The program was produced by Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District with Great Oaks Legacy Charter High School and Newark School of the Arts.
NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of a Patch Newark community member. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.
Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD), producer of the 20th Anniversary Lincoln Park Music Festival, recently launched its pilot Youth Fest Day in collaboration with Great Oaks Legacy Charter High School. Designed as a service-learning initiative, the program engaged students directly in festival planning, promotion, and production, while also providing a platform for youth performances. Newark School of the Arts students joined as featured performers, underscoring LPCCD’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of creatives, leaders, and arts professionals in Newark.
Over a series of six sessions, Great Oaks Legacy Charter High School students participated in a customized curriculum entitled “The 4 Ps” — Planning, Promotion, Production, and Post-Event Wrap-Up. This service-learning model gave students hands-on exposure to the behind-the-scenes work of producing a major cultural festival, equipping them with transferable skills in event management, marketing, teamwork, and leadership.
“Our goal at Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District is to ensure more Newark youth enter the Creative Economy pipeline through the arts,” said Anthony Smith, Executive Director of LPCCD. “By connecting students to hands-on experiences like Youth Fest Day, we are not only expanding their opportunities in arts, culture, and live event production, but also inspiring them to see themselves as the next generation of cultural leaders.”
After testing the Youth Fest Day concept twice before, Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD) officially developed and implemented the program with its agency of record, BRND Marketing Group LLC. BRND not only produces the annual Lincoln Park Music Festival but also leads LPCCD’s signature arts education initiative, the Lincoln Park Youth Arts Collective, making it the ideal partner to align youth-centered programming with the organization’s broader creative placemaking mission.
“At BRND Marketing Group, we believe in creating experiences that not only entertain but also educate and empower residents,” said Kim J. Ford, Founder, President & CEO of BRND Marketing Group LLC. “Through Youth Fest Day, students aren’t just watching a festival happen that was created by adults — they are learning how to build it from the ground up and promoting it peer-to-peer.”
“Concluding the youth fest block party, I walked away with so many lessons that I will apply to my future. I have learned the importance of maintaining order. The project helped me build connections and make decisions that would later impact my community. I also got to be part of a team that helps better connect our community, which is an amazing cause to be a part of. I want to thank Lincoln Park for this amazing opportunity.” GOLCHS 11th grader, Joseph Oyelowo.
"We’re deeply grateful for our partnership with the Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District. The Youth Day Festival gave our scholars a valuable opportunity to learn firsthand how to organize impactful community events that shape our city. It was an honor to support and empower them as they discovered the power of their own voices." GOLCS External Affair Manager, Lamar Washington.
LPCCD’s longstanding partnership with Newark School of the Arts (NSA) has been further strengthened through Youth Fest Day, ushering in a new era of collaboration under the leadership of NSA’s new Interim Executive Director, Sharon Salvador, MBA. Building on this pilot with Great Oaks Legacy Charter High School, Newark School of the Arts students will now participate in the same service-learning curriculum, “The 4 Ps,” ensuring that more Newark youth gain practical, career-shaping experience in arts, culture, and live production. “Newark School of the Arts is proud to participate in Youth Fest Day in collaboration with Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District, where students not only showcase their creativity but also build vital life skills. The skills acquired through service learning opportunities are both useful and practical for students’ résumé building, helping them translate their passion for the arts into meaningful career and leadership pathways” said Sharon Salvador, MBA, Interim Executive Director at Newark School of the Arts.
Youth Fest Day reflects LPCCD’s mission to use creative placemaking as a tool for community transformation and its vision to build a socially, economically, and environmentally vibrant Lincoln Park neighborhood. By centering young voices and equipping students with service-learning experiences, LPCCD is investing in Newark’s future — cultivating the next generation of artists, innovators, and cultural leaders.
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