Collaboraction’s BIPOC Youth Ensemble To Perform at Kidzapalooza and More

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Collaboraction’s The Light youth ensemble to bring  live summer performances with a side of social justice to Kidzapalooza, Austin, Rogers Park and Englewood

Collaboraction Theatre has long  Collaboraction Theatre’s new 2024 cohort for its youth ensemble The Light features 11 multi-talented, BIPOC young artists/activists from all over the city. They're ready to go on tour this summer performing original works of music, dance, comedy, poetry and spoken word. And each one of them has something important to say. Meet The Light 2024 cohort - Adalys, Ameeor, Aura, Carrington (aka Iced Strawberry Cream), GG, Marlen, Mercedes, Montiara, Samantha, Sathvik and Serenity. Watch and listen to their first public outing, live, in-studio on Collaboraction Radio on June 29. Currently, The Light is learning from Collaboraction company members, staff and teaching artists about the intersection of live performance and social change, while creating original, solo and ensemble works rooted in their own, personal social justice cause.  Ranging in age from 15 to 18, they’re doing it all under the guidance of legendary Chicago Hip Hop artist, Pinqy Ring, Collaboraction’s new Director of Youth Programming, and Teaching Artist Assistant Linda Sol.  Additionally, all of the youth are earning equitable pay while participating in Collaboraction’s youth program, including meetings, rehearsals and performance time.

"What an exciting time to be a musician and mentor in Chicago, with this incredible group of young people who get paid to create new art around social justice themes and tour it across the city!,” says Pinqy.  “As someone who didn't have access to music mentorship as a youth, I wonder how much further I could have gone if someone, anyone, had taken the time to guide and instruct me. The work we are doing with The Light is truly revolutionary, a reimagining of creative education and a way to teach and care and hold our youth in a way that they deserve. I am excited to witness the ways that they will shine, and to discover how this programming can illuminate what equitable youth programming should look like."

See The Light perform this summer at:  The Light 2023 Summer Parks Tour, July 25-27 The Light will share their message of positive social change citywide with performances at three of Chicago’s most beautiful parks, presented as part of the Chicago Park District’s 2024 Night Out in the Parks series: Thursday, July 25 at 5 p.m. Austin Town Hall, 5610 W. Lake St. in Austin Friday, July 26 at 5 p.m. Loyola Park, 1230 W. Greenleaf Ave. in Rogers Park Saturday, July 27 at 12:30 p.m. Hamilton Park, 513 W. 72nd St. in Englewood Kidzapalooza  Thursday through Sunday, August 1-4 at Lollapalooza in Grant Park, 331 E. Randolph St. Collaboraction returns to Kidzapalooza with the Peace, Love and Magic Tent with three interactive shows daily inside an air-conditioned tent. Kids and families can join immersive experiences for kids and families that emphasize respect, belonging and collaboration. Don't miss their roaming circus performers and bubble zone!  Sidebar: Collaboraction Artistic Director Anthony Moseley returns to emcee Kidzapalooza every day at Lollapalooza, Thursday through Sunday, August 1-4, 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. For more, visit lollapalooza.com/kidzapalooza. Stay tuned for news about The Luminaries, Collaboraction’s new youth artist-activist program focused on professional development for BIPOC Chicago artist-activists ages 18 - 25. Luminaries, including alums from The Light, will learn about leadership, civic engagement, creative entrepreneurship and social artistry while creating new works to tour across Chicago. The Light is supported by the 2024 Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities, the Marc and Jeanne Malnati Family Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, O’Connor Casting Company, AV Chicago and the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series.

Meet the 2024 cohort of Collaboraction's The Light:

Meet Adalys (16, any pronouns), a queer, curly headed performer from Little Village. Adi uses dance and poetry to share aspects of her identity and stories from her community. She was awarded Nexstars’ national trophy for her performance with 8Teenth Hip Hop crew, and you can find her writing in “ChiArts Writes” Volumes 7 and 8, as well in Depaul’s “Blue Book: Best American High School Writing for 2023.” As a member of The Light, Adi aims to perfect her writing skills and advocate for the inclusion of BIPOC people and the awareness of body liberation.  

Ameeor (16, she/her) is an African American singer, actor, songwriter and artivist encouraging social change through the arts. Raised on both the South and West sides of Chicago, Ameeor is passionate about uplifting others and advocating for the destruction of all forms of inequality, discrimination and injustice. Deeply rooted in the performing arts community in Chicago, Ameeor is a student at ChiArts, and a proud member of Uniting Voices Chicago (formerly Chicago Children’s Choir)'s highest ensemble “Voice of Chicago.”  

Aura (15, any pronouns) is an artivist that speaks love through their music. Being a genderfluid Latinx teen, they strive to be a beacon of light for the people who come after them. Aura has performed at Harris Theater and Jones College Prep. Aura wants to share their story as an Ecuadorian- American, showing just how inspiring they can be. On the big stage and in protest, Aura aims to protect the people who were once like them.

Carrington, aka Iced Strawberry Cream(15, any pronouns), is a multi-talented performer born and grown on the south side of Chicago. She has performed in many school performances, such as their yearly elementary school’s Kwanzaa performance, Chicago High School For The Arts’ curtain call and AAPI showcases, and also at ComplexCon as a part of an art exhibit. She hopes to do more performances centered around Black excellence and empowerment, which is what she has always fought for as a young African American. 

Meet GG (15, she/her), a multi-talented performing artist born in Ethiopia and raised in Chicago on a mission to spread love and body positivity through her artwork. From an early age, Girma was inspired by the visual arts pieces created by her parents, which led her to a love for violin, acting, singing and musical theater. As a member of “The Light,” GG is making new performance pieces about her social justice platforms such as racism, body positivity and feminism.  

Marlen (15, she/her) is a Latina artist from Chicago that utilizes her passion for musical theater to amplify the social justice platforms of feminism, climate change, racism and homophobia. She has performed in Alice in Wonderland (2023) and Dear Diary (2024) at ChiArts High School, where she is in the musical theater conservatory. She also is part of the Uniting Voices Choir. Marlen hopes to use her platform to advocate for better opportunities in her southwest side neighborhood, and all around Chicago. 

Mercedes (18, she/her) is a professionally trained dancer who graduated from The Chicago High School for the Arts. Mercedes has choreographed multiple pieces, including the dance section of the Latinx showcase at her school, and was the first-ever student choreographer for the schoolwide musical “Sister Act.” Challenging the stigma that art is not a viable career path, Mercedes creates work that inspires a community of creatives, emphasizing that despite one’s upbringing or obstacles in life anyone is capable of pursuing their passion.

Get to know Montiara (17, she/her), an African American singer and performing artist from the south side of Chicago. She strives to inspire and connect with others, as well as tell stories and create awareness around mental health, climate change and women’s empowerment. Montiara is a student of the vocal conservatory at The Chicago High School for the Arts, and is a part of The Example Setters’ youth poetry team.  

Samantha (15, she/her) is an actor from Hermosa who uses her passion for theater to advocate against gun violence. Samantha has collaborated with prestigious companies such as Goodman Theater and Lookingglass Theater Company. Since placing third in the 2024 August Wilson New Voices city finals, Samantha is focused on experimenting with new roles that are the epitome of her own story, lineage and experiences.  

Sathvik (17, he/him) is a nerd. He is an artist from Chicago who produces plays, boxes and wants to save the world. Sathvik recently stage managed a seven-act short-play festival, Cut To The Chase, at The Artistic Home. He is also credited as Executive Producer on The Shoemakers, Dracula, and Alice in Wonderland. He’ll start at Middlebury College in the fall majoring in International Politics and Economics. 

Serenity (16, she/her) is a 16-year-old African American performer who wants to spread awareness around mental health and racism through her art. She is a multi-faceted artist - dancing and acting - but her strongest suit is her singing. She has been a praise dancer at Christ Universal Temple, and she works at an organization called Angel’s Message that helps immigrants and the unhoused. She hopes to use her platform as an artist to promote change in the world, where people are more positive and open minded. 

Pinqy Ring (aka Marisol Vélez, Director of Youth Programming and Lead Teaching Artist, she/her/ella) is a radical and revolutionary Puerto Rican rapper, decolonizing minds one rhyme at a time and aligning her destiny through Hip Hop. Born and bred in Chicago, she manifests her vision for a more just world as multi-hyphenate MC, Hip Hop Educator, speaker and U.S. Hip Hop Cultural Ambassador - traveling overseas to manage and facilitate Hip Hop diplomacy programming. With philanthropy as part and parcel of her platform, Pinqy prides herself in mentoring the next generation of creative change agents and providing culturally competent consulting to organizations looking to engage youth and explore Hip Hop as a transformative tool. In 2023, Pinqy Ring became a TEDxChicago performer, was featured on NPR, and was named “Best Hip Hop Artist” by the Chicago Reader. Though she is proud of her awards and accolades, Pinqy's most prized possession is the platform she’s purposing for historically excluded communities of the world. Hip Hop has taken her from the 'hood to speaking at Harvard, and Pinqy Ring raps her legacy loudly into place while creating pathways for others to do the same. To learn more about Pinqy, check out her performance at Collaboraction’s recent House of Belonging at Experimental Station.  

Linda Sol (Teaching Artist Assistant, she/her) is a poet turned rapper hailing from the west side of Chicago making waves with her innovative style and captivating lyrics. Her genre-fluid production, intricate flows, and lyrical precision carry listeners through the evolutions of herself, emphasizing the duality of life we all experience. Still early in her career, Sol has had the honor to open for 2 Chains, Dreezy, Omar Apollo, Mereba, Dua Saleh, Phony Ppl, Jamila Woods, A. Chal, Shangela, Samaria, Queen Key, Glorilla, and Phoebe Bridgers. Since then, Sol has taken strides as her own creative director, producing unique and professional visuals to her music. Sol is currently working on her next single "Right Now", set to release later this summer. Until then, here is a video of her amazing spoken word poetry and most recent music video for her song, Woah.

Collaboraction: Changing the map and removing barriers in the theater industry

Collaboraction is a 27-year-old, ethno-diverse non-profit arts organization that builds knowledge, empathy, dialogue and action around oppression and inequity through live theater, film, radio and online interactive programs. Across all platforms, Collaboraction uses its KEDA methodology - Knowledge, Empathy, Dialogue and Action - to spark changes in attitudes and behavior that manifest social change.  In May 2024, Collaboraction announced it will build and open a new home this fall inside the Kimball Arts Center, 1757 N. Kimball Ave. in Chicago’s Humboldt Park community, right off the 606, where Chicagoans from across the city can come together to grow together. Collaboraction’s new “House of Belonging” will feature a 99-seat flexible studio theater and a 50-seat cabaret with a cafe/bar. The 4,000-square foot space will be acommunity hub presenting live theater, spoken word, music, dance, films, workshops and special events.  Collaboraction’s recent work includes the Emmy Award-winning Trial in the Delta: The Murder of Emmett Till, Moonset Sunrise, Crime Scene, Forgotten Future, Gender Breakdown, PEACEBOOK and SKETCHBOOK. In addition to live performances, community building and video production, the company centers and presents its work in Chicago neighborhoods historically overlooked like Englewood, Austin and Lawndale.  Collaboraction has been honored for innovation and inclusivity with the Foster Innovation Award from Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Multi-Racial Unity Award from the First Unitarian Church-Chicago, a Stand For the Arts Award from Comcast and OvationTV, and an Otto Award from New York’s Castillo Theatre. In 2022, Collaboraction was one of the first theaters in the U.S. to be certified by On Our Team, a national trade organization advocating for pay equity and transparency in the live theater industry.  Collaboraction is lifted up by its growing ranks of Collaboractivists, individuals who support the company’s social change mission with a monthly contribution, starting at just $1. To join, visit collaboraction.org/memberships. Collaboraction is supported in part by AV Chicago, Marc and Jeanne Malnati Family Foundation, Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation, Paul M. Angell Foundation, Naperville Rotary Club, Field Foundation, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.  To learn more, visit collaboraction.org, tune into Collaboraction Radio, live, every Saturday at 4 p.m. on WCPT AM 820, subscribe to the Collaboraction Radio podcast on