First Person Arts is Now Accepting Story Pitches

First Person Arts has teamed up with the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services and the Philadelphia School District to present the third installment of its newest program, Beyond Expectations: Engaging Males of Color.

This innovative new program will culminate in a live event open only to students currently enrolled in the Philadelphia School District onMonday, April 4 from 4-6PM at the Girard College Sanctuary featuring Yazz The Greatest, best known for his role as Hakeem Lyon in the TV series Empire (pictured above).

BEyond Expectations is a one-of-a-kind storytelling program celebrating the lives and experiences of males of color. We are calling for inspirational personal stories from high school students currently enrolled in the Philadelphia School District and charter schools that shatter misconceptions, and give voice to the strength and resilient spirit of young men who identify as males of color (i.e., African American, Latino, Asian, Middle Eastern, African/Caribbean, Asian/Pacific Islander, bi-racial, etc.)

Students will attend FREE storytelling workshops offered in March. Performers will be selected from workshop participants to tell their stories live on stage alongside their peers and Yazz The Greatest. Selected storytellers will also receive a small stipend.

What we’re looking for in a story submission:

• A true story from your own life that is 5-minutes or less
• Shows how you overcame struggle, and triumphed in the face of adversity
• Original poems and raps are acceptable as long as they pertain to the theme

How to submit your story for consideration:
Submit your 1-2 page typed story by email to pitch@firstpersonarts.org with the subject line “BEyond Expectations”, or by mail to First Person Arts 443 W. Girard Ave. #2C Philadelphia, PA 19123. You can also call in a 3-minute excerpt of your story to 601-568-2435.

Deadline to submit: Monday, February 29.

For more information contact: Becca Jennings (bjennings@firstpersonarts.org | 267-402-2055)