Retired performing arts teacher, Sharron Lewis wants to continue to empower youth through the arts. He sees students who have taken dance classes or engaged in other arts for the first time flourish and imagine creating opportunities for youth outside of school.
In 2016, Lewis and Maudie Wilson founded the nonprofit organization Empower You Edutainment.
The organization has a mission to break down social and economic barriers that keep youth from experiencing the arts. The program forges social justice themes to help youth find and use their voices. Students explore the art and power of their own messaging through poetry, song, improvisation, dance and theater.
“I want to make sure things are affordable,” Lewis said. “When I was growing up my family couldn’t afford classes for me and wanted to make sure that our kids got this opportunity.”
Empower You Edutainment offers after -school programs in the Riverside Unified School District. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization served students through Zoom. The program is adjusted to use the arts to help children manage the stress of pandemics. Participants learned to express their stress levels through a program called “Wade in the Water,” where they discussed whether they were ankle-deep or knee-deep in their anxiety.
The organization also presents plays by students during a pandemic call “Silent Tears,” who discuss to isolate. The play explores how school students are on earth. There are students who are losing loved ones and pain that they don’t know how to express, according to Lewis. Working on this production helps them explore and express these feelings.
In the past, the organization has presented student plays about Kwanzaa, Black History Month, bullying and systemic racism.
Empower You Edutainment currently works with around 12 students and works with up to 35 children, from elementary age to high school. Students also work with professionals in the arts to hone their skills and confidence.
“Parents say they see a lot of their kids growing in being more confident in themselves,” Lewis said. “And we empower others, not just our youth when we play with community theater.”
Recently this organization received a grant from the Community Impact Fund through the Inland Empire Community Foundation. Empower You Edutainment is run entirely by volunteers and relies on volunteer support as well as grant funds and individual grants to support the program.
The organization is working to launch a program for pre -school youth again in a session that will include a fitness component. Using poetry, Lewis plans to give students tools that they can work on to reunite each day and support their mental well -being.
Empower You Edutainment works primarily in the city of Riverside but will work with students across the Inland Empire, and not turn anyone down. programming is not free. They’re currently meeting privately at Bourns Family Youth Innovation Center from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Those interested in participating can contact the organization.
“We are a visionary group and a little out of the box,” Lewis said. “We are on a shoe string budget and it becomes difficult to issue a word. We want more people to know about the work that we implement and join us.
Information: 213-359-8639 or empoweryouedutainment.org
The Inland Empire Community Foundation works to strengthen Inland Southern California through philanthropy.
