Youthspring Playhouse seeks to empower kids
Organization uses arts to broaden horizons

By Mark McGregor
Dayton Daily News

"I believe that to make the most impact on a person, you help them get the tools they need to empower themselves to make it through/over/under life's obstacles," said Youthspring Playhouse producer Gail Whipple in an e-mail.

That's the philosophy Whipple, a Centerville resident, hopes to convey to the community through Youthspring. Created in September, the organization intends to be a creative and fun way for youths to experience new perspectives, broaden their horizons and most importantly, step out of their comfort zone, she said.

"What would be a more effective way to positively affect lives?" Whipple asked.

Her answer: "Give a person a road map, a way to push through obstacles they encounter from their very own starting point on life's journey."

Drawing from the Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets and other research, such as the Kennedy Center Champions of Change study, Whipple explained that kids "who are involved in arts outperform kids who are in sports programs and community service programs, both academically and socially."

In addition, she said the research concluded that kids from backgrounds with fewer resources than others benefit the most.

There are more than 20 children, ages 11 to 16, who will be involved in Youthspring's pilot production of Summersglow, a play to be performed in late March. Youthspring caters to children ages 11 to 18.

Whipple expects that more children will join the video and film crew when it is added to the production.

"It's been a real challenge," Whipple said about Summersglow. "Kids get parts, then drop out. Some have never done this before, so they don't know what to expect."

She continues to encourage the children, though, reminding them that come the first performance on March 23, they will prefer to be ready. She also keeps in mind that for kids to reach their highest learning potential from the production --which is the goal for Youthspring--everyone must go through the process together.

"The kids who stick with it are brave," Whipple said. They "are learning important lessons in congruency and leadership."

The organization has plans to produce a second stage performance early next year. Until then, Youthspring will keep the children involved through theater and arts experiences, a possible camping trip and programs through the YMCA.

Though the production is going well, interest from the community is still fledgling.

"That's where we're stepping out of our comfort zone," she said. "This is our first year; we are underfunded. We are facing a community that, as a whole, doesn't understand our value."

Grants and donations have helped keep the initiative financially afloat.

Youthspring was granted $9,000 from the Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District, half of which was granted preproduction and the other half to be granted postproduction.

Other donors include the United Way of Greater Dayton, the Target Foundation, the Levin Foundation, the Peter Joseph Foundation, the Tucker Family Trust of California, K.T. Kingsley of California and board members of Infinitus Inc.

Whipple is not alone in her endeavors. Proponents of Youthspring include community leaders such as Marc Levy, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Dayton; Steve Gill, community development director of the YMCA of Greater Dayton; and John Fleming, director of the Yellow Springs Kids Playhouse.

"These gentlemen...helped me envision and support Youthspring Playhouse," Whipple said.

Youthspring is an initiative of Infinitus, of which Whipple is the president. Infinitus is a nonprofit Ohio corporation, whose goal is to restore "people's belief in the unlimited power of their personal potential."