Some Lawrence students will make their small-screen debut today.
Youngsters participating in Lawrence's Van Go Mobile Arts Inc., an arts-based job-training program, are featured in one segment of a new 30-minute documentary airing at 7 p.m. on all public television stations serving Kansas.
Youngsters involved in Lawrence's Van Go Mobile Arts Inc. program sit in a limousine painted by the program's participants. Van Go is one of the youth programs that will be profiled in "Make It Matter," a documentary showing on all public television stations in Kansas. Shown here are, from top left, Patrick Harmon, Jasmine Sims and Tyshawna Davis; from bottom left, Ashley Jeffrey, LaVonda Lyles, Hope Jones and Barbara Reliford.
The show, "Make It Matter," details a collection of creative programs across the state that are designed to improve the quality of life for children and families.
Jasmine Sims, a third-grader at Kennedy School, said the documentary will be a good way for people to find out about Van Go.
"I hope people learn that art isn't just drawing; it's something that can make you happy and express your feelings," Jasmine said.
The documentary looks at programs in Abilene, Salina, Bennington, Lawrence and Kansas City, Kan., that connect young people with civic leaders and teachers, retired people or others who are invested in their communities.
Art, community dialogue, poetry and job training are a few of the activities that have attracted young people to the programs.
Those who participate in Van Go's programs learn job and life skills and are paid to make art, which is then sold back to the community. The segment on Van Go shows young people at work on different art projects at its work site, 715 N.H.
Some of the Van Go participants who appear in the documentary have already watched a videotape of the show. The young people said they're big supporters of Van Go, and they hope the show gets the word out about the program.
"I really like it here. It gives you a chance to meet new friends, do different things with art, and it's free, too," said Tyshawna Davis, a seventh-grader at West Junior High School.
Jasmine Sims, a participant in Van Go Mobile Arts program
"It's painting and sculpting and poetry and acting. It's really fun. If kids aren't in Van Go, they should be," Tyshawna said.
Patrick Harmon, a sixth-grader at Woodlawn School, agrees.
"You don't have to stay at home and sit on the couch watching TV. You get to be more active."
How was it to be filmed for a documentary?
When: 7 p.m. today.
Stations: KTWU/Channel 11 or KCPT/Channel 19.
"It sort of scared me at first, because I don't like being on TV," Patrick said.
Before she saw the video of the documentary, LaVonda Lyles, a ninth-grader at Central Junior High School, was worried about how she'd look in it.
"I just hope they didn't get me doing something crazy," she said of the show's producers.
They didn't.
In the program, LaVonda is seen working on a bench that she made last summer. She decorated it with African-themed scenes from a dance performance by the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey. The dance troupe later bought her bench and placed it on display in its headquarters.
"Make It Matter" is a production of KTWU in Topeka and is part of the Kansas Kids campaign, whose goal is to improve the quality of life for children. Kansas Kids is a cooperative effort between public television stations around the state and the Kansas Health Foundation in Wichita.
MORE: www.kskids.org
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