Are you a Lansing area youth between 13 and 17 years old? Do you find yourself faced with tough decisions at home or in school? Are you concerned about your finances? Have you thought about starting your own business while still in school to earn money? Have you decided on a career or are you still unsure about what you want to do beyond high school? Does being an entrepreneur interest you?

If you answered “YES” to any of the questions above, then Successful Futures, Inc. has a program for you! We are a local nonprofit organization that designs, develops, and delivers programs to empower Lansing area youth. Our Youth Career and Business Development Program incorporates skits, role plays, presentations, self-assessments, and other interactive exercises to enhance a variety of skills that we believe are critical for you to be successful in all areas of life. This program is divided into four modules – Ethical Values, Career Awareness, Financial Development, and Entrepreneurial Training – which last 6-10 weeks each. Key life skills that we emphasize include decision-making, financial, interpersonal, leadership, and general business skills. Participants are able to transfer knowledge gained from our program to their school, home, and future work environments.

Everyone, youth and parents, interested in learning more about our program is invited to attend an informational meeting on Thursday, September 15, 2005 at 6:30pm at Letts Community Center (1220 Kalamazoo Street). All regular sessions are held on Monday evenings from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at Letts Community Center. The first two modules, Ethical Values and Career Awareness, will be offered from September 19, 2005 through December 19, 2005 and the other two modules, Financial Development and Entrepreneurial Training, will be offered from January 23, 2006 to May 15, 2006.

For more information, please contact:
Sidney Mosley at (517) 487-8814 or smosley@successfutures.org
Thad Townsel at (517) 202-3483 or ttownsel@successfutures.org
Kimberly Ellis at (517) 694-9332 or kellies@successfutures.org

The Greater Lansing Ballet Company proudly presents its Multi-Cultural Seasonal Dances performance aimed at celebrating diversity. Community performances will be held Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005 at 7 p.m. in East Lansing’s Hannah Community Center located at 819 Abbot Rd. and on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2005 at 2 p.m. in the Charlotte Performing Arts Center located at 378 State Street.

As an educational tool for the local area school districts, special performances will be held on Friday, Sept 23, 2005 at 9:45 a.m. in East Lansing’s Hannah Community Center and Monday, Sept. 26, 2005 at 9:45 a.m. at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center. Performances will be geared toward a younger audience and will last for approximately one and a half hours. Prices for school performances are greatly reduced.

The performance will highlight the culture of Polish Americans directed by The Greater Lansing Ballet Company’s Artistic Director Barbara Banasikowski Smith, who is an award winning choreographer who studied Polish folk dance with Polish Regional and National Folk Dance - Ethnographers at the University of Maria Curie Sklodowska in Lublin, Poland; the culture of Hispanic Americans as directed by Maria Luz Valdez, Artistic Director at El Ballet de Maria Luz Valdez; the culture of the Middle East directed by Garnett Kepler, Artistic Director with Habibi Dancers; and the culture of African Americans by Heather Taylor-Livas, the Artistic Director of the African Masquerade Dancers.

“Each performance captures the essence of its cultural roots,” said Barbara Banasikowski Smith, founding director of the Great Lansing Ballet Company. “The opportunity to celebrate diversity with the community is a dream come true for all of us.”

This remarkable performance features dramatic dance styles from the various dance companies collaborating together to demonstrate a multi-cultural event. Through storytelling and dramatic dances, each ethnic group will portray traditions within their culture. Groups will dance to their ethnic music, display costumes, and dance in styles unique to their ethnicity.

“I am so pleased with the unique performances that our artistic directors have developed,” said Smith. “Everyone has dedicated their time and energy for this performance and it truly shows. I couldn’t be more pleased at the result.”

The Greater Lansing Ballet Company was founded in 1990 by Barbara Banasikowski Smith. In 1994 the company became a member of Regional Dance America, a national organization of ballet companies, which adjudicates the company annually to ensure high ballet technique and performance standards. The company is a semi-professional, non-profit ballet company that seeks to provide dancers with performance opportunities within a professional environment. The ballet company performs for audiences of all ages, and seeks to share ballet with the entire community.

Sponsors for the performance include National Endowment for the Arts, Arts Council of Greater Lansing Ingham County Hotel/Motel, and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.
Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, $8 for children under 12, and can be purchased by calling the Greater Lansing Ballet Company at 517.372.9887.