MPS AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS PREPARE FOR TALENT SHOW

Student competition set for April 29

Milwaukee Public Schools’ after-school programs will host a student talent competition called Turn on the Talent on Thursday, April 29 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the auditorium of South Division High School, 1515 W. Lapham Boulevard. Eight student groups will perform for an audience of their peers, teachers, parents, and community leaders. The acts will include choreographed hip-hop routines, ethnic dancing, and vocal performances. Due to limited seating, Turn on the Talent is closed to the public, but media representatives are encouraged to attend.

Inspired by popular television programs like American Idol and America’s Got Talent, Turn on the Talent will allow audience members to vote for their favorite performances. Following the event, the general public will be invited to watch the performances at www.MilwaukeeRecreation.net and cast their votes online.

This is the fourth Turn on the Talent showcase. To watch performances from the last event, visit MilwaukeeRecreation.net/talentshow2009.

Milwaukee’s Turn on the Talent event is part of a nationwide effort to highlight the importance of quality after-school programs. In America today, 1 in 4 youth — 14.3 million children — are alone and unsupervised after school.

For thousands of Milwaukee children, after-school programs represent a safe place to go for homework help, enrichment activities, healthy snacks, and positive social interaction.