The T.R.U.T.H Project Kicks Off Its First Youth Installment HEAR ME

The T.R.U.T.H Project (Telling Real Unapologetic Truth through Healing) kicks off its first youth installment entitled: Hear Me, Saturday, February 24, 2018, 5:00p.m, at MATCH 3400 Main St. Houston, TX 77006.

Hear Me is the idea of Mya Billingsley, Amaya Coleman, and Autumn Horn who wanted to create a youth empowerment driven production for their senior project at Ridge Point High School.

"I think as a youth in today's society it is important to touch on topics that many don't want to talk about," says Coleman. "We want to make sure people are aware of the struggles people in the LGBT community face, especially the younger generation."

The three young women attended several of The T.R.U.T.H. Project installments with their parents where they experienced the arts being used to raise awareness about mental illness; initiate healing and inspire hope following Hurricane Harvey; and to educate the community about HIV treatment and prevention during World AIDS Day.

"We are excited to partner with and empower these three young ladies to use the arts as a platform for youth to share their perspective on the things affecting their communities," says Kevin Anderson, Founder of The T.R.U.T.H. Project. "Our programming is driven by the needs of the community and these ladies were courageous enough to speak up and we listened."

Free to the Public - Reserve tickets at www.MATCHouston.org

For additional information visit: www.TruthProjecthtx.org

"Awareness and education is extremely important to us," says Coleman. "We feel obligated to help spread a message of love and positivity among all people in a world so full of hate."

The T.R.U.T.H. Project 2018 installments and community discussions are sponsored in part by The John Steven Kellett Foundation, The Hollyfield Foundation, and Bunnies on the Bayou.

Kevin Anderson is a Houston poet and emcee who has worked as an HIV/ AIDS prevention specialist for more than 10 years. His avid appreciation for the arts led to him start HeART & Soul, a monthly open mic poetry and live music showcase serving LGBTQ artists and allies for the past eight years. His expanding audience led to the development of The T.R.U.T.H. Project (Telling Real Unapologetic Truth through Healing) where he is working to commission artists to produce issue based works.

The T.R.U.T.H. Project was founded in 2011 as a Houston based community mobilization initiative focused on utilizing various art forms to educate and empower the LGBTQ community and allies by addressing pertinent issues to support healthy lives. Since its inception, The T.R.U.T.H Project has reached more than 5,000 attendees and continues to grow. Performances are held quarterly and have addressed issues such as bullying, domestic violence, and depression. The Texas State Department of Health recognized The T.R.U.T.H. Project and the efforts of its founder Kevin Anderson's, to use the arts as a vehicle for awareness, and access to resources by awarding a grant that allowed Anderson to extend his outreach through partnerships with national recording artists such as Marsha Ambrosius and Chrisette Michele. He has also served as a consultant in other cities interested in starting similar initiatives. The T.R.U.T.H. Project was awarded its 501c3 designation in May 2015. Its mission is to educate and mobilize LGBTQ communities of color and their allies through social arts that promote mental, emotional and sexual health.

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