Youth & Opportunity United (Y.O.U.) Presents 15th Annual Diverse Communities United on MLK Day
Published: January 10, 2020
Y.O.U. will present our 15th Annual Diverse Communities United (DCU) on Monday, January 20th, from 2-3:30pm in the Evanston Township High School Auditorium. DCU is a community-wide annual celebration of peace, diversity, unity, leadership, and service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The youth-led event will feature performances from students at 11 schools across Evanston and Skokie. Students in grades 3rd through 12th will embody DCU’s theme through spoken word, dance, and an art gallery.
This year’s theme is I Am My Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams. Em Wilder, Director of high school OST programs reflects, “The truth is that the spirit and stories of our ancestors may provide our only light, our only hope, and our only strength that protects us during our darkest times. This phrase has been one of the countless statements that has inspired connectedness and responsibility to those who have fought, resisted, and persisted before us.” One DCU Student Committee member made this request to Y.O.U. program staff, “We challenge you to help your students understand those who came before us, and to see how their struggles are still present in our fight today.”
At DCU, Y.O.U. will present the Legacy Award to Marcus Brown, founder and CEO of DIME (Dance Is My Everything). Brown provides dance instruction to Y.O.U. students and previously served as an AmeriCorps Y.O.U.th Serve. Since his time at Y.O.U., Brown has gone on to found his own business. DIME includes a dance studio, school- and partner-based dance instruction, and on-site entertainment. He spends countless hours every day of the week supporting and encouraging Evanston youth, injecting love into all he does. The Legacy Award honors those who invest in the future of Evanston young people, making an incredible mark in the community by giving back through lasting impact.
The event is FREE, family-friendly, and open to all ages. Everyone is welcome. For more information, visit youthopportunity.org/DCU.