2005 Report 
Session Summaries | Conference Schedule | Offsite Sessions
Artist Profiles | Speaker Biographies | Keynote Speaker
Participant List | Conference Planning Committee | Photos

Community Renewal Chorus
Jerome Bell, Director
Active in Chicago's musical life for almost 35 years, the Community Renewal Chorus and All God's Children have performed at public functions, on TV, and in churches and concert venues throughout the region. The Choruses were founded in 1970-71 by Harriet Ziegenhals and served until recently as musical ambassadors of the Community Renewal Society, personifying its struggle against racism and injustice. Today, as an independent, not-for-profit organization, they continue to promote and celebrate diversity, equality, peace, and justice through music.

Young Chicago Authors
Mike Booker, Poet
Young Chicago Authors encourages self-expression and literacy among Chicago's youth through creative writing performance and publication.  YCA provides student-centered, artist-led workshops, free to youth 13-19 in schools and communities.  Our process emphasizes artistic development, mentorship, and creating safe spaces where a young person's life matters.  We believe that through their words, young people can promote tolerance and remove barriers, transforming their lives and society.

Mike Booker is a poet who has been writing in Chicago since 2002.  He has performed twice at Louder Than a Bomb: The Chicago Teen Poetry Festival, and twice at Brave New Voices: The National Teen Poetry Slam.  He has performed in London, Jamaica, and shared the stage with Nikki Giovanni, Regie Gibson, and Kevin Coval.  Mike Booker Anthologies, his highly anticipated first book, is due for release in Fall 2005.

Northeastern Illinois University Jazz Trio
The Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) Jazz Trio is made up of pianist Paul Mutzabaugh, bassist David Smith and John Carroll on drums. David and John are students at Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago) and along with guest artist Paul Mutzabaugh are active in the Chicago area jazz scene. For information on booking the trio please call Mostly Music at NEIU at 773-442-4978.

Chinese Fine Arts Society
Linda Chiou and Ling Ling Pao, dancers

Linda Chiou was born in Taiwan and came to this country in 1969.  She was a professional dancing instructor in Taiwan.  Since coming to the U.S., she has been teaching choreography in addition to Chinese dances in St. Louis, Chicago and other cities. 

Ling Ling Pao graduated from the Hong Kong academy of Performing Arts with expertise in multiple forms of dance and was a member of the Hong Kong Dance Company.  She received the "Creation Award" for her original choreographed production "Untitled I".  She represented Hong Kong in the International Chinese Dance Federation Exhibition and Cultural Exchange.  In the States she has danced and choreographed major roles in a variety of productions as well as solo performances in benefits and Chinese New Year celebrations throughout the Midwest.  Most recently, she choreographed the Tireswing Productions of "Five Lotus Blossoms" at the Chicago Cultural Center.  She also serves as a dance instructor at various grammar schools with over 100 students.

Holy Cross Marimba Ensemble
The Holy Cross Marimba Ensemble is a group of Mexican-American youth from Holy Cross/IHM parish in Chicago's "Back of the Yards" neighborhood. The marimba provides an excellent means to draw forth the musical talents of the youth of the parish. In traditional Latin-American style, up to four "marimbaists" play on a single instrument; the ensemble can be further supported by bass guitar and percussion. The group's main duty is to accompany the parish children's choir at the Spanish mass on Sundays, but as a professional ensemble they have performed at Chicago's Orchestra Hall, the National Shrine/Basilica in Washington DC, for Mayor Richard M. Daley, Illinois State Senators, Archbishop Francis Cardinal George, as well as for numerous conferences, events and festivals around the city of Chicago and nationwide. As a performing group their repertoire includes traditional Latin-American, Caribbean, contemporary and classical pieces.

Little City Foundation Center for the Arts
Since 1985, Little City Foundation's Center for the Arts has been supporting the creative expression and artistic culture of people with developmental disabilities, offering a creative, collaborative environment where artists can utilize video, radio, performance and studio arts that continue to redefine community based art making.  Little City Foundation provides services for children and adults with developmental challenges such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, Autism, Down syndrome, epilepsy, visual and hearing challenges and emotional disturbance.  Services include housing, employment, recreation, foster care, adoption, home-based support, service coordination, media and studio arts, advocacy and public education. 

Street-Level Youth Media
Street-Level Youth Media educates Chicago's urban youth in media arts and emerging technologies for use in self-expression, communication, and social change. Street-Level's programs build critical thinking skills for urban youth who have been historically neglected by government and mass media. Using video production, computer art and the Internet, Street-Level's young people address community issues, access advanced communication technology and gain inclusion in our information-based society.

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