Kidz E-Fest 2007

Written By: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

When I arrived at the Peabody High School field last Saturday, the first thing that caught my eye was the giant inflatable jungle, complete with marauding dinosaur. Nearby was a group of young girls doing gymnastics, a crowd of high school boys painting a brightly colored mural, and a Christian rap group warming up their act. In and around the games and performers thronged hundreds of kids, towing good-natured adults through the crowd. Welcome to the 2007 Kidz E-Fest!

Kidz E-Fest is an annual, free to the public, fabulous, super-cool, and (dare I say?) awesome festival for the kids of our community. It might even be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.* Kidz E-Fest is the culmination of an eight-month internship for high school students – the Youth Business Initiative. The YBI is another of EECM’s many programs that benefit our community's Children & Youth.

Each year, under the careful direction of Muzz Meyers, an accomplished former East End businessman, 10 young people from a variety of East End high schools plan, raise funds for, and produce this great festival for the community. The purpose of the program is to help at-risk youth discover and develop skills that will make them employable and that can be utilized to better their future. Kidz E-Fest was chosen as the end product of the YBI program, because a creative endeavor like the youth festival captures young people’s energy and enthusiasm more than a traditional business might, and also allows them to do something wonderful for the East End community.

During their internship, the members of the YBI are entirely responsible for the production of Kidz E-Fest. They give presentations to potential funders, create marketing materials, develop (and then must stick to!) a budget for the event, design a program, secure permits for the site, negotiate contracts for equipment rentals and line up entertainment. Each participant is also responsible for recruiting 10 peer volunteers to work at the festival. This team is called the Make A Difference (MAD) Crew and their title emphasizes one of the most important goals of the project. The students of the YBI are committed to highlighting the positive aspects of their neighborhood and showcasing the great things that young people can accomplish. It gives them a welcome opportunity to give back to their community.

At the end of the program, the YBI kids all filled out evaluation forms, telling what they had learned and giving feedback about the program. Here’s a sampling of what they had to say:

“I’ve learned to voice my opinion and to listen to others, even if I still feel strongly about my view. I’ve learned that it is okay to aim high but in order to reach the goal you gotta start at the bottom.” -- Larry

“Thanks for giving me the opportunity to show what I am capable of.” -- Kionna

“It is a great experience and it will help you learn about running your own business.” -- Philip

*and if that word is unfamiliar to you, turn off your computer this instant and go rent Mary Poppins.