Boomerang Youth presents Sonny Kelly’s “The Talk”

Boomerang Youth to Present Performance of Sonny Kelly’s THE TALK

Chapel Hill, NC – Boomerang Youth, a non-profit youth-serving organization that provides supportive programs for young people experiencing school suspension in Orange County, is featuring artist Sonny Kelly and his performance of “The Talk”. This powerful one-man theatrical performance draws on the voices of ancestors, elders and intellectuals to engage audiences in the difficult conversations that parents of color must have with their children to prepare then to survive and thrive in a racialized America. The event is the organization’s annual fall fundraiser and will take place at Smith Middle School Auditorium on November 1, at 7pm with a pre-show reception at 6:30PM, performance and community discussion.

Kelly is a world-class performer, storyteller, motivator, speaker, and comedian with a background in community theater and academic research. Currently pursuing a PhD in Communication & Performance at UNC Chapel Hill, Sonny is a graduate of St. Mary’s University (MA, Communication Studies, ’08) and Stanford University (BA, International Relations, ’98). After serving the nation as a U.S. Air Force officer, Sonny has served as non-profit director, university admissions counselor, award winning pharmaceutical salesman, college communications instructor, and a church youth pastor. His UNC-Chapel Hill research is based upon developing trauma-informed performance-based interventions to empower underserved youth to counter the School to Prison Pipeline.

“Boomerang creates a space where every young person’s resilience is recognized and where they can feel their worth. Sonny shares a deeply personal story that reminds us that not all children feel that space in their larger communities. This performance gives us an opportunity to discuss the realities faced by youth and work together towards a healthy, inclusive community,” said Tami Pfeifer, Boomerang Executive Director.  “Each of us needs to be an advocate for change.”

Following Kelly’s hour-long performance, audience members will have an opportunity to dialogue with the artist and local leaders for a discussion on equity and youth in our community. Moderated by Renee Alexander-Craft, UNC-Chapel Hill Associate Professor in the Department of Communication & Global Studies, community leaders, including Dr. Baldwin, CHCCS Superintendent, Madison Hayes, Director of the Refugee Community Project, Atrayus Goode, Executive Director, Movement of Youth and Mentor NC, Mike Williams, Executive Director, The Black on Black Project and Digital Reporter and Editor, News & Observer, and a representative from the Chapel Hill Police Department, will engage with the audience.

ABOUT BOOMERANG YOUTH
Boomerang Youth inspires youth to bounce back from challenges and move towards positive change. We provide youth with the support they need in times of crisis and beyond, to manage their challenges, cope with adversity and become resilient, independent young people. We strive to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline by providing alternative-to-suspension and after school programming for middle and high school students in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and Orange County Schools. For more information, visit boomerangyouth.org.