May 10, 2023 -- Amie Cremeans-Alverez has dreamed of being a professional singer since she first joined the Binns Elementary School choir in third grade. At the Lincoln Theater, the now fifth-grade student performed alongside members of the Briggs High School show choir. For Cremeans-Alverez, it was a chance to see what her future could look like.
“I felt like, when I get older, I can be exactly like the high school students,” she explained. “At the concert, I felt like an actual professional.”
The collaborative performance by the Binns and Briggs choir students was part of the Region I ONE Community Showcase. The event featured talented students from Binns, Briggs, Wedgewood, and Westmoor Middle Schools. Students showcased everything from musical talents to visual art.
The event is not just a celebration of the westside's talent. It's a testament to the power of partnerships. The Wedgewood and Westmoor middle students collaborated with community partner We Amplify Voices (WAV) to create original hip-hop music selections and artistic self-portraits.
Region I Principal Coach Diane Campbell said strong partnerships are the foundation of Region I’s goal to ensure westside students have the tools they need to succeed.
“Our community partners expose students to lots of different opportunities,” Campbell explained. “Through this event, we wanted to lift up and celebrate our students and community partners. We wanted to showcase the work we do together.”
10th-grade Briggs student Christopher Hernandez is part of the Briggs show choir. He sang alongside Cremeans-Alverez in the Binns and Briggs collaboration song. Hernandez said he wanted to show students that they can continue to pursue their passions as they get older through clubs and activities.
“The kids were great. It was a chance for us all to enjoy something together, no matter the age difference,” Hernandez said. “I hope they’re here at Briggs doing show choir when they get older.”
Campbell is extremely proud of the students and the strong network of community partners in Region I. She said the well-being of students is a shared responsibility, and the Region I community partners have gone above and beyond in that mission.
“We all have a responsibility to aid in the future of every student,” Campbell said. “We want to provide students a door to unlimited opportunities, and we can’t do it alone.”
