has been cultivated for years among youth passionate about what they can offer to the world.

The NAACP national convention, scheduled for July 11-16, will celebrate the organization’s 100th anniversary.

Vickie Washington, ACT-SO coordinator, said this is a time to celebrate the youth engaging in their chosen crafts.

“We have a wonderful ACT-SO family,” Ms. Washington said. “We have has a wonderful outpouring of people to compete now acknowledge people who won and going on to compete in New York.”

Nile Jones performs his dance routine he will present at ACT-SO in New York next month.

As a major youth initiative of the NAACP, ACT-SO awards gold, silver and bronze medalists as a part of its year-long enrichment program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students.

Founded in 1978, by author and journalist, Vernon Jarrett, ACT-SO seeks to provide a forum for African-American youth demonstrate academic, artistic and scientific prowess and expertise.

Under the five areas of study including Performing Arts, Visual Arts, The Sciences, Humanities and Business and subcategories included, participants have total of 25 categories to choose from. Dallas branch NAACP president Dr. Juanita Wallace said knowing that such artistic students come from Dallas makes her proud.

“The students are talented and the people working with them are helping them even further to improve their craft,” Dr. Wallace said.

Linda Lydia, Chairperson for ACT-SO Dallas said she, along with the other Dallas ACT-SO supporters are “peacock proud of the students representing Dallas, but the ACT-SO group not possible without sponsors to under gird it.” Ms. Lydia sited big name contributors like Wal-Mart, Capital One and Southwest Airlines as partners in ACT-SO initiatives for youth.

Kirschen Wolford performs his monologue he will be presenting in NY.

ACT-SO alumni came out to show their support and to offer words of advice for the future competitors. Harold Steward, spoke to the young people imploring them to embrace their upcoming experience.

“You will be in a room with tomorrow’s African American leaders, its special moment,” Mr. Steward said. “I had never been with that many African American individuals with that kind of energy. That will stay with me.”

Aubrey Hooper, second vice president of the Dallas Branch NAACP and 1998 ACT-SO participant in Atlanta, Ga. was president of the youth council in addition to competing in the computer science area of ACT-SO.

“It was an amazing opportunity to interact with people brighter and smarter than me,” Mr. Hooper said with a smile, “and meet professionals in my craft. The Morehouse College graduate other endeavors were cultivated by his ACT-SO Experience.

As a voice of the future, Krystal Murry, a Booker T. Washington High School of the Performing and Visual Arts graduate and a contender for the gold medaling the original essay and poetry competition said she was excited about her chances.

“I hope to learn a lot,” she said. Ms. Murry planted the seed of her craft while a student at St. Phillips School in South Dallas and has been performing for about 10 years.

“I’m ready to witness hundreds of people shaking those nerves and preparing to move forward.”

Ms. Murry was in good company, also performing their various gifts where fellow BTWHSPVA graduates Nile Jones, who will be competing in the Dance competition, Kirschen Wolford, competing in the drama competition, Ashley Kelley, vocal performance, De’Mon Cathcart, contemporary piano instrumental and Desoto High School junior Gabrielle McBay, competing in the entrepreneurship category.

ACT-SO Alum AJ Girard summed up the sentiments of the people pushing these exceptional students forward.

“It’s up to you to decide if you will be great or just fall back into the crowd. The competition builds character and is a time to build you to make you who you are,” he said. “ACT-SO was one of those times for me.”