GET EMPOWERED Family Show Brings Dance, Drumming, and More to Oakland

Bay Area-based experiential education organization "Get Empowered!" is donating a day-long line-up of interactive world music, dance, drumming, and mindfulness to two Oakland schools during the day on Friday, March 17. That evening, the program will be open to the public at the First Congregational Church of Oakland. The Get Empowered! mission is to uplift, unify and empower kids, families and communities throughout Oakland and the Bay Area, reaching 3000+ kids every month through their multicultural and healing arts-education, interactive entertainment and mindfulness programs.

The first school-wide event begins in the morning at the Aspire Triumph Technology School (3200 62nd Avenue Oakland, CA 94605) and moves in the afternoon to the North Oakland Community Charter School (1000 42nd Street Oakland, CA 94608.) The day of free events climaxes with an evening program, beginning at 6:30 pm at the First Congregational Church of Oakland (2501 Harrison Street (at 27th St.) Oakland, CA 94612.)

The Program for March 17

At each location, the program will feature Emmy-Award winning actor/singer Obba Babatundé, a long-time advocate and friend of Get Empowered! Joining Obba will be several of the program's multi-cultural teaching-healing artists presenting dance, drumming, and music. Obba and the artists will encourage kids in the audience to join in. In addition, the artists will demonstrate Capoeira (Cap-WHERE-a), Brazil's fast and graceful Afro-Brazilian art form that blends dance, martial arts, and acrobatics. Kids will have the chance to "play" Capoeira, an activity that teaches giving and gaining respect, strengthening patience, and increasing physical stamina. Master Capoeira practitioner, dancer and teacher Sabiá Pinheiro, who lives in the East Bay, will lead the Capoeira activity.

Schedule of Activities for Friday, March 17

11:45am-12:30pm - Aspire Triumph Technology School, 3200 62nd Avenue, Oakland 94605. PRESS ONLY. Not open to public. (program is for K-4 grade youth)

1:15pm-3:00pm - North Oakland Community Charter School, 1000 42nd Street Oakland, 94608. PRESS ONLY. Not open to public. (program is for K - 8th grade youth)

6:30pm-8:00pm - First Congregational Church of Oakland. 2501 Harrison Street (at 27th St.) Oakland 94612. Interactive program led by award-winning actor/singer Obba Babatundé. Families welcome. Participants of all ages will be encouraged and invited to participate along with Obba and the Get Empowered team in multicultural arts activities including drumming, dancing, Capoeira and unifying mindfulness activities. Kids under 18 are FREE; Adults suggested donation $10. All proceeds support Get Empowered! Outreach and kid's charity arm the TahDah Foundation to provide expanding free outreach program to the East Bay.

About Get Empowered!

As shared by Founder and co-director Emi Gittleman, Get Empowered! "serves the underserved" - kids in schools, after-schools, homeless shelters, community centers, and immigrant/advocacy sites like the YMCA New American Welcome Centers. Through a variety of activities, children pre-K through high school from a diversity of ethnic, cultural, economic and religious groups are creatively coached to develop self-confidence, mindfulness, and healthy outlets for physical wellness and social-emotional empowerment. The organization currently has weekly programs in the Bay Area, San Jose, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and numerous sites in New York City. They are rapidly expanding nationally and provide on-going donations through their non-profit 501C3 arm, the TahDah foundation.

Get Empowered! is all about Diversity, Community, Inclusiveness, and Cultural Arts-Education. Its goal is to create a safe space for kids to feel a part of the community and where they can be their best selves. Founded ten years ago by Emi Gittleman, Get Empowered! serves Bay Area schools with ongoing programs that reflect its core values: Uplifting, Unifying, and Empowering people to be their best selves

Says Gittleman, "We want to help and impact as many kids as possible who are living in the most difficult times and circumstances. We want them to learn, love, grow, and be happy."

Visit the Get Empowered! web site at http://www.getempoweredall.com

To see Get Empowered! In action, click on https://www.facebook.com/GetEmpoweredAll/ and scroll down to "Videos."

About Obba Babatundé

Many kids know Obba as the voice of Big Ears in the kids' animated feature "Pup Star" on Fandango. His film, TV and stage appearances stretch back decades, from "The Manchurian Candidate" and "Philadelphia" to his recent leading role in "Bold and Beautiful," for which he won an Emmy. He has new Showtime and Comedy Central series debuting this Spring. Kudos include his Emmy-nominated performance in the HBO movie "Miss Evers' Boys," his NAACP Image Award-nominated performance in the HBO movie "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," his Ovation Award nomination and NAACP Image Award win as Best Actor in "A Soldiers Play", and his Tony Award nomination for his role as "C.C. White," in the original Broadway cast of "Dreamgirls. He recently held in a recurring role in the drama series "Kingdom," and the high-profile Amazon drama series "Hand of God," as the beguiling Bishop Bruce Congdon. Obba's TV appearances also include "Comedy Central," "Boston Legal," "Grey's Anatomy," "NCIS," and even as The Man who taught Joey of "Friends" to dance. Obba originated the role of "Jelly Roll Morton" in the world premiere of "Jelly's Last Jam" and starred in musical "Sammy," for which he won "Best Actor" for his portrayal of Sammy Davis, Jr. Some of his feature film appearances include: "The Celestine Prophecy," "Material Girls," "The Notebook," and "The Last Fall." Obba Babatundé is an enthusiastic advocate for Get Empowered! He donates many hours to the organization.

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