CYP Open Registration
CREATIVE YOUTH PRODUCTIONS IS HOLDING ITS OPEN CALL FOR REGISTRATION IN BRIDGEPORT CONNECTICUT ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29TH.
The nonprofit, founded in October of 2011, offers opportunities for Bridgeport youth to explore their artistic expression by allowing them to hone and demonstrate their talents. CYP offers free dancing, singing, and acting classes and emphasizes its focus on showcasing original works created and produced by members of the program.
Image courtesy of CYP instagram
Founded by Donna Sue Guzman - a co-founder of the Fairfield County magnet school “RCA” or the Regional Center for the Arts - she started working on the non-profit because she felt that Bridgeport lacked something similar. While RCA caters to the wider Fairfield County student body, CYP promotes equity and educational opportunities for at-risk youth based specifically in Bridgeport.
The program's goal is to encourage its students to build community with one another through their mutual exploration of the arts. CYP works to help the kids build life skills and confidence and even helps with job preparation by having older members take on the responsibility of guiding younger kids along their journey—offering stipends centered around their dedication to the program.
Creating third spaces for people, but more importantly - kids, to explore their talent and passion is a necessity for community building and maintenance, it’s something that often flies under the radar. As someone who grew up in Bridgeport, it’s wonderful to know that there are free programs available to cultivate young people’s ideas, there is so much talent in these spaces that don't get the opportunity to shine due to less than favorable circumstances.
CYP has worked with a variety of organizations and institutions- always making sure to put an emphasis on community engagement and setting a stellar example for kids in the Bridgeport area.
“We’ve done performances at the downtown cabaret theater, the bijou theater, Housatonic Community College, and various elementary schools in Bridgeport to raise awareness on gun violence, bullying/cyber-bullying, and the importance of family.”
With a need now more than ever for safe third spaces across the board - it felt necessary to amplify this - especially with so many of my peers having become parents or just generally feeling a desire to contribute to our younger counterparts’ lives in a meaningful way.
Keith Shaw, the young man who shared the flyer with me, invited me to sit in on script readings and even shows - he’s an active figure in CYP and is now a director in the program but started as an attendee himself.
“I started as a kid when Original Works transitioned into CYP, quickly became a Youth Leader, and most recently have been promoted to the Director of the Theater Department, where I write and teach new scenes and shows to the new students.”
Keith Shaw at CYP - courtesy of CYP instagram.
Whether you’re interested in signing your kids up for the program or just looking to learn more - the Open House is the perfect opportunity to do so. The registration will take place at 2200 North Avenue on the 2nd floor in Bridgeport Connecticut on Wednesday, January 29th starting at 6 pm.
